Navy Plane found in Otay Lakes, San Diego, CA

[Taras]

I sure hope other people can recover airplanes from under water, without damage, as we have seen so many times before, remember the...

But, that has nothing to do with the "hot air" of bloggers and others that stand on the side and snipe.

It is a hard thing to get people to rise to a higher standard.

I, look for those who stand out and above the norm, who have ideas to solve problems.

Thank you to those who have sent the private E-mails who want to be put of the SB2C and F6F efforts and move the projects forward. Thank you for the letters to NNAM and the other efforts you are putting forth.

I have noticed that people like to put cute quotes after what they type. I have a quote that I think many people will agree with, including the President of the United States, "Keep your mouth shut if you do not have the facts."

[mustangdriver]

I meant no disrespect to the SAnDiego Museum or the Midway, just that we have the National collection of naval aircraft that no longer has a Helldiver due to a circumstance that is not their fault.

If I remember right, the Navy at one time had over 7,000 SB2C Helldivers, I wonder where they all went....... some were lost in combat and training flights, but alot survived the war, but where did the remainder go........oh thats right, they SCRAPPED them all. It seems they had thier chance at one time.

Let San Diego keep thier heritage.

Matt that is the craziest thing I have ever heard. SO because they scraped them after the war, the National collection should not have one. Also keep in mind that if they would put a Helldiver there, it would be the first Helldiver to touch her deck, as she never carried them in combat. SO there is NO historical tie to the USS MIDWAY and the helldiver other than you not liking Pensacola.

[tom d. friedman]

I personally wouldn't mind seeing it back here in Columbus, considering the good chance it was built here, along with a good other number of aircraft by Curtiss and NAA (of which there is little to commemorate the fact.)

go buckeyes!!! i agree!!

[jdvoss]

The only other place I know where any SB2C's exist are on the hangar deck of the USS Saratoga in Bikini Lagoon. I recall see footage taken by SCUBA divers of F6F, TBF, SB2C and possibly SBD's all slowly decaying. The engines of nearly all of the A/C had fallen away from their mounts. Salvageable after 65 years in warm salt water ? Probably not. From the footage they all looked rather ghostly as they were covered in a white powder from the deterioration of the ship (paint, etc).

[Matt Gunsch]

Helldivers flew off the Midway, and were based in San Diego, there is enough tie in.
I never said I did not like the Navy museum, or the AF museum for that matter.Both are good museums, but what I don't like is them being the 900lb gorilla and not working with others in the warbird circles, then trying to play like they were injured party. The navy had a chance for a Helldiver, but they did not preserve one, or the AF museum scrapping the remaining parts of a plane they restored, just so no one else could use them.

How would you feel if you found a unknown, surviving B-32 Dominator, and recovered it, then the AF comes in and takes it from you, for the museum ?
While it has not happened with the AF, the navy sure has tried it several times....

[Russ Matthews]

New article today (29 July)...

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/29/pilots-son-hopeful-salvage-plane/

No decison on recovery yet -- they want to dredge beneath the mud to better assess the condition of the wreck.

[Matt Gunsch]

the video shows it to be in very good condition. Lots of mud in it however, it is full to the base of the stick grip.

[Matt Gunsch]

I did not mention Mike and the A-25, I was refering to the remains of the AT-10 that they scrapped, which included wings, which are needed for the only other remaining AT-10, but it is in private hands.

[Jesse C.]

New article today (29 July)...

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/29/pilots-son-hopeful-salvage-plane/

No decison on recovery yet -- they want to dredge beneath the mud to better assess the condition of the wreck.

Well, looks like she is heading east, if they ever bring her up.

Oh well, at least we still have part of a B-32!

BTW, this is a MESSAGE BOARD, not a BLOGGERS BOARD! Capice?

[Obergrafeter]

Thank you Matt for bringing up the AT-10 parts. Probably hit a sore spot with the MUSAF defenders. When all else fails confuse em with facts. P.S. I am talking with another gentleman I met here on WIXs that also has Wichita parts and a complete set of drawings that might result in one of these planes getting in the air.

I'd like to see the airplane recovered, restored, and displayed at Pensacola. I think that's the more appropriate place for it.

[Jesse C.]

Hope you guys find these interesting!

[RMAllnutt]

Wow! Fascinating photos... and there seems to be a bit of wreckage aft and to the port... wonder what that is. Also, the lake bed has a very peculiar texture to it, and what caused that large furrow running down the center... is that an artifact of the scan?

Cheers,
Richard

PS. I really hope that this bird does get raised. I think the Navy museum should have one on display, but I also think that it would make sense for them to swap one of their other spare aircraft to pay for the recovery, so it can happen quickly (before some swine damages the wreck, which you know is going to happen since everyone knows where it is now). I don't see why this is an issue... The RAF museum is quite content to swap spitfires for aircraft they need, or in trade for services rendered. I am sure there would be plenty of people stepping forwards to do just that if th Navy ever wanted to do it.

[Jack Cook]

Dang if that isn't freaking cool!!!
Thanks for posting that stuff.
The local of the BuNo seems odd under the horiz stabilizer rather the the vert stab and rudder.

[Russ Matthews]

The local of the BuNo seems odd under the horiz stabilizer rather the the vert stab and rudder.

Huh. When I watch the video it looks to me like the Bu No is right where you'd expect -- on the vertical stabilizer, just forward of the rudder.