F6F & TBF in 1944&45 crash in Crater Lake National Park

[gary1954]

While doing a little "surfing", I ran across this. First I heard of it
I wonder if anyone is interested in it.

August 17, 1970

Skull of F-6-F Hellcat pilot found by Seasonal Ranger David Panebaker, one half mile from the 1945 crash site near Mt. Scott.
Navy identifies the Hell Cat’s pilot as Ens. Frank R. Lupo, 22, of Newark, N.J.
David Panebaker had become lost while searching for the crash site.
While sitting on a log wondering which direction to continue exploring,
David had a feeling that something or somebody was looking at him.
As he glanced about the trees, David discovered the skull “staring” back at him from beneath a nearby log.

December 3, 1945

Grumman Hell Cat fighter plane crashes east of Skell Head.
The remains of the pilot care found 25 years later.
A group of seven planes had left Redding, California heading for Washington.
As the formation entered clouds near the Park, one of the planes disappeared.
The seven plane squadron was part of a larger group of 100 F-6-F Hell Cats heading eventually to San Diego.
The planes were flying in squadron of 4 each, flying at 21,000 feet.
The squad master saw Pilot Frank Lupo trying to switch his gas tanks.
Apparently the switch failed, the engine quit and the Hell Cat was last seen heading down through the clouds.
The official investigation of the crash was conducted in 1970, following the discovery of the Lupo’s skull.
(See entry for: August 17, 1970)

April or May 1944

Dan Jackman (899-8719 of Jacksonville) reports that he while was stationed in Klamath Falls
when a Grumman Torpedo plane TBF-VC 88-9=89, was reported crashing into the Lake.
Two planes were flying in formation near Mt. Scott,
when one partner turned away and when he looked back, the other pilot was gone.
The government kept the crash a secret because they did not want it to get out to the enemy.
The pilot did not actually see the plane go into the Lake.
Jackman reported that 2 or 3 planes crashed each week near the Army air base in Klamath Falls.

Another plane story says that a SNJ trainer went down late fall of 1944, while heading north and was never found.
The pilot and turret gunner were lost.
Another time a plane’s engine quite over the park and the plane was guided southeast until it crashed into either Agency or Klamath Lakes. (Dick McCullock, 826-7237 and Tony Gallo 779-4611)

Reference http://www.craterlakeinstitute.com/cult ... deaths.htm

[The Inspector]

If they are in Crater Lake, never mind! it's a waterfilled volcano and there are portions of it that the depth has never been established by line or sonar.

[Cking]

What the HELL is a Heck cat????

Rgds Cking

[Dan K]

What the heck is a Heck cat????

Rgds Cking

I believe they meant to write Hep cat.

[Rob Mears]

Ya gotta spell it "Hellcat" or the auto censor changes it to heck.

[gary1954]

If they are in Crater Lake, never mind! it's a waterfilled volcano and there are portions of it that the depth has never been established by line or sonar.

Apparently not true. If what I read is true, any aircraft in that lake, should be in excellent condition excluding crash damage

Facts about Crater Lake
http://oregonexplorer.info/craterlake/facts.html

Feature Metric unit Imperial unit
maximum depth (July 2000) 594 m 1,949 ft
maximum depth (Year 1959) 589 m 1,932 ft
minimum depth (near Phantom Ship) 5-8 m 15-25 ft
average depth 350 m 1,148 ft
max diameter of caldera at the rim 9.7 km (east-west) 6.02 mi (east-west)
min diameter of caldera at the rim 7.3 km (north-south) 4.54 mi (north-south)
surface area 52.9 km2 20.42 mi2, 13,069 acres
highest peak in the park (Mount Scott) 2,721.6 m 8,929 ft
highest peak on the rim (Hillman Peak) 2,484.4 m 8,151 ft
average height of the caldera rim 2,188 m above sea level
(305 m above lake surface) 7,178 ft above sea level
(1,000 ft above lake surface)
record clarity depth (August 1994) 40.8 m 134 ft
average clarity depth 27.4-30.5 m 90-100 ft

Crater Lake is filled with rain and melted snow that fell within the caldera basin. Crater Lake is isolated from surrounding streams and rivers, thus there is no inlet or outlet to the lake. Its primary input is from annual precipitation in the region. Average annual precipitation is 168 cm (66 in); average annual snowfall is 13 m (44 ft). It took approximately 250 years for the lake to fill to today's level (~1,883 m or ~6,178 ft above sea level). The lake maintains its current level because the amount of rain and snowfall equals the evaporation and seepage rate. Lake level has varied only over a range of 5 m (16 ft) in the past 100 years.

Crater Lake is known to be the deepest lake in the United States and the seventh deepest in the world. A maximum lake depth of 608 m (1,996 ft) was recorded by a group of USGS representatives in 1886 using piano wire and lead weight. The maximum depth of 589 m (1,932 ft) was established in 1959 by the USGS using sonar measurement. This depth is referenced at the surface elevation of 1,882 m (6,176 ft). But since its primary input source is dependent upon the climate, lake level is subject to abrupt changes. Crater Lake partially fills the collapsed caldera of the ancient Mount Mazama Volcano. The caldera is a bowl-shape depression of about 1,219 m (4,000 ft) deep.

The maximum depth of Crater Lake recorded at the time of the July 2000 multibeam survey was 594 m ( 1,949 ft). The lake level had an elevation of 1,883 m (6,178 ft) above sea level at the time of the survey. The lake level of Crater Lake fluctuates according to the climate.

The record clarity of Crater Lake was measured at a depth of 41 m (134 ft) in August 1994. The lake clarity is measured with a secchi disk, a black and white disk lowered into the water with a cable. Its exceptional clarity is mainly due to its isolation from streams and rivers. There is no incoming stream to bring any organic materials, sediments, or chemicals to pollute the lake, although natural plankton in the lake and wind-borne pollen have seasonal effects on water clarity. Particulate materials and chemicals are mainly introduced into the lake through precipitation and run-off of the calderal walls. The caldera wall is composed of volcanic rocks that do not react with or dissolve easily in cold water, although warm water escaping from the caldera floor adds a small amount of dissolved solids.

[Rob Mears]

That's still ten times deeper (at it's deepest point) than the deepest planes recovered from Lake Michigan I believe. Also roughly ten times deeper than the average scuba diver can safely descend. That said, I'll bet they are as close to perfectly preserved as one can imagine! I'd hate to have to finance the equipment necessary to pull 'em up though.

[gary1954]

Yep its a deep on alright I imagine they look good, Even with the employment of an atmospheric diving suit
it would be quite a challenge.

[Hal B]

Yep its a deep on alright I imagine they look good, Even with the employment of an atmospheric diving suit
it would be quite a challenge.

Never mind the challenge of them being in a National Park

Last edited by Hal B on Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[marine air]

I was there about 15 years ago and they said there was ALSO a Jetranger helicopter in Crater Lake.

[Cking]

Ya gotta spell it "Hellcat" or the auto censor changes it to heck.

auto sensor???????????????? Bollockscat!!

Rgds Cking