Help identify wreck.

[Mike Schneider]

I say F6F Hellcat but I would like to confirm with my peers. I cannot say the exact location of the wreck except for Mexico within range of San Diego. Odd that the entire fuse is missing -- only wings (with guns) and engine left. Last picture shows current resting place and placement. I'm hoping you guys can come up with possible dates, names, squad, anything.

Enjoy the pictures!

[bdk]

Sure looks like it. I can't imagine that the engine would have washed ashore though, so maybe the shifting sands uncovered it? Fuselage might be there somewhere. I would have thought that if it had ever been seen by the authorities the guns would have been removed immediately.

[51fixer]

Look Hellcat.
Possible fus or part of it might have burned.
Rich

[Jerry O'Neill]

Looks like an F6F. I might say that it looks as though there was a fire in the fuselage/center section and it got burned out. Especially when you look at the type of damage to the wings near the roots. Just my take on it!
Jerry

[Mike Schneider]

so maybe the shifting sands uncovered it? Fuselage might be there somewhere. I would have thought that if it had ever been seen by the authorities the guns would have been removed immediately.

Recent shifting sands were mentioned -- quite remote as well. But I looked and re looked at the pics, the guns seem to be there.

[Matt Gunsch]

Hellcat,

bet the navy is just waiting for someone to try and take it

Used to be an F6F. Almost looks like the cylinders have melted away leaving just the steel sleeves.

[fotobass]

I'd just like to tell y'all how immeasurably proud of myself I am.

I saw the images and thought 'Hellcat'. The farther I read and saw all of you say the same thing...and l'il ol' photographer/musician me came to the same conclusion in a place full of actually, truly informed folk.

I have to stop posting now, as I have hurt my shoulder patting myself on the back.

[fotobass]

This is a double post.

Last edited by fotobass on Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

[fotobass]

This, on the other hand, is a triple post. Totally different than the double post, as it is...well...third.

Last edited by fotobass on Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

[corsair166b]

Apparently, tho, somehow your need for redundancy remains unquenched...lol

M

[fotobass]

Apparently, tho, somehow your need for redundancy remains unquenched...lol

M

My comedy is so massive, it bears repeating.

repeating.

repeating.

[Mike Schneider]

I received another email from the photographer stating that the fuselage was seen at an earlier date but is now under the sand.

Any ideas why this bird would have been south of the border?

[Jim MacDonald]

Mike,

Here are known losses of F6F's in Mexico:

BuNo 40124, -3, 31 Dec 43, ditched eng failure 8 mi off Rosarito Beach.
40179, -3, 23 Nov 43, stalled & dove in near Rosarito.
40529, -3, 8 Dec 45, ditched eng failure off Point Canoas.
41609, -3, 24 Mar 44, crashed on take off from Wasp off of Mexico.
42309, -3, 8 Dec 45, lost & ditched due to eng failure off Point Canoas.
42646, -3, 16 Jul 45, flew into mountain near Monterey.
70423, -5, 18 Nov 45, forced landing ON BEACH near Baja.
94307, -5, 6 Oct 50, lost forced landing 17 mi west of Mexicali.
94454, -5N, 29 Apr 50, forced landing at Cabaraca Field.

This info is from Ted Darcy's Wreckfinders book on the F6F.

Mac

[Zachary]

Any ideas why this bird would have been south of the border?

I know there were training squadrons that used P-39s in the Gulf of Mexico that made attacks on B-29 formations in order to train the bomber crews how to fend off Japanese fighters - perhaps they also used Hellcats? Or perhaps it was on a long distance over water training flight and had a problem...neat photos regardless.

Zack