Warbird Information Exchange

The view was so close it just looks like it was under the horiz stab.
Maybe maybe not

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Don't touch my junk!!

Yeah -- it's confusing for sure. I think the rudder is deflected a bit to the left, but I could see how it might also look like an elevator hanging down.

Here's a link to a bigger version of the video...

http://video.signonsandiego.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=5233281&item_index=1&genre_id=2713&sort=NULL

The video is really great! The cockpit looks amazing. Good work Taras! Here's hoping that you guys bring this one up pronto. Sure am proud of all the work you and your team do rescuing these birds. Keep up the good work, and stay safe.

kevin

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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

Wow, cool sonar scans and the large format video! Awesome!

Question for Taras - on the San Diego newspaper video link, it states at the beginning and end, "Video provided by A & T Recovery". I thought that the company was AT&T. Did the company name change and if so why? Did one of the business partners leave?

google is your friend

http://www.atrecovery.com/

Ah yes. I had forgotten about the website. Never mind, Taras.

A & T = Allan & Taras

A T & T = American Telephone & Telegraph

OK

We now have

SB2C-4 Helldiver Bureau Number 19866 (VB-14) ditched in Otay Lake, CA 28th May 1945.

there is alot of live ammo & bombs on that ship & still in their racks etc!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Out-freaking-standing. First off, thank you to the observant fisherman with the bada55 fishfinder... somebody oughta pay him to hit some of the other freshwater lakes in the area and see what else he can find.

Second, go Navy! Get that bird up and in the shops pronto- you guys deserve a Beast in P'Cola.

And third- how cool are those sonar scans?! You can even tell the pitot tube isn't damaged!!!

Lynn

Now for important stuff:

It appears that several bomber pilots out of the Chicago area are organizing to secure funding to make the SB2C project a reality. The group seems to include Downey (youngest US Naval aviator ever), Young (finished the Yamato Battleship), and Richards (first and last name “Your Honor”). The group is in the process of trying to locate flight and deck crew members that wish to see the SB2C recovered, restored, and displayed to the American public.

In 2004 this same team helped me pull together one of the largest groups of Battle of Midway veterans, in 50 years, to meet in Chicago for the installation and dedication of the SBD in the terminal of Midway Airport.

It is simple: help them find the crew members from every carrier, marine unit, air station, or whatever it might be.

Taras
305-794-4457
TarasAtSea@AOL.com

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www.ATRecovery.com

Fantastic news, Taras! One thing I really don't understand at all. I realize all of this has to be from public funding, but the Naval Museum has the funds! All they have to do is sell two of their airplanes from Lake Michigan. One of those SBD's or Wildcats would probably go for at least $500,000 or so. Two of those and BAM - you have a million in instant cash.

Taras, since you work so closely with the Navy, why are they so stingy about letting any of those Lake Michigan planes out of their control? Does the Navy have control probems because they really, really don't want to see any of those airplanes in civilian hands, or are they just "hoarding" the planes because they somehow think that will make them more rare or desirable? I just don't get it. They could easily fund both the recovery and restoration of their beloved Helldiver which has been on their wish list for quite some time. What's the problem? Please help me understand because I'm not feeling much sympathy for the Naval Museum right now. They have a solution which they opt not to utilize. What am I missing?

What I said on page 1.........................
They'll just say Taras get this one for us and you can have one in the compound or keep the next one you pull up!

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Don't touch my junk!!

I do not represent the National Naval Aviation Museum in any way, shape or form.

However, I try to understand what they do and why.

It is my belief that they represent the 300 million or so Americans that would like to see the airplanes. There are many museums in their system that wish to display SBD’s, Wildcats, and others, but there just aren’t enough of any of the aircraft. There for sure isn’t enough money to do all that every museum would like. So, I think, they weigh all their options and assess their resources to try to present the best they can to the American public.

We may not always agree with the way they do things, but they have really done an outstanding job.

As for this airplane (Otay SB2C), I would think they want to add it to the “American” public collection without having to remove other important aircraft from that collection.

For awhile there was a trading program, it seemed to rely on what the Federal Government was willing to release; things such as helicopters and more modern aircraft were common, but it seemed to turn in to a lot of red tape.

Keep in mind these are only my opinions and thoughts, I could be way off base or just wrong.

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www.ATRecovery.com

If what the 'ole "Col." said a while back is true (and I'm not saying one way or another that it is or isn't) the Navy has their hands at least partially tied because of some laws that got passed in Congress by some former employees there in Pensacola, not necessarily because they wouldn't be willing to work out some deals like that. They have their own constraints and must operate within their guidelines.
I'd say support what they ARE allowing, with A&T and any others, and see what you can do to "untie" their hands. Even if the Navy gets all of the airframes / recoveries for now, at least some are being saved, and you never know if something might change the policy down the road.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.