There are many navy planes just off the beach of my hometown of Waukegan, IL.
From just after the beginning of the war to just past the war's end the US Navy practiced everything from strafing moving targets, divebombing, and limited no-ammo dogfighting.
My father-in-law (who would later be at 2nd wave on D-Day) remembers riding his bike from western Zion, IL down to the lakefront to watch the planes train. The lake has grown some 6-8 blocks from where it is now, but he remembers vividly seeing navy planes practice strafing runs on both stationary and moving maritime targets (towed by ships) (with live 50 cals....no less). There are probably 50 to 65 planes (according to navy records) in the lake waters near the are as over years of training during the war some planes developed engine troubles and were unable to ditch on land. Most ditched in the lake and were picked up by coast guard or small naval craft in the area.
Thanks to fresh water and not salt water, as well as the lake water's cool to cold tempratures (I never remembered the lake temp getting much over 65F during the hottest of summers) the planes are slow to corrode---leaving them in pretty good shape 50 years later...considering.
The one they found last year is being restored and will hang in O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. I hope they restore this one and keep it in Lake County. Somewhere in the public area of Great Lakes Naval Training Center (nearby, on the lake at the city of North Chicago, IL) would be nice.
ROX
