Warbird Information Exchange

I'm looking for more information on s/n 19866 Helldiver that was recovered from the sea floor several years back. Current status, link to progress or pictures would be appreciated.

Mick, according to the Naval Aviation Foundation site, active restoration has not begun yet.

http://www.navalaviationfoundation.org/ ... -panoramas

I have no idea how frequently the website info is updated.

A quick correction from your initial post: 19866 was a fresh-water recovery (from Otay Lake resevoir in California).

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

This is the state at which it was in as of October last year, with the restoration not yet started/still stored outside (but may have been moved into the restoration hangar by now):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/52287882@N05/23753972919/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/52287882@ ... otostream/

The Hellcat was finished quite some time ago, and the Dauntless restoration has also since been completed and sent out (hung in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in early February). I'm sure their current main focus is the birdcage F4U-1 Corsair, which has been advancing right along.

I took these last Monday (March 7.) Looks exactly the same as it did the last time I took the "ramp tour" in 2013.

Sorry for the angle on this one..I was shooting through the windows from the opposite side of the bus.












Likewise, the Privateer continues to languish in the salt air with the outer wings and tail removed, after much restoration work just a few years ago.




The Corsair continues to make slow but steady progress. Hopefully now that the Hellcat and Dauntless are done it will move to the front of the line.




Cheers!

Steve