Warbird Information Exchange

For years, dive shops around Lake Havasu in Arizona have handed out maps that listed a P-47. It was listed as being in about 50' of water off Windsor Beach. Divers who dove the area say that it doesn't exist. Any evidence that it is/was actually there (it's a lot closer than PNG)? I would think that years of sport divers would have ravaged a well advertised site by now (Havasu is a real party town on weekends).

Maybe it moved down river?

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www.tailhookstudio.com

This is all I found...

http://www.ctaz.com/~bwana/havasu.htm


So who's up for a swim?

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

humm. . . Rob was right there is plenty here in the states to go after rather than overseas.

Tom P

Some of the folks I spoke with said that there weren't many P-47's on the West coast and that the USAF records didn't show any missing out here either. If it is there, whether it can be recovered or not depends if it is on the Arizona or California side of the lake (old river). There are different salvage laws for each state. If it has been in Arizona for more than 50 years, I think it would be difficult to get permission.

The current is pretty strong there and the aircraft is supposed to be amongst some underwater trees. A diver I spoke with said that it would be a challenging dive. He offered to dive it, but I didn't want to risk the cash (flying him in from the Seattle area, renting a boat, etc.) since I couldn't confirm it through a crash record.

I think that the Chinese might have trained in some P-47's out that way (Luke?), but would those have been USAF owned and subject to being in a crash report?

...of course you realize you are trusting divers recognize the difference
between a T-bolt, P-43 Lancer or???. Also, an aircraft flying X country
from a more easterly base etc., could have ended up there.

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

No WIX divers in the SE states area? Fun in the sun, and a treasure hunt to boot!

Maybe it was there once, and got washed down river. A side scan sonar survey of the area was done about 5 years ago, and reported nothing like this. But, being so close it is worth another look.

Very Doubtful

When I lived in Southern Idaho in the early 70s I often heard about a reportedly very intact P-47 that had sat near the shore of the reservoir in American Falls, Idaho. It was said to be very visible from shore in low water. Supposedly the local sheriff fearing live ammunition on board, had it blown up around 1969-71. This was tragic news even in 1973.

There were stories of other fighters in the same reservoir but this was the only story that all would confoirm as true.

Do any WIXers know any details or maybe even a photo of this Thunderbolt?

Hello Mr. Thompson:




May I recommend that you read old news paper articles at your local library for the years you presume this event happened. Go through the sheriff's records, and contact the officer/officers who were involved. Get him on the phone and find out what really happened.

Who knows, maybe the plane was damaged and is still there.

I've been told from many, the P-47 was blown up over-kill and only small parts remained. "American Falls Reservior" was drained for dam repaires at the time, so scavangers had their day after the explosion to place.

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John Lane, Jr.