Canadair Sabre to be Recovered From a Lake in Canada

[mrhenniger]

I just received news on an email list from a guy that is planning to recover a Canadair Sabre out of a lake this upcoming summer. I have included his comments and mine in quotes below...

Chris Charland...

I just got the phone call I've been waiting for 9 months. I've just been awarded salvage rights to a Canadair Sabre Mk. 6. s/n 23400. It's in one piece in a shallow lake southwest of Goose Bay. The aircraft was being ferried to Europe by No. 1 Overseas Ferry Unit. The aircraft had to have an aileron changed at Goose. The pilot had an engine failure and put it down on Little Lake Minipi. It was left there and sank when the ice melted. I already have a salvage team ready to dive on it this summer.

Mike Henniger...

Congrats! Mind if I post your news and name on WIX? I am sure there are others that would be interested in these events.

What are your eventual intentions for the Sabre?

Chris Charland...

I do not mind at all. I'm planning to have the Sabre sent out to the Nanton Lancaster Society Museum at Nanton, Alberta. One of the former Golden Hawks team leaders is from Nanton. If that falls through, then I am going ot see if any of the current active duty squadrons that operated Sabres would be willing to fish it out and take it home.

Apparently Chris is also looking to obtain permission from the Canadian Government to sell the engine to help fund the recovery.

I thought there would be interest here in this story.

Mike

[RMAllnutt]

Hi Mike, that's really interesting news. I really hope that it comes to pass. Sounds like a lot of trouble to go through to recover a fairly common aircraft though... and selling the engine sounds like a non-starter. Is there anything specific about the aircraft which makes it a little more distinctive? Great news none the less though... I love to hear about underwater recoveries of every sort.

Cheers,
Richard

[Chris Brame]

What year did it end up in the lake?

[mrhenniger]

What year did it end up in the lake?

The Griffin book indicates it was a write off (no surprise) and provides an SOS date of 26 March 1956. So it would have landed on the lake likely sometime before than, probably only a few days. I'll ask Chris.

Mike

[mrhenniger]

and selling the engine sounds like a non-starter.

That was my thought. Would an engine as complex as a jet be of any value to anyone after 50+ years under water? Even fresh water?

Great news none the less though...

I do have to give the guy some credit. I respect the people that "do" rather than just talk about "doing". That is not intended to be a dig against the dreamers as I count myself as one.

Mike

[peter]

Great little museum for her to go to if I do say so myself
Strange how he would consider selling the engine as I am sure it would be worth only scrap value. Maybe he could talk to rcaf and see if someone there could undertake the salvage for him as an exercise.

[bdk]

Why not have the US Navy do the salvage for training? Oh, never mind! Maybe not such a good idea if they actually want to display it...

[mrhenniger]

More from Chris...

R.C.A.F. Canadair Sabre 6 s/n 23400 and c/n 1190, crashed at about 17:30 Hours in daylight conditions on the 19th of February 1956. The flight test conducted after an aileron replacement. The Sabre experienced a complete engine failure while in level cruise flight. It made a flaps up, wheels up landing on snow covered Lake Minipi at 52:25 North - 60:45 West. The aircraft was fitted with its drop tanks. They no doubt cushioned the impact. The pilot was S/N 30257 Flight Lieutenant Ray D. Himmelman R.C.A.F. He walked away from the crash unscathed. He did get sheken up a bit as he did not fully secure himself in the cockpit. This aircraft and others were being ferried overseas by No. 1 Overseas Ferry Unit for use with the R.C.A.F.'s No. 1 Air Division.

Lake Minipi is between 62 and 74 statute miles south-west of Goose Bay
depending on which end of the lake you are taking the measurements.

I talked to Alf McDonald tonight. He's a former member of the Golden Hawks. He knows Ray Himmelman very well and told me that he winters in Mexico. I'll fire Ray off an e-mail tomorrow morning.

Keep you posted!

[RMAllnutt]

Sounds like the aircraft should be in pretty good condition, provided the ice hasn't crushed it over the years (like the Don Brooks B-17). I am looking forwards to its recovery. Thanks very much for keeping us posted Mike!

Cheers,
Richard

[B-29 Super Fort]

Are there any underwater photos of this aircraft?

[mrhenniger]

I will need to wait a little while to ask more questions. Chris found out earlier today that his uncle's nephew was one of the Canadian soldiers killed in Afganistan today in that road side bomb explosion.

I will follow-up after an appropriate amount of time.

Mike

[helinut]

Hi, Chris, I know that another group looked into recovering this aircraft, the aircraft was being salvaged by the airforce, The engine is no longer there , it had to be dropped from a USAF helicopter, that was helping with the salavage when it experienced engine problems. It is believed to be in two main pieces, and that the other group had acquired ownership of it.

[Bluenoser]

The previous posting is quite correct -- the engine is no longer with the aircraft fuselage and would likely be extremely difficult to locate.
I was the pilot of that flight, and will be pleased to answer any queries about the cause, the forced landing, and subsequent retrieval efforts.
Contact me at <mexrayh@gmail.com>

[agent86]

If you want the recovery to fail and the aircraft torn to shreds in the process,then yes,I agree with Mr.BDK call up the U.S. Navy.They have lots of practice and lots of scrap aluminum aircraft related debris spread over numerous bodies of water.(can anyone say"Lake Washington"?)

[mrhenniger]

I received another email from Chris is reference to some photos included in the same email. Unfortunately I can't share the photos with you...

Chris...

They were taken by an R.C.A.F. photographer from Goose Bay during the first salvage operation. The second salvage op took place in June of 1956. I think I mentioned that the engine was slung out by a U.S.A.F. H-21 (22nd Helicopter Squadron based at Goose Air Base). The H-21 suffered an engine failure and let go the engine. It hit the deep snow and broke in two. It was discovered accidentally the following spring and eventually recovered.

Mike