Florida B-17s!

[cooper9411]

I realize that this is covering B-17s that are down in Florida, but I have often wondered if the USAAC ever pulled the remains of 40-2231 a B-25B out of Lake Apopka near Oakland, Florida after it crashed there on 18 January 1942. Killed four on board; but I wonder if all of the ship was recovered. I know that the lake was heavily contaminated at one time from pesticide run-off. What would that do to the remains if in fact still there?

And then there is 40-2298 B-25B (47th BG, 95th BS, "Green Hornet") a Tokyo Raider that ran out of fuel and ditched in Poyang Lake near Nanchang Apr 18, 1942. I wonder if anyone ever looked for this iconic piece of World War Two hardware.

I'm just sayin'

From what I have read and heard, there are still quite a few aircraft in Lake Apopka waiting to be salvaged. Who wants to go with me and get one?

[bdk]

And then there is 40-2298 B-25B (47th BG, 95th BS, "Green Hornet") a Tokyo Raider that ran out of fuel and ditched in Poyang Lake near Nanchang Apr 18, 1942. I wonder if anyone ever looked for this iconic piece of World War Two hardware.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poyang_Lake

Not very deep, being drained (and shrinking in size dramatically) and dredged often. Doesn't sound promising, but it may be significantly deeper in the middle. The Wiki says that a Japanese troop ship was lost with 200 sailors and has never been found (or maybe not looked for).

[cptsmith]

One of the Sebring B-17 wrecks was west of the field, where the sod farm is now and all that remained were the landing gear and engines. They were removed about ten years ago. Another B-17 came apart in the air near Lake Arbuckle and large pieces remained in the pasture were they landed until removed and scrapped. From talking to locals, most of the wrecks are on government property (Avon Park bombing range). Lake Apopka would probably have some Wildcats from NAS Sanford since it is right off the runway.
The old NTC in Orlando is now a residential community Baldwin.

[Wildchild]

One of the Sebring B-17 wrecks was west of the field, where the sod farm is now and all that remained were the landing gear and engines. They were removed about ten years ago. Another B-17 came apart in the air near Lake Arbuckle and large pieces remained in the pasture were they landed until removed and scrapped. From talking to locals, most of the wrecks are on government property (Avon Park bombing range). Lake Apopka would probably have some Wildcats from NAS Sanford since it is right off the runway.
The old NTC in Orlando is now a residential community Baldwin.

From what the S.I.R. track manager told me, around 11 B-17's or B-17 parts were dumped in that feild, but were pulled out a short time later due to the sod farm.

The 2 B-17's still buried at the airport are, like I said, still there. Along with a Ford GT40 for any car buff's here.

Right now i'm working on a list of other aircraft crashes all over Florida from different types of aircraft, and they might still be where they crashed... Btw, cooper, there are alot of P-40's on the list

[PinecastleAAF]

Lake Apopka would probably have some Wildcats from NAS Sanford since it is right off the runway.

Lake Apopka is not adjacent to the old Sanford NAS and there are no aircraft in the lake as far as I know. Perhaps you are thinking of Lake Monroe that the St. Johns flows through. The problem with aircraft in fresh water lakes in FL is the high concentration tanic acid which destroys aluminum like salt water.

Lake Apopka was drained several years ago as part of a restoration effort. There must be at least 100 P-40 crash sights in Florida scattered thoughout the state so I'm not saying there are no wrecks, just be prepared to beat some bushes.

[cooper9411]

There are naval aircraft in Lake Monroe, Wildcats I believe!

[cptsmith]

You're right, Lake Momroe. I have seen a few pics of FM-2's that went in.

[wingman1]

You're right, Lake Momroe. I have seen a few pics of FM-2's that went in.

care to share? please?

[gary1954]

And then there is 40-2298 B-25B (47th BG, 95th BS, "Green Hornet") a Tokyo Raider that ran out of fuel and ditched in Poyang Lake near Nanchang Apr 18, 1942. I wonder if anyone ever looked for this iconic piece of World War Two hardware.

I'm just sayin'

I thought that with the possible exception of Ski York's Mitchell (the one that diverted to a safe landing, and internment, in Siberia - where it apparently met its end in the early 50s) all the angles on the rest of the Doolittle B-25s had been exhausted.

well apparently not

[Wildchild]

"Numerous aircraft mishaps occurred during the World War II years, but detailed data is not readily available. In late 1970, wreckage of an FM-1 Wildcat was located by hunters near the south shore of nearby Lake Jessup. Subsequent contact with and investigation by USN authorities indicated that the pilot had safely bailed out of the aircraft during this circa 1944 mishap."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAS_Sanfor ... _accidents

Serial # should be 38-498, listed as a YFM-1A

[cooper9411]

"Numerous aircraft mishaps occurred during the World War II years, but detailed data is not readily available. In late 1970, wreckage of an FM-1 Wildcat was located by hunters near the south shore of nearby Lake Jessup. Subsequent contact with and investigation by USN authorities indicated that the pilot had safely bailed out of the aircraft during this circa 1944 mishap."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAS_Sanfor ... _accidents

Serial # should be 38-498, listed as a YFM-1A

You are correct, data is not readily available for naval aircraft but plentiful for AAF aircraft.

[cooper9411]

You're right, Lake Momroe. I have seen a few pics of FM-2's that went in.

care to share? please?

Plenty of pictures in a book titled: United States Naval Fighters of World War 2 by Michael O. Leary
Shows pictures of aircraft that went down in and around the Orlando/Sanford/Lake Monroe area primarily Wildcats.
If I ever figure out how to upload pictures here I'd be happy to post some!

[Wildchild]

If you have a Facebook, take a picture of the picture on your phone. Then post it to Facebook, then get on your computer and copy them to a file inside you PC. Then from there upload them to a image sharing website.

[cooper9411]

I thought that there was a way to upload photos right here on WIX or am I mistaken?

[Wildchild]

I don't believe so, but I might be wrong.