Watson Lake Recoveries - Canada

[davem]

A few items being recovered:



Second World War artifacts, including a pile of vintage 500-pound bombs and the nose section of an American B-25 bomber, have surfaced in Watson Lake, causing a small turf war between the Yukon government and the Alberta couple that salvaged the plane wreckage.

The couple recovered a section of the bomber, which was part of an Allied training fleet during the Second World War, from a nearby lake. While details are sorted out between the government and the couple, the recovered material isn't going anywhere.

"What we have right now is a section of the aircraft, the nose section, on a trailer, out at the lake," Watson Lake RCMP Cpl. Tom Howell told CBC News on Wednesday.

"What we're dealing with here is an aircraft that's been known to be there for a while, but people who have salvaged it were doing it basically as a … working holiday, just trying to raise this wreck and perhaps restore it."

The B-25 bomber is believed to have skidded off an airport runway in 1944, ending up in the water.

Yukon heritage not for export, official says
Officials with the Yukon's Department of Tourism and Culture, however, say the Alberta couple had no right to go treasure hunting for the bomber plane, and it's not theirs to keep.

"These assets are part of the Yukon's heritage and we manage them under the Historic Resources Act," said Jeff Hunston, the department's manager of heritage resources.

"Our heritage is not for acquisition and export outside of the Yukon without proper authorization, and these individuals do not have any permits or authorities from the Yukon government to undertake this sort of activity."

Hunston said the territorial government does not want any more of the aircraft recovered. The department is sending officials to Watson Lake to meet with the couple, he added.

Federal defence officials are also going to Watson Lake this week to address safety concerns with the 60-year-old bombs, which were found late last week near the local airport.

Howell said the bombs appear to weigh about 225 kilograms (500 pounds).

Mark Ritchie, the Yukon's superintendent for community airports, said it's no secret that Allied forces used the Watson Lake area as a practice field during the Second World War. Finding the bombs is a bit unusual, however, he added.

"We're currently working with the Department of National Defence to come up and investigate it," he said.

Howell said RCMP and airport authorities are expected to secure the area in the meantime.

"From our perspective, we're treating it as all live ordnance and keeping the public away — although, from what I understand, some of the public has snuck into the area having their pictures taken with these bombs," he said.

The Defence Department will decide what will happen next with the vintage bombs, Howell said.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/20 ... facts.html

[retroaviation]

"These assets are part of the Yukon's heritage and we manage them under the Historic Resources Act," said Jeff Hunston, the department's manager of heritage resources.

Really??? And just how was that B-25 (or B-26) being "managed?" Sounds like the same way certain museums "manage" stuff that sits outside in West Texas, with parts blowing all over the property, or inside warehouses that never see the light of day, or where people, including museum staff, will never see them. Of course, I'm sure I'm wrong....again.

Sorry...that particular quote in that story just reminded me how I was recently "repremanded" by a local museum's head honcho, when trying to help save some of their derelicts.

Rant over.

Gary

Last edited by retroaviation on Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Dan K]

"These assets are part of the Yukon's heritage and we manage them under the Historic Resources Act," said Jeff Hunston, the department's manager of heritage resources.

Really??? And just how was that B-25 being "managed?" Sounds like the same way certain museums "manage" stuff that sits outside in West Texas, with parts blowing all over the property, or inside warehouses that never see the light of day, or where people, including museum staff, will never see them. Of course, I'm sure I'm wrong....again.

Sorry...that particular quote in that story just reminded me how I was recently "repremanded" by a local museum's head honcho, when trying to help save some of their derelicts.

Rant over.

Gary

Gary, I've had some success with the following stress relief device. Please consider it a gift.

[AirJimL2]

Anyone else think that "B-25 bomber" nose looks more like a B-26 Marauder?

Jim

[paulmcmillan]

Maybe B-26


15 Jan 1942 USAAF 40-1459 Martin B-26 Marauder Watson Lake, BC, Canada
15 Jan 1942 USAAF 40-1464 Martin B-26 Marauder Watson Lake, BC, Canada
15 Jan 1942 USAAF 40-1501 Martin B-26 Marauder Watson Lake, BC, Canada


http://www.orpheusweb.co.uk/vicsmith/Ac ... Jan42.html

Though it looked like all Million Dollar Valley airframes recovered?

Though 40-1453 is also listed as lost that date and location but with no info

http://www.accident-report.com/world/na ... ndorf.html

Last edited by paulmcmillan on Thu Jun 04, 2009 3:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Django]

I'm with you guys... that is almost certainly a B-26. Hooray!

[Versatile]

Well now there ya go! Don't believe anyone you hear saying NO!
I have been told by four longtime residents from Wiiliams Lake tell me without a doubt there are no aircraft in that lake.

I wonder about the P-38 story i posted last year in regards to Williams Lake? Could the nose gear with a B-26 be confused with the nose gear from a P-38?

Ther are more of them out there. GO Getem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gary1954]

That is without a doubt the forward section Of A B-26 Martin Marauder....and cannot be confused with the B-25

Check out the cockpit, the rounded fuselage and the small window which matches the location on the one sitting on the trailer

[daveymac82c]

very interesting story. I wonder where the rest of the airplane went/is?

What a find.

I've been in touch with a historian from that area and they told me a while back that it was absolute rubbish to think there was a twin engine bomber in that lake and that there's nothing in there but old drums of oil and scrap.

Funny that this airplane has come to light.

Regarding it's improper recovery, I'd have to side with the Yukon Government. There are rules that forbid that kind of stuff going on. If there were no rules I'd say that they should certainly have the right to go after it, but then again, they didn't do their homework and did something illegal. It would be great to have that 'full' airplane recovered, restored, and displayed at Watson Lake Airport. Very historical and there couldn't be a better place to display it. That's my opinion.

Cheers,

David

[M MAKI]

Versatile,
Watson Lake is 1000 miles, by road, north of Williams Lake.

Mike

[Baldeagle]

When I was at Watson Lake in 1992 I was told that there was an Avro Lincoln in the lake, visible from shore, although I took a walk and couldn't see anything, and that there was a Waco Cabin at the bottom somewhere also.




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[daveymac82c]

Hey Baldeagle,

There is a Lincoln partially in the lake. Immediately after it crashed a significant amount of the airplane was removed. There is a wing section and some other bits still in the lake. In fact, just on the shores of the lake near the airport if my memory serves me correctly.

I'd never heard of the Cabin Waco in there, but that's pretty exciting.

I've heard of some other planes in there though.

What a black hole of a lake, eh?

[peter]

*removed on request*

Last edited by peter on Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:15 am, edited 2 times in total.

[paulmcmillan]

Firstly confirmed B-26

Secondly..

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/20 ... alcomments

"I went out to the lake and met these guys they are very nice and enjoy what they do .it would be nice if they could raise the rest of it and we could keep it in watson lake.it is a b-26 and i was told it crashed on the ice and the army took it apart and salvaged it then let it sink,not before they used it for target pratice ,there are lots of holes in it"


OK - Can any one ID this bird then ???

[Versatile]

Versatile,
Watson Lake is 1000 miles, by road, north of Williams Lake.

Mike

Mike, Which one of us is confused? I was posting about Williams Lake not Watson Lake.