Warbird Information Exchange

A very well-preserved Ki-54 "Hickory" twin-engine trainer has been recovered from a deep lake in Japan. More info here: http://arawasi-wildeagles.blogspot.com/

SN

Judging by the second video, the recovery didn't go quite the way they planned, but at least they got all of it. So where will it go now?

A search on preservedaxisaircraft.com shows the only others existing are a pair of fuselages - one in Australia and one in China. Nice looking little twin.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Seems like I recall seeing video of it still intact on the bottom. Sure seems like someone didn't do their planning very well to have it come apart like that.

Eggsalent, based on the pictures alone, I would suspect the the damage to the plane was due to improper rigging and lifting, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I think that even I could have raised her with staps, 55 gallon drums, an air compressor...not as simple as I write, but it has been done before...Hope they can restore whats left

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

i'm sure it will be promptly snapped up by 1 of the high profile japanese collectors in that country, somebody like harada. that isn't a bad thing though considering his restorations are always 1st class.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

It really does not matter how well you do your homework or how much time you spend planning a recovery, these planes have been under water for 70 years and even though they look "intact" while underwater, in reality they are not. Even fresh water wreaks havoc on aircraft, not as much as salt water but still enough to degrade the structural integrity. At least it was recovered and credit to those involved for taking the risk/opportunity to save it!

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A&P/I.A., A.A.S./Aviation Maintenance technology
Warbird salvage/recovery
One day I'll get that P-40!

Are there any other private collectors in Japan? I thought Harada San was the only one.

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

Dang. I always complain that there's no warbird action here & I miss this one. Lake Towada is only about 2-3 hours from my house & the base they were going to in Hachinohe is just a half hour away.

As usual, I'm a day late & a 100 yen short.

Mac

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WWII Naval Aviation Research - Pacific
https://www.ww2nar-pac.com/

Amen

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

Spent some time in Yokosuka. I enjoyed Japan very much.

Congratulations to the recovery team! Overall it looks to me they did a good job.

To my eye the plane has crash damage and corrosion which could have contributed to the break up, or it could have been from the "water landing". From my experience, the corrosion was present on the airframe prior to fresh water submersion. If the airframe was clean at the time of the crash it more likely would have less corrosion.

Save a plane today!

Pirate Lex
http://www.BrewsterCorsair.com

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An ego is no match for gravity.

seabee1526,

I've never been down to that neck of the woods. Was there anything from WWII left when you were down there?

I was surprised when I first got here that outside of four hangars on base, I've never seen anything from WWII here. No rusted out jeep frames or anything.

Mac

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WWII Naval Aviation Research - Pacific
https://www.ww2nar-pac.com/

Mac,

Don't remember seeing much from WWII era, but the Navy Base has lots of bunkers and tunnels built into the hills on the base that the Japanese used. Not WWII but I was always surprised that the Mikasa survived the war, with her being so close to the shipyard.