Otay Reservoir SB2C-The recovery operation has begun!!!

[TimAPNY]

The Change in Navy recovery views is just awesome. Here is to getting a Helldiver for the WWII hangar!

Well I agree that the new policy is great and it's nice to see that the new Leadership at NHHC has open the doors to new recovery's and that the fact that NHHC turn the operation of aircraft recovery's back over to the Naval Air Museum till NHHC change's their illegal ownership policy then it's just a mute policy.

Yes and No.
Some aircraft are being saved and will be able to be enjoyed before they are destroyed but the environments they are in.

But with the cost of recoveries not many aircraft will be recovered and saved. If the NHHC does changed the ownership policy then it would open the doors for many more of these aircraft to be saved. It would also allow some to take to the air again where they belong!

Step one has been reached, recoveries have started again. I find a great amount of joy in that. But it is only a start. Step two needs to be that some of these airframes end up in private hands to take the museum to the people at airshows and other events around the country. That is my hope.

Tim

[bilwor]

Am I reading the Bureau No. correct - 19866 ?

[shepsair]

http://www.eastlaketimes.com/1770/lower ... ve-bomber/

[cg51]

Awesome, i was thinking about this last night wondering how they were coming along with the recovery effort.

[oscardeuce]

can we all agree that the lake was named "otay" by buckwheat from the little rascals?? is that a yes??..... otay!!

You've fallen for one of the classic blunders... Porky said "O-tay". At least that's the way I remember it.

[airnutz]

can we all agree that the lake was named "otay" by buckwheat from the little rascals?? is that a yes??..... otay!!

You've fallen for one of the classic blunders... Porky said "O-tay". At least that's the way I remember it.

Yup..and the spanish pronunciation is o-tie...

[Jesse C.]

Looks like I have plans for next weekend! On Dive Bomber, Coming Up! Will take camera just in case I can take pics when she comes up.

[Warbirdnerd]

Looks like tomorrow is the big day...

SAN DIEGO -- More than 65 years after it crashed in Otay Lakes, a vintage World War II aircraft could soon see daylight again.

Former Navy Capt. Bob Rasmussen is overseeing a project that he only dreamed of. He's the director of the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, Fla.

"There are only three or four SB2C Helldivers in existence anywhere and this is one of them," said Rasmussen.

Thousands were made in World War II, but after the war, the Navy got rid of them.

The one that was at the bottom of Otay Lakes went down in 1945 after a practice run with the pilot and gunner safely swimming to shore.

The plane stayed on the bottom about 90 feet down until Dwayne Johnson found it on his fish finder.

"I'm glad I'm a part of it," said Johnson. "I'm glad I found it."

Mark Miller was one of the divers clearing the silt away with a dredging machine.

"I found some communication cables, a headset and some other stuff floating around," said Miller. "It's hard to see. It's zero visibility."

Brewer Crane of Lakeside is donating its services but it's also personal.

"My father flew in one of these aircraft in World War II, so I'm looking forward to seeing it come out," Scott Rhodes of Brewer Crane told 10News.

It will take another day or two just to clear away the silt.

If all goes according to plan, the plane should be back on the surface on Wednesday. The plane's ultimate destination will be at the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, Fla

Found it here:
http://www.10news.com/news/24653914/detail.html

[Warbirdnerd]

Looks like we will have to wait until Thursday before we see the beauty of this beast above sea level.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... rs-crash-/

(Sorry I can't "quote" the whole story from my phone...)

[warbird1]

Wow, exciting news! I hope this goes smoothly and safely.

From the link above, there is a host of photos. Here is what they have brought up so far:

[TimAPNY]

I was amazed that the local Nashville news had a clip on this recovery.

Tim

[Warbirdnerd]

Underwater video footage can be found here:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-b ... 57634.html

[paulmcmillan]

Today?


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... y-morning/


Canopy already up - See here for photo

[lmritger]

I cannot wait to see this Beast above water... this will be so freakin' fantastic! The canopy sections look pretty awesome for 60-odd years underwater... that bodes VERY well for the rest of the airframe.

Lynn

[marine air]

The anticipation is killing me!