Another Hellcat found in Lake Michigan?

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

Popped up yesterday. I didn’t think there were anymore Hellcats in the Lake. Incredible find if it is real…
https://www.facebook.com/share/2SuToZPa ... tid=QwDbR1

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2024 10:03 am

Yes, I thought they had all been accounted for. It’s in amazing shape - all in one piece - if it’s real. It looks a little too good to be true. My hoax sensor smells something.

Paul Stroud · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2024 12:55 pm

Any more info or links for non- Facebookers like me? (I tried Google already)

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1569

Facebook link is dead for me.

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

quemerford wrote:

Facebook link is dead for me.

I think I fixed that.

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2024 3:39 pm

On the FB page there’s a link to someone’s 3D model of the Hellcat and it’s a DEAD ringer for the airplane, right down to the muscles on the prop blades. Taras said (I think it was him) years ago that all the other F6F’s except the one they found were recovered by the Navy shortly after their incidents, and I believe him. I think this F6F is, unfortunately, CGI.

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1569

I had to think hard about muscles on prop blades! Got it.

mdwflyer · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2024 5:59 pm

Dan Jones wrote:

On the FB page there’s a link to someone’s 3D model of the Hellcat and it’s a DEAD ringer for the airplane, right down to the muscles on the prop blades. Taras said (I think it was him) years ago that all the other F6F’s except the one they found were recovered by the Navy shortly after their incidents, and I believe him. I think this F6F is, unfortunately, CGI.

I don't know how to post the pics of vid here, but could you educate me on how you see that being CGI?

The lady that posted to pics is a maritime archaeologist, that has lots of interesting dives documented on her page.

Thanks,

Mark

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2024 6:18 pm

mdwflyer wrote:

Dan Jones wrote:

On the FB page there’s a link to someone’s 3D model of the Hellcat and it’s a DEAD ringer for the airplane, right down to the muscles on the prop blades. Taras said (I think it was him) years ago that all the other F6F’s except the one they found were recovered by the Navy shortly after their incidents, and I believe him. I think this F6F is, unfortunately, CGI.

I don't know how to post the pics of vid here, but could you educate me on how you see that being CGI?

The lady that posted to pics is a maritime archaeologist, that has lots of interesting dives documented on her page.

Thanks,

Mark

No, I can’t, and believe me, I hope I’m wrong. But that Hellcat is in exceptional condition, the nose case is still on the engine and the prop is still attached… it’s amazingly complete. And that 3d model is a perfect replica of the airplane. It just smells fake to me but I really hope it’s real.

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2626

https://www.facebook.com/1522817040/pos ... mvFhsVXbGz

Had a couple of great dives out of Kenosha yesterday checking out newly reported targets. Big thanks to Zj and Robert for their help. One turned out to be a Hellcat and the other was a modern cabin cruiser broken in two pieces. Just goes to prove that sometimes you never know what you're going to get until you go look for yourself!

Ryan Harris · **Posted:** Tue Jun 25, 2024 7:46 am

Dan Jones wrote:

mdwflyer wrote:

Dan Jones wrote:

On the FB page there’s a link to someone’s 3D model of the Hellcat and it’s a DEAD ringer for the airplane, right down to the muscles on the prop blades. Taras said (I think it was him) years ago that all the other F6F’s except the one they found were recovered by the Navy shortly after their incidents, and I believe him. I think this F6F is, unfortunately, CGI.

I don't know how to post the pics of vid here, but could you educate me on how you see that being CGI?

The lady that posted to pics is a maritime archaeologist, that has lots of interesting dives documented on her page.

Thanks,

Mark

No, I can’t, and believe me, I hope I’m wrong. But that Hellcat is in exceptional condition, the nose case is still on the engine and the prop is still attached… it’s amazingly complete. And that 3d model is a perfect replica of the airplane. It just smells fake to me but I really hope it’s real.

Many of the Lake Michigan wrecks have come up with engine and prop attached, so its no surprise that this one is still attached as well. As for the 3D model, the Facebook post says one of the divers did a 3D scan of the wreck. That's why it is a perfect match for to the images. For the photos and video to be CGI, it would require a level of detail that I'm not even sure Disney could achieve. All the dive "sounds" even check out in the video!

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Tue Jun 25, 2024 8:57 am

Quote:

Many of the Lake Michigan wrecks have come up with engine and prop attached, so it’s no surprise that this one is still attached as well. As for the 3D model, the Facebook post says one of the divers did a 3D scan of the wreck. That's why it is a perfect match for to the images. For the photos and video to be CGI, it would require a level of detail that I'm not even sure Disney could achieve. All the dive "sounds" even check out in the video!

I hope it’s true, and if it is I hope the Navy allows its salvage and trade. But I’m really surprised that it wasn’t known about.

JohnB · **Posted:** Tue Jun 25, 2024 9:16 am

I'm assuming this aircraft were lost while operating from the Sable and Wolverine?

Of so, I'm surprised the Navy can state that all the F6F losses are accounted for or recovered in period (as mentioned by Dan Jones in post #5). I'm also surprised the Navy would bother with removing watery F6Fs.

I'm used to reading that wartime bookkeeping wasn't that precise...especially 80 years later.

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1569

Dan Jones wrote:

I hope it’s true, and if it is I hope the Navy allows its salvage and trade.

I truly hope the Navy holds on tightly to it and treats it as an artefact and not a commodity.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11319

Dan Jones wrote:

On the FB page there’s a link to someone’s 3D model of the Hellcat and it’s a DEAD ringer for the airplane, right down to the muscles on the prop blades. Taras said (I think it was him) years ago that all the other F6F’s except the one they found were recovered by the Navy shortly after their incidents, and I believe him. I think this F6F is, unfortunately, CGI.

Muscles and mussels are not the same!

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Another Hellcat found in Lake Michigan?

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