Special SBD-3 to be Raised From Lake Michigan this Summer

[Dan K]

From EAA website (and my apologies if already covered):

http://www.airventure.org/news/2012/120425_sbd3.html

[TAdan]

Great news. A&T and Chuck have been pretty busy in recent years.

[bombadier29]

I know it's significant because of the Operation Torch connection but I have to ask: how many SBD's does the NMNA need? Maybe this one will get sold on the market and start a trend!

[The Inspector]

Sounds like the young Ensign encountered the 'Torque Monster' over Lake Michigan and guess who won?

[Pat Carry]

Hopefully there will be even more recoveries from Lake Michigan as well. Thanks for the info.

[cooper9411]

As long as it benefits the navy it's o.k. to salvage "their" aircraft!

[shepsair]

The unit was VS-41 and not VS-14

Better get the ticket 'reserved' and start looking for VS-41 drivers.

Some nice pics on the web of SBD-3's with VS-41 during Operation Torch.

Few others planned for 2012 - think it is going to be a good year

Mark

[Russ Matthews]

Few others planned for 2012 - think it is going to be a good year

Can you elaborate on that any further at this time?

[kalamazookid]

I don't particularly care where it ends up displayed. I just think it's fantastic we're getting another SBD raised and even better, one with combat history. Whoever ends up with it will be getting a significant airframe.

The Air Zoo's SBD that was recovered from Lake Michigan has Operation Torch history as well. I wonder how many other planes at the bottom of Lake Michigan have combat records as opposed to aircraft that were only based stateside? I'd be interested to see how many of these aircraft have overseas records, or whether the majority were just transferred from stateside units.

For those of you griping about where it ends up, look at it this way: at least the aircraft is being raised so it can exist for us to gripe about. If it ends up on the civilian market, fine. If not, fine. At least it's here for us to preserve and future generations to appreciate.

[bombadier29]

I am all for the Navy raising all the planes they can, be they SBD's or SNJ's or whatever. What I don't understand is why they keep holding on to all the multiple copies of certain models. Selling a couple of SBD's or F4F's would fund a TBD recovery! I know all that stuff is the property of the NMNA but it just seems like they could use an updated business plan!

[T-28mike]

Readers digest version:

There was a time when the Navy could trade assets (including aircraft) that were surplus to their needs for goods and / or services. Thanks to several individuals, it became corrupt with deceptive trade practices (from all sides) and was ended.

Maybe some day this policy will reverse again, but that seems unlikely in todays climate (think title 10)

[shepsair]

TB Dude

Sorry, nope. Sworn to secrecy.

Planned is one thing, actually doing the recovery is another.

One week ago there was no P40 in the Sahara.

regards

Mark

[Mike]

One week ago there was no P40 in the Sahara.

Wow, you mean it was just a plant, and hasn't really been there since 1942? The lengths some scammers will go to in order to get 'funding'!

[Chris Brame]

I wonder how many other planes at the bottom of Lake Michigan have combat records as opposed to aircraft that were only based stateside?

I asked about this on another thread once about the many Avengers in the lake and apparently there were no combat veterans among them. Don't know about the remaining SBDs and F4Fs...

[Rick the Librarian]

The writer of the linked article should have done a better job of research - Fighting Squadron 14??? Come on, now!!

Wasn't there an SBD recovered from Lake Michigan whose registry number went back to the Battle of Midway?

Last edited by Rick the Librarian on Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.