lake erie aircraft wrecks.... both u.s. & canadian side.

[Cornerlot]

Was there any mention of a Corsair in Lake Erie near Kelley's Island?

My understanding is a Corsair is somewhere off Kelley's. There are supposed to have been side scanning sonar expeditions. The group doing tjis has been a little quiet. Either to protect the site, or the lie.

Date: May 10, 2004
Publication: Fort Morgan Times (CO)

Dean O. DeLong, 81, died in Shreveport, La., following complications from surgery.


DeLong was born 1923 in Fort Morgan to Oliver and Amy Florence DeLong.
He graduated as an engineer from the University of Colorado and remained a member of the alumni association throughout his life.
World War II introduced him to what would become a great, lifelong passion ... flying.

He was a decorated Korean fighter pilot, enthusiastic chorister and longtime developmental engineer with Ford Motor Co.

DeLong won his wings as a Marine pilot and served with distinction leading a successful attack on enemy positions leading a
successful attack on enemy positions in the face of heavy fire.

He went on after the war to serve a total of 16 years in the Reserves including a stint as a flying instructor
and remained a keen amateur flyer well past middle age. At one point he crashlanded an F4U Corsair in Lake Erie

He flew with a Marine flyers group calling themselves the Knights of Olde and kept contact with his Korean flying comrades throughout his life.

He survived by his wife Gerry sons Michael Brant DeLong of Coldwater Mich Kenrie Jones DeLong of Turk Lake Mich and Donald Alan DeLong of Bloomfield Hills


Also.. http://www.marinechat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5089


Also can anyone confirm location for...

Goodyear FG-1D Corsair
Bureau Number: 92008
Date of Accident: August 5th 1950
Pilot Name: 1st Lieutenant Dean O. Delong (USMCR)
Rescue Pilot Aircraft: PBY,Rescue Pilot Name: Mike Erard
Wingman in Corsair Squadron: Whitey Potter
Flight Leader in Corsair Squadron: Whitaker
Corsair Squadron preparing for Korean Conflict

About 15 years ago a co-worker of mine told me about about Dean DeLong, who used to work with him while he was an engineer at Ford. Dean had told him that while in the Navy he had ditched his plane (type was not mentioned) in Lake Erie. Dean had also said that years later his son had located the plane and dived on it. No specific date or location was mentioned. After hearing this, I tracked down one of Dean's sons (Dean had passed away by then) who claimed he had never heard the story, but was going to ask his siblings. I never heard back from him, but for years I have wanted to verify this story.

[cooper9411]

It would be hard to believe that any one could find something in Lake Erie these days, with all the algea and the water is very murky and lets not forget the mussels!

[kr1360]

Actualy, thanks to the Zebra muscles the water in lake Erie is a lot better. I have been going to Pelee Island, big speck next to Kelly Island, for 40 years and the difference is huge! Visability is much improved as has water quality.

[cooper9411]

Actualy, thanks to the Zebra muscles the water in lake Erie is a lot better. I have been going to Pelee Island, big speck next to Kelly Island, for 40 years and the difference is huge! Visability is much improved as has water quality.

I don't doubt that, but around here on the news a few weeks ago they were talking about the high algae levels, western end of lake erie

[kr1360]

That comes and goes. If I remember correctly, about 10 years ago the water at the south end of Pelee was tested and it was was just about drinking quality, huge change!!! Water gets more clear and the Walleye go deeper!!!! LOL Yellow Perch are back also!!!

[cooper9411]

[quote="kr1360"]That comes and goes. If I remember correctly, about 10 years ago the water at the south end of Pelee was tested and it was was just about drinking quality, huge change!!! Water gets more clear and the Walleye go deeper!!!! LOL Yellow Perch are back also!!![/quote

Around the Islands I'm sure it would be alright, around the main coastline is where the problem generally is located.

[Pat Carry]

Actualy, thanks to the Zebra muscles the water in lake Erie is a lot better. I have been going to Pelee Island, big speck next to Kelly Island, for 40 years and the difference is huge! Visability is much improved as has water quality.

I do know the clarity of the water in Lake Michigan has greatly improved since the mussels made their appearance there a number of years ago. Biologically, I dont know if thats a good thing or a bad thing in terms of the overall health of the lake but it sure looks better.

[tom d. friedman]

erie is so shallow, especially around the reefs of the islands. all the fishing activity, dropped anchors for perching, & sheer wanton stripping of any wreck whether it be a ship or plane makes this theory pie in the sky. i have contact w/ 2 of the top erie divers, & they've about seen it all. as for the mussells, yes they've inproved water clarity 100 % but their sheer weight of 30 thousand per square foot is crumbling anything of interest in this lake. the other lakes have the depth advantage as a&t recovery has proven countless times.

[cooper9411]

I've spoken with a few dive shops around the Cleveland as well as Toledo area. Everyone has said basically most of what you said, how ever, there remains numerous ships, aircraft that have yet to be discovered. With Lake Erie being the shallowest one would think that someone would have found the plane by now if in fact, it went in around Kelley's. Why would a Corsair be flying around Kelley's Island to begin with?

[Eric Rogers]

I've spoken with a few dive shops around the Cleveland as well as Toledo area. Everyone has said basically most of what you said, how ever, there remains numerous ships, aircraft that have yet to be discovered. With Lake Erie being the shallowest one would think that someone would have found the plane by now if in fact, it went in around Kelley's. Why would a Corsair be flying around Kelley's Island to begin with?

There used to be Corsairs at Grosse Ile back in the day.

[cooper9411]

Yes there were Corsairs at Gross Ile. Like I asked, why would they have been around Kelley's? Gross Ile is a good distance northwest of Kelley's Island.

[CoastieJohn]

Yes there were Corsairs at Gross Ile. Like I asked, why would they have been around Kelley's? Gross Ile is a good distance northwest of Kelley's Island.

Could be a number of reasons. Cross-country trainer or nav trainer comes to mind.

[cooper9411]

Anything was possible.

Last edited by cooper9411 on Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

[cooper9411]

Last edited by cooper9411 on Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

[cooper9411]

One can only imagine what lies beneath the waves!

Last edited by cooper9411 on Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:16 am, edited 1 time in total.