USS Macon Sparrowhawks

[tulsaboy]

Just some pictures and links with more information about the Sparrowhawks... thought it warranted its own topic.

kevin

http://www.mbari.org/news/news_releases ... ruise.html

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2708.htm

http://montereybay.noaa.gov/research/ma ... overy.html

[daveymac82c]

Tis a good idea for a post. I does deserve its own.

I didn't really know much about the whole Sparrowhawks and now I do.

So, did I read correct that it is Navy policy to not disturb or move any navy property where it lay, no matter its historical significance or even if nobody lost their lives in the accident?

Just wondering.

Cheers,

David

[P51Mstg]

Davey:

Of course Navy Policy is also to steal (I mean return to the Navy) any aircraft recovered by civilians. They will not go after it, BUT IF YOU DO, line up the lawyers to try and keep it.

They may have loosened up in recent years, but get something cool and they'll take it. Also at the Naval Aviation Museum they will take credit for the recovery (maybe recovery from the people that recovered it).

I can say if you are ever in Pensacola FL stop at their museum, it's pretty awesome.

Mark H

[daveymac82c]

Hmm... whenever I find the money to get out that way for a holiday, I will certainly check it out. I have a great way of going to air museums during trips.

I went with my girlfriend, her mum, and her sister for a road trip down to San Diego. Of course we started in Vancouver, BC and drove all the way there and back in a week. Let's just say that we only spent three nights total in hotels during the entire trip. Two being in San Diego. That obviously meant we didn't have time to see much. In the end we ended up going to the Hiller Museum of Flight in San Francisco, the San Diego Aerospace Museum, and the Evergreen Collection in McMinville.

Needless to say, we didn't see much else... ha ha. I've very glad that my girlfriend and her family like planes too. pheww...

So, if we head out to Florida on a trip, I imagine we'll try and get to at least three or four while we're there. I will certainly check out the Navy museum at Pensacola when I'm there.

Cheers,

David

[Russ Matthews]

I just stumbled onto a one hour special about this expedition airing on the National Geographic Channel under the title "Flying Aircraft Carrier." Apparently it will be rebroadcast Sat (Feb 14) at 11pm and Mon (Feb 16) at 2pm in case anyone wants to try and catch it.

Found a link on the Nat Geo website with additional info...

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/flying-aircraft-carrier-3772/Overview#tab-Overview

[Curtis Block]

Unfortunately the Macon is considered a grave site. Therefore it is highly unlikely that any recovery effort will come to fruition.



And just to bring it up again....

http://www.savehangarone.org/

[Holedigger]

The Macon's sister ship, Akron, was lost off the east coast with a very high loss of life, The Navy instituted new safety procedures which paid off when the Macon went down. Two crewmen perished in the Macon loss compared to 76 in the Akron loss. The Navy's large airship program ended that day.

[old iron]

I thought I heard that the Navy was planning to retrieve one or more of the Sparrowhawks but ran into some paperwork issues (environmental?). Can anyone clarify this?

The Sparrowhawk that was on display in Pensacola has now been returned and is on display at Udavr Hazy. So there is a display need.

One of the airships engines is also in the open and should be retirevable. Are any of these large engines in possession of one or another of the national air museums?

Is there still potital for the Naval Aviation Museum to retrieve relics from the site?

[Holedigger]

I know the National Naval Aviation Museum had a couple "water recovered" aircraft on display last time I was there, so there is some precedence for recovering AC from the deep and putting them on display. I believe they were both from deep in the Great Lakes though, and in great shape.

[Wilson]

I thought I heard that the Navy was planning to retrieve one or more of the Sparrowhawks but ran into some paperwork issues (environmental?). Can anyone clarify this?

Yep. Several years ago a Navy salvage ship was sitting right on top of them in perfect weather and the California Coastal Commission denied permission to recover anything. They were concerned about the engines possibly leaking oil. How much oil is there in a Sparrowhawk engine?! Gawd, those guys annoy me. They block anything to do with anything as a matter of principle. A bunch of old hippies abusing their authority.

[Rogue]

There probably was just as much oil in the bilge of said ship!