Lake Michigan F6F recovery and restoration thread

[mh53eflyguy]

Hi All,

For those interested, I've compiled all the pictures that I have shot of the Hellcat at two sites, but they contain all of the same photos. I didn't want to jam up the server with all the pictures on WIX. While I'm a bigger fan of Flickr as a photo dump, I know Photobucket is preferred on WIX. I've posted them to both. Due to their size, I was just now able to fully upload the pictures. I'll do my best to update them occasionally, but I wanted to get these before she goes into the hanger.

Here is the Flickr pictures link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19178908@N ... 006588538/

This is the link to the Photobucket pictures:
http://s599.photobucket.com/albums/tt72 ... ?start=all

If you can, look at how well the seals and o-rings held up with the oleos and wing fold actuators!

Enjoy! Blue skies.

-Scott

[Owen Miller]

Good job buddy!!!!

Now, where is that green sock?????

[shepsair]

Scott

Some nice pictures.

Interesting to see the 135 under the 28 coming through on the undercarriage leg cover.

Kalamazookid - looking at the SBD and Hellcat and also the P47 up in Idaho I am involved with - most of the corrosion on the P47 (from fresh water lake in Europe) is between the frame and skin with the skin suffering the most. Most of the structure would be fine for a flyer but you would have to replace a lot of skins.

The Hellcat skins seem better than the SBD's - not sure whether through thickness or age?. The SBD 2173 had a lot of holes and pitting whereas none was or is visible on the Hellcat. Would be nice to find the wings and fin!!! Though whether in the lake or left on board the Sable when it crashed and went over the side inverted we'll never know (unless they are found these bit next year and only if required/financed/allowed!).

regards

Mark

[Pat Carry]

Love the photos Scott, thanks.

[Pat Carry]

Maybe I overlooked the information in this thread but has there been any indication where the Hellcat will end up being on display?

[mustangdriver]

I hope this one ends up in the NMNA and the other tricolor scheme one finds it's way to another museum.

[Owen Miller]

Subject to change as the airframe has combat time;
the last I "heard" it was headed to the Pacific War
museum in Hawaii.....

Owen

[mustangdriver]

I do wish that the NMNA would take that area they have that is made to look like a hangar deck and put a few wildcats or hellcats in there with the wings folded to show people what it would have looked like in a carrier. It would make a very educational display.

[RMAllnutt]

Did Kalamazoo's "lake" SBD fly before the Zoo went static?

No. AFAIK, none of the work was done to airworthy standards. I was told that if they had wanted to make that SBD airworthy, they would have had to essentially build a new one from scratch.

As it is, the restoration used about 85% of the original material that was at the bottom of the lake. The aircraft carries it's original markings that it wore during Operation Torch. I'm not aware of any other surviving naval aircraft that were used during Torch, although I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. IMO, the fact that most of the original material was used makes the restoration more significant because it truly represents the aircraft as it appeared during Torch. I don't think that level of originality could have been preserved with a flying example.

I'd like to see this Hellcat receive similar treatment. Use as much of the original material as possible, and make sure all the research is correct to restore it to as accurate as of a representation as possible.

There must have been a difference in corrosion treatment standards between Douglas and Grumman. I do know that the two Wildcats restored to flight which were former Lake Michigan recoveries kept a great deal of original structure and skin. One of them I remember reading had 85% original material... not sure of the other one. I do know that they anodized the skin on the Wildcat, which was a much better treatment than alodine. Maybe this was the difference... anyone know if Douglas used alodine or anodizing? I seem to remember the two Douglas SBD/A-24's I've worked on didn't have anodized skin, but my memory is hazy on that, as it was several years ago.

Cheers,
Richard

[51fixer]

Did Kalamazoo's "lake" SBD fly before the Zoo went static?

No. AFAIK, none of the work was done to airworthy standards. I was told that if they had wanted to make that SBD airworthy, they would have had to essentially build a new one from scratch.

As it is, the restoration used about 85% of the original material that was at the bottom of the lake. The aircraft carries it's original markings that it wore during Operation Torch. I'm not aware of any other surviving naval aircraft that were used during Torch, although I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. IMO, the fact that most of the original material was used makes the restoration more significant because it truly represents the aircraft as it appeared during Torch. I don't think that level of originality could have been preserved with a flying example.

I'd like to see this Hellcat receive similar treatment. Use as much of the original material as possible, and make sure all the research is correct to restore it to as accurate as of a representation as possible.

There must have been a difference in corrosion treatment standards between Douglas and Grumman. I do know that the two Wildcats restored to flight which were former Lake Michigan recoveries kept a great deal of original structure and skin. One of them I remember reading had 85% original material... not sure of the other one. I do know that they anodized the skin on the Wildcat, which was a much better treatment than alodine. Maybe this was the difference... anyone know if Douglas used alodine or anodizing? I seem to remember the two Douglas SBD/A-24's I've worked on didn't have anodized skin, but my memory is hazy on that, as it was several years ago.

Cheers,
Richard

I don't think alodine was in use during WWII.
When I worked on POF SBD I don't remember skins being anodized.
Rich

[mh53eflyguy]

I do wish that the NMNA would take that area they have that is made to look like a hangar deck and put a few wildcats or hellcats in there with the wings folded to show people what it would have looked like in a carrier. It would make a very educational display.

It sounds like you haven't been there in a bit.....It's somewhat set up like that now.... F8F, F6F, and a F4U/FG-1D(out of picture but almost immediately to the left of the Bearcat) lined up on the edge of the "carrier" with the wings folded.



I know it doesn't constitute "a few" but it still somewhat works, in my humble opinion.

[mh53eflyguy]

I know a lot of folks have been asking about the name on this specific bird, or have asked to see if I can get pictures of specific markings, but this picture may help understand why I cannot be of much help in that department.


In sharp contrast to the otherwise conspicuous markings on the fuselage, the squadron Emblem and name are in very poor shape. I cannot make out a name on this aircraft, and truth be told, I had not even seen this marking until Ens. Steven Mirrer on the restoration team pointed it out. It is in very poor shape, unlike the rest of the markings (an aircraft!) I share this with you on the 106th anniversary of powered flight. "Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds...."

Last edited by mh53eflyguy on Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[the330thbg]

[quote="mh53eflyguy"]I know a lot of folks have been asking about the name of this specific bird, or have asked to see if I can get pictures of specific markings, but this picture may help understand why I cannot be of much help in that department.

quote]

Looks like a set of Navy Wings on the bottom and a Yankee Doodle type, red white and blue top hat!

Last edited by the330thbg on Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[airnutz]

Mmmm...I'm seeing a set of Navy wings at the bottom and a Red/White/Blue tophat at the upmost border.

[the330thbg]

Link:
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?p=1499199

Last edited by the330thbg on Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.