A Lake Michigan recovery now w/ even more photos

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:21 pm

It was announced at the Pritzker Military Library in Chicago this evening that on Friday Dec 7th a date which will live in infamy, a Grumman Wildcat will be pulled out of the chilly waters of Lake Michigan at 10:00am at the Waukegan,Illinois harbor.

peter · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:06 am

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:28 am

peter wrote:

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

I don't think there was a great deal of Carrier Qual stuff done using B-29's.

Plus there's a fair amount of 'HOORAH' that has to happen before the divers go over the side, so until other wrecks are located and recoveries are approved, I'm tickled pink to see these time capsules emerge from their watery graves.
Maybe the Canadian Government knows of some Commonwealth wrecks in you side of the lakes that could be fished out.

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:35 am

peter wrote:

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

I'm glad they are getting any kind of plane out of the lake at this point. At the seminar last nite Taras and the folks from the NMNA said at most there is a 10 year window to get these planes up. After that the deterioration will be so bad recovery wont be feasable.

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

Pat Carry wrote:

peter wrote:

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

I'm glad they are getting any kind of plane out of the lake at this point. At the seminar last nite Taras and the folks from the NMNA said at most there is a 10 year window to get these planes up. After that the deterioration will be so bad recovery wont be feasable.

I bet if they opened up recovery/ownership to private individuals everything left but the SNJs would be out in a year or two...

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:49 am

Warbirdnerd wrote:

Pat Carry wrote:

peter wrote:

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

I'm glad they are getting any kind of plane out of the lake at this point. At the seminar last nite Taras and the folks from the NMNA said at most there is a 10 year window to get these planes up. After that the deterioration will be so bad recovery wont be feasable.

I bet if they opened up recovery/ownership to private individuals everything left but the SNJs would be out in a year or two...

No doubt about that. Federal law would have to be changed and we all know that could easliy take 10 years!

StangStung · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:30 pm

peter wrote:

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

Pull them all up asap. I'm sure we can divvy them up once they're above the water just fine! :lol:

seabee1526 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:18 pm **Posts:** 459

The Inspector wrote:

peter wrote:

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

I don't think there was a great deal of Carrier Qual stuff done using B-29's.

Plus there's a fair amount of 'HOORAH' that has to happen before the divers go over the side, so until other wrecks are located and recoveries are approved, I'm tickled pink to see these time capsules emerge from their watery graves.
Maybe the Canadian Government knows of some Commonwealth wrecks in you side of the lakes that could be fished out.

Something from NAS Grosse Isle possibly, or Selfridge?

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:44 pm

StangStung wrote:

peter wrote:

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

Pull them all up asap. I'm sure we can divvy them up once they're above the water just fine! :lol:

To accomplish this they need cash and alot of it.

JFS61 · **Joined:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:44 pm **Posts:** 305

peter wrote:

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

I once saw a list of all the planes reportedly lost in Lake Michigan during the war, and there wasn't anything really super rare or unique on it except for a couple of Vindicators.

lmritger · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:07 pm

LOL @ carquals in a B-29... I guess you COULD put one on a carrier, once. Or at least most of it.

There's a goldmine down there in Wildcats and Dauntlesses, and yes, even the lowly SNJs are worth recovering, particularly as each airframe has confirmed history. I hope we see recovery efforts accelerated over the next couple of years; perhaps the Navy could sell salvage rights for each airframe for a certain amount, provided it's not a war grave?

Lynn

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:12 pm

JFS61 wrote:

peter wrote:

I wish they would pull something different out of the lake other than a wildcat hellcat corsair...

I once saw a list of all the planes reportedly lost in Lake Michigan during the war, and there wasn't anything really super rare or unique on it except for a couple of Vindicators.

On the contrary, the last Corsair pulled up was a very rare birdcage canopy model and several of the airframes brought up have combat time in the Pacific Theater.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Sure beats what they usually pull out of the lake in the Chicago area...
:axe:

shepsair · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:31 pm

I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again..... (well Sunday).

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012 ... t-recovery

Likes like it is milder there than the UK.

F6F-3 saw that one
F4U-1 saw that one
FM-2 48 hours

SBD - 2013? maybe
TBD - 20?? hopefully

Could not get to the SB2C

Things I do for

MS

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:48 pm

shepsair wrote:

I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again..... (well Sunday).

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012 ... t-recovery

Likes like it is milder there than the UK.

F6F-3 saw that one
F4U-1 saw that one
FM-2 48 hours

SBD - 2013? maybe
TBD - 20?? hopefully

Could not get to the SB2C
I hope we will see others surface in the future. Taras said last night that he personally would like to see the Museum of Science & Industry here in Chicago get one and have one on display at Navy Pier.
Things I do for

MS

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A Lake Michigan recovery now w/ even more photos

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