Discovered Airplanes?

[Ack-Ack]

There is a reservoir in Chula Vista that I used to go fishing at and there is one section near the fishing pier in front of the snack bar where it was notorious for losing lines and lures after getting hung up.  For years and years it was thought it was just the stumps of trees that was snagging lines and lures until just recently when the reservoir lowered enough to reveal a Dauntless Dive Bomber that had crashed into the reservoir back in the '40s.  I don't know if there are any plans to remove it and restore it or just leave there in the lake. 

ack-ack

[Rino]

     Guppy missed one, the Midatlantic Air Museum's P-61 Black Widow.  Understandable as it's been a
marathon restoration effect since it was recovered. 

http://www.maam.org/p61/p61_rest.htm

[AHTbolt]

 I found the Navy rules very interesting, they say that they still own all Navy aircraft even wrecks and the courts back them up. While the Air Force say anything before 1961 is fair game, only requirment is that if remains of crew are found they must be recovered by the military mia teams.    http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-7f.htm

[Raptor05121]

Yeah I've heard the Navy is tough as nails when it comes to this. Honestly, I really don't care who's hands they belong in as long as they are preserved or restored.

[icepac]

That's surprising because the navy was notorious for dumping perfectly good equipment overboard all over the world while the other services were scrapping.

[Guppy35]

Yeah I've heard the Navy is tough as nails when it comes to this. Honestly, I really don't care who's hands they belong in as long as they are preserved or restored.

It appears the Navy is coming around a bit on this as there are a number of the Lake Michigan birds out to other museums or even flying.  I know the battle over the Devastators didn't make them look real good.  That and the fight over the Brewster Corsair that was finally decided in the courts in favor of the guy who recovered it.

[Bodhi]

The jungles of New Guinea and other Pacific islands hold a lot of wrecks, getting to them is very challenging.  Getting them out even more so.

You can check out http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ it has some good information and stories about 5th Air Force wrecks.

Pacific Wrecks has interesting info.  Not all of it is accurate.

[mbailey]

    Guppy missed one, the Midatlantic Air Museum's P-61 Black Widow.  Understandable as it's been a
marathon restoration effect since it was recovered.  

http://www.maam.org/p61/p61_rest.htm

Some recent photos i took of her

[Yeager]

I remember a story my dad used to tell about doing a layover (MAC) on Guam in the late 60s.  He and some other crewmen were told about a Japanese plane out in the jungle and they took a hike finding a Japanese Zero fighter just sitting there parked in the overgrowth.  No apparent reason to be there.......no buildings or hint of any sort of runway.  Just out there in the jungle sitting on its gear like it had landed there.  Was apparently in great shape too 20+ years after the war.  Story went on that the thing was recovered and returned to Japan a short while later.

[Guppy35]

Pacific Wrecks has interesting info.  Not all of it is accurate.

The guy that runs that site is of the 'leave em where they lay" brigade.  I'm not a big fan of that idea. 

[Raptor05121]

I remember a story my dad used to tell about doing a layover (MAC) on Guam in the late 60s.  He and some other crewmen were told about a Japanese plane out in the jungle and they took a hike finding a Japanese Zero fighter just sitting there parked in the overgrowth.  No apparent reason to be there.......no buildings or hint of any sort of runway.  Just out there in the jungle sitting on its gear like it had landed there.  Was apparently in great shape too 20+ years after the war.  Story went on that the thing was recovered and returned to Japan a short while later.

That is awesome. I hope maybe we'll be able to pick up the paper trail of this bird.

[Bodhi]

The guy that runs that site is of the 'leave em where they lay" brigade.  I'm not a big fan of that idea. 

I know of Justin.  I am not a fan.

[Ack-Ack]

The guy that runs that site is of the 'leave em where they lay" brigade.  I'm not a big fan of that idea. 

I'm of mixed feeling about that.  I believe that there are some wrecks that should be left where they found them and preserved in their state as a memorial instead of recovering the craft for restoration.

ack-ack

[skorpion]

I'm of mixed feeling about that.  I believe that there are some wrecks that should be left where they found them and preserved in their state as a memorial instead of recovering the craft for restoration.

ack-ack

if the plane was a grave for the men flying it, leave it. if the men who were flying it got out, then take it back to restore it? is that what your saying?

[Ack-Ack]

if the plane was a grave for the men flying it, leave it. if the men who were flying it got out, then take it back to restore it? is that what your saying?

All I am saying is that there are some wrecks that should be left as be and not disturbed.

ack-ack