Otay Reservoir - SB2C Helldiver - A&T photos

[shepsair]

Hi all,

Just posting some photos sent by Taras Lyssenko of A&T Recovery. Photos taken by Adam Klarer contracted to A&T. Some nice photos and a couple of questions. Posted with permission.


Big mother

Down she comes

Low flying. What is the thing on the port bomb rack. Thought it was a concrete practice bomb (some were found in the bomb bay - looks the prong shape?).

Dick Frazar - another interview

Big fish!

0.3" ammunition box - great condition.

Not flak - just fragile. Nice to see NAVY 19866 and side number '10' in white.

Engine looks like she wants to separate.

Metz and Frazar family.

Protrusion on starboard side - what is it??

Pitot

Side numbers

Quick clean. Might need to go over again.

Up she comes

Taras, hat, shades and fetching T-shirt. Master of Ceremonies.

Press Dogs

Dick Frazar matching pose of his father 65 years before.

Enjoy - and answers appreciated!

regards

Mark

[Jesse C.]

I was bummed that I could not attend the raising of the bird when she came out but these pics make me feel like I was there, before I was there!

Thanks for posting!

[tex-fan]

WOW, you guys are GREAT. I know she's in good hands. congrats

[lmritger]

Great pics, Mark!

Couple of answers: I'm almost positive the port bomb rack holds a 25lb practice bomb dispenser, which (I think) held six or eight small bomblets within it. They were commonly seen in photos circa 1940-41 on USN aircraft. And the protrusion on the starboard upper cowling may be the remnants of a gun camera- again, a common training aid. If that's the case, it might be interesting to see if the film is still encased within and see what it shows!

Thanks for posting these, it's great to see her up! I do hope the fine folks at P'Cola restore her back into these markings- not terribly exciting, but 100% authentic.

Lynn

[Django]

Great pics!

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi, not likely a gun camera the gun camera on the SB2C was mounted in the leading edge of the left wing just inboard of the wing fold. It could be the intake for the janitrol heater as it was located in that area. Do you have better photos ? Unable to see them on my computer. Great job getting her out congrats!!! Thanks Mike

[shepsair]

Jesse,
The wing is being cleaned in San Diego. Would be interesting to see how she looks now.
Lynn,
Thanks for confirming the practice bomb rack - just one side? possibly the other was lost.
Helldiver,
Gun camera - just had another look - bent piece of metal!

She is so much better than everyone was expecting.

Mark

Last edited by shepsair on Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

[shepsair]

Lynn

Really only too schemes historically correct - VB-84 (Oct-Dec 1944) and VB-14 (May 1945).

They could make it a May 1945 VB-84 scheme - arrow marking as seen on VB-84 Helldivers seen on USS Bunker Hill. Tribute to Bunker Hill and VB-84 and the kamikazi attack of 11th May 1945 that left so many dead.

Knowing NMNA, I guess it would be one or the other.

regards

Mark

[shepsair]

Practice bomb rack - one wing.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/imag ... 13479a.jpg

Mark

[shoki]

Is there any way to get one of those t-shirts? I would like to find out if their for sale.

[Pogmusic]

It seems as if there is only one "possible" paint scheme -- the one she's in now!

[Dan K]

Is there any way to get one of those t-shirts? I would like to find out if their for sale.

They caught my eye as well. Taras responded to my request with a no. They were made up just for those directly involved with the recovery.

[K5DH]

Amazing! Even the fragile Yagi antenna (for the radar) under the left wing is intact.

My humble opinion on paint/markings: Refinish her in exactly the markings she wore the day she went into that lake!

[RMAllnutt]

Amazing! Even the fragile Yagi antenna (for the radar) under the left wing is intact.

My humble opinion on paint/markings: Refinish her in exactly the markings she wore the day she went into that lake!

To be honest, the aircraft looks in such great condition that I wouldn't be surprised if they don't keep her in the paint she's actually wearing. The paint looks nearly perfect, and it wouldn't be the first aircraft preserved this way. I guess we shall have to wait and see.

Cheers,
RIchard

[Steve Nelson]

Fantastic pics, and fantastic job..congrats to all involved with the recovery!

It's hard to tell with all the dried mud, but it looks like she was originally painted in Three-Tone camo, then later overpainted overall dark blue, much of which has weathered off during her 65 years underwater. The SBD restored by the Kalamazoo Air Zoo had a similar situation..it was originally Blue Gray over Light Gray, but was later repainted in Three-Tone, much of which had flaked off.

Personally I'd prefer to see her restored in Three-Tone..especially if that's what she wore in combat. Whatever colors she ends up wearing, it's just great to see her above water..I really look forward to seeing her on display at Pensacola!

SN