VS-44A in Uruguay

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:39 am

Warbird kid,

I was intrigued by your comment in the "Aussie Boomerang" thread and decided to create a new thread to avoid conflicting with that threads focus

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=138987#138987

Quote:

-Ultimate goal- Recover the remains of the VS-44A in Uruguay and have it take to the skies once more.

and surprised to google and discover the following:

http://www.g73s39s44online.htmlplanet.com/whats_new.html

Quote:

What's probably around ?
The last VS-44A, c/n 4404, NC-41882, the Exeter, crashed on the Rio de la Plata, Montevideo, Uruguay, South America, while making a night landing on August 15, 1947. At the time, of the accident, the aircraft was carring arms. In the early 1980's, divers went to the aircraft, and recovered some of the arms from the aircraft. The aircraft was reported to be reasonably intact, with the wing broken off. One of the engines was reported to be hauled ashore. The location is reported to be near the Punta Brava Lighthouse. It is still probably there, and would probably make an excellent candidate for recovery / salvage, restoration, and static display, like its' sister ship c/n 4403 NC-41881, the Excambian, which is now on display at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

I assume this section of the "River Plate" is in fact the very wide mouth of the river into the Atlantic Ocean and will be salt water, raising the question of the integrity of the metal for any recovery.

But I was surprised to learn a second one still survived in some form, it would be interesting to know if any serious plans or studies of its recovery have been undertaken?

Regards

Mark Pilkington

Tinker51 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:08 am **Posts:** 164

Can't comment on the VS-44A in Montevideo but if someone wants a T-33 they should go to Durazno. They military had upgraded from T-33's to A-37's and the last time I was there they had several pushed off to the side of the ramp. The 33's still had faded USAF markings on them.

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:02 pm

Mark_Pilkington wrote:

Warbird kid,

I was intrigued by your comment in the "Aussie Boomerang" thread and decided to create a new thread to avoid conflicting with that threads focus

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=138987#138987

Quote:

-Ultimate goal- Recover the remains of the VS-44A in Uruguay and have it take to the skies once more.

and surprised to google and discover the following:

http://www.g73s39s44online.htmlplanet.com/whats_new.html

Quote:

What's probably around ?
The last VS-44A, c/n 4404, NC-41882, the Exeter, crashed on the Rio de la Plata, Montevideo, Uruguay, South America, while making a night landing on August 15, 1947. At the time, of the accident, the aircraft was carring arms. In the early 1980's, divers went to the aircraft, and recovered some of the arms from the aircraft. The aircraft was reported to be reasonably intact, with the wing broken off. One of the engines was reported to be hauled ashore. The location is reported to be near the Punta Brava Lighthouse. It is still probably there, and would probably make an excellent candidate for recovery / salvage, restoration, and static display, like its' sister ship c/n 4403 NC-41881, the Excambian, which is now on display at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

I assume this section of the "River Plate" is in fact the very wide mouth of the river into the Atlantic Ocean and will be salt water, raising the question of the integrity of the metal for any recovery.

But I was surprised to learn a second one still survived in some form, it would be interesting to know if any serious plans or studies of its recovery have been undertaken?

Regards

Mark Pilkington

Mark;
If they go after that one then they might want to go after the "Excalibur" too! It's up in Newfoundland, where it crashed on takeoff in October 1942. It's also underwater and was really smashed up, but it's my understanding that they didn't recover much due to the aircraft's condition and airframe damage.
If they're going for one the ought to go for both!
Jerry
Jerry

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:42 pm

I would have a heart attack if they recovered both!

Even if one (or both) were restored to static display, i would be more than happy! But it would be cool to see one take to the skies!

Its rarer to find Warbird wrecks that are intact nowadays. I wish there were some photos of the wreck, to see what it looks like.

One day

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VS-44A in Uruguay

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