San Diego Devastator wreck recovery effort revealed

old iron · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:35 pm

Imritger wrote:

Quote:

Since the (drastically needed) change at the NHC, we've seen the recovery of a combat veteran F6F-3, a couple Dauntlesses, a rare SB2C-4, and an ultra-rare F4U-1... and now they're going after one of the last true prizes in Naval Aviation archaeology, a TBD Devastator.

So, how about the Curtiss F9C-2 "Sparrowhawk" at the USS Macon crash site?? Also off San Diego, maybe a two-fer?

Russ Matthews · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:56 pm

old iron wrote:

So, how about the Curtiss F9C-2 "Sparrowhawk" at the USS Macon crash site?? Also off San Diego, maybe a two-fer?

The Macon wreck is actually located off Point Sur (closer to San Francisco) ... and smack in the middle of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

What could possibly be left?

airnutz · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:26 pm

TBDude wrote:

old iron wrote:

So, how about the Curtiss F9C-2 "Sparrowhawk" at the USS Macon crash site?? Also off San Diego, maybe a two-fer?

The Macon wreck is actually located off Point Sur (closer to San Francisco) ... and smack in the middle of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Tho that hurdle may be passable if the right buttons were pushed, being a designated US Navy gravesite is pretty rough to get by.

Russ Matthews · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 6:46 pm

the330thbg wrote:

What could possibly be left?

http://www.mbari.org/news/news_releases/2006/macon-images-postcruise.html

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:39 pm

When I did my underwater recovery articles Director Rassmussen said the Sparrowhawk would not be likely be recovered unless there was a current Navy recovery operation which they could 'piggy back' on.....so highly unlikely.

Dave

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:43 pm

agent86 wrote:

ok guys,lets bring her up.no games,no court battles

i'm with you. how long can we hold our breath for? :lol:

airnutz · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:21 pm

DaveM2 wrote:

When I did my underwater recovery articles Director Rassmussen said the Sparrowhawk would not be likely be recovered unless there was a current Navy recovery operation which they could 'piggy back' on.....so highly unlikely.

Dave

So Dave, the best scenario is if the navy contracts a support boat out of San Francisco to pick up the TBD, and on the
way to do that they swing by point Sur and recover a Sparrowhawk or 2 on the way? :wink:

agent86 · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 3:57 am **Posts:** 926

airnutz wrote:

DaveM2 wrote:

When I did my underwater recovery articles Director Rassmussen said the Sparrowhawk would not be likely be recovered unless there was a current Navy recovery operation which they could 'piggy back' on.....so highly unlikely.

Dave

So Dave, the best scenario is if the navy contracts a support boat out of San Francisco to pick up the TBD, and on the
way to do that they swing by point Sur and recover a Sparrowhawk or 2 on the way? :wink:

dont hold yer breaath,you'll be long dead and cold before this happens

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:41 pm

well.....at least bring me to shore so the seagulls have something to eat

Russ Matthews · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:31 pm

I pulled some stills off the EAA Facebook page (which I presume are screen caps from the video A&T released last week).
They give us a chance to more closely study the best images currently available to the public documenting the wreck of 0377...

Pilot's cockpit

Co-pilot/Bombardier position

Radioman/Gunner's seat

Starboard wing

agent86 · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 3:57 am **Posts:** 926

TBDude wrote:

I pulled some stills off the EAA Facebook page (which I presume are screen caps from the video A&T released last week).
They give us a chance to more closely study the best images currently available to the public documenting the wreck of 0377...

Pilot's cockpit

Co-pilot/Bombardier position

Radioman/Gunner's seat

Starboard wing

It actually looks to be in rather incredible condition.

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:14 pm

did they take the fish too?

agent86 · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 3:57 am **Posts:** 926

whistlingdeathcorsairs wrote:

did they take the fish too?

The fish were dindin,free sushi

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:49 pm

poor fishy

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San Diego Devastator wreck recovery effort revealed

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