phil65 wrote:
http://inspire.eaa.org/2021/10/13/warbird-recovery-expert-taras-lyssenko-to-speak-at-eaa-museum/?mkt_tok=OTEwLVNFVS0wNzMAAAGAH7kn_SWWxzZfUUGHDE2ggGY4JPoOyJW3TKyqhOgQtxu4sxEJGVsQf2IJiUHEhTiwn5AkkJlTzUVSACeERlDI0rI53OcGJd4JADbrdOljurY
Different one ?
Phil
Yes. The SBD-1 that was at Oshkosh this year is BuNo 1612, formerly with the Flying Leatherneck Museum at MCAS Miramar. This aircraft is next in the queue once the SBD-2P is completed and shipped to Pearl. The SBD-1 served with VMSB-132 at MCAS Quantico before being sent to Camp Kearney and VMSB-142 for a short time. It was then sent to the Carrier Qualification Training Unit at NAS Glenview. The aircraft crashed on November 13, 1942, killing pilot Ensign Herbert Welton McMinn. His body was never recovered. As far as I know it is the only aircraft recovered from the Great Lakes to have been involved in a fatal accident. It is the only surviving SBD-1. I haven't heard what the ultimate plan for the aircraft is once it is restored.
The SBD-2P that is currently being completed, BuNo 2173, is one of only 14 SBD-2Ps produced and the only survivor. Due to inconsistent documentation it's hard to know the exact history of the airframe, but it's possible it was present at the Battle of the Coral Sea aboard USS Yorktown. The Air Zoo docents I talked to said the latest research shows it was likely on the carrier but did not see action. This page offers a nice summary of the inconsistent record keeping:
https://www.airzoo.org/news/posts/sbd-2 ... estorationThe Air Zoo also previously restored SBD-3 BuNo 06624, which is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation and on display in Kalamazoo. This SBD-3 is a combat veteran, serving with VS-41 aboard USS Ranger during Operation Torch. It is restored in those markings.
All of the above SBDs were recovered from Lake Michigan by A&T Recovery. What A&T has accomplished and contributed to the surviving population of SBDs (not to mention the other aircraft they have recovered) is nothing short of remarkable. I believe they are responsible for 11 SBD recoveries, plus 10 Wildcats, a Hellcat, a Corsair, an Avenger and the world's only surviving SB2U Vindicator - all from Lake Michigan, plus a Helldiver elsewhere.
Of note, the Air Zoo also continues to make progress on FM-2 Wildcat BuNo 57039, another Lake Michigan recovery. This one suffered an engine failure on takeoff from USS Sable. Last I heard, it is destined for display somewhere around Glenview, IL. I don't know where specifically it will be placed on display.
Here are some photos of the SBD-2P, SBD-1 and FM-2, taken a couple weeks ago. I am unfortunately unable to head back up to Kalamazoo to see the completed SBD before it leaves, but I'm glad I got to see it one more time before it's shipped out.
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr
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