A Lake Michigan recovery now w/ even more photos

[whistlingdeath77]

great find! the lakes are like a warbird gold mine

[Pogmusic]

Great Dec. 7th tribute! What about the tail?

[Pat Carry]

Thanks for the pictures Pat. I just caught the tail end of the story on WGN. Yeah, we get WGN here in Ohio

If you have any more pictures please post them.

I'm headed back down to where the plane is in about 30 minutes. Hope to get a few more pics. Stay tuned.

[Pat Carry]

[Pat Carry]

[bdk]

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

Best WIX line of the month

At least someone gets my sense of humor!

[Dan K]

Appreciate the pics, Pat.

December is a perfect time to harvest zebra mussels in Illinois...imagine the smell in July!

[Pat Carry]

As you can see in these photos there is not much time to recovery more planes from the lake. I think Tulsaboy's (aka: Kevin) has a pretty good idea in regards to recovering further aircaft. Basically its now or never. I'm going to email all my representatives in Wash DC and let them know how I feel about the situation. Also, Taras is a first rate guy. Very knowlegable and willing to answer questions about this and previous recoveries. And talk about punctual. Taras said the plane would be lifted at 10am and I'll be damned at exactly 10am the crane started lifting the plane out of the water, slowly at first to let water drain away and then after 65 plus years sitting on the lakebed, the plane is on dry land! Pretty kool stuff.

Last edited by Pat Carry on Fri Dec 07, 2012 5:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Pat Carry]

Something that struck me as fascinating, the navigational light to the extreme end of the tail is still intact. This light is shown in one of the photos so I hope its clear enough for everyone to see.

[Pat Carry]

Take a look at this. www.atrecovery.com/Images/Board1/pages/ATR-7_jpg.htm This is a photo of a Wildcat recovered from Lake Michigan back in the 1990's. Compare its overall condition to the one pulled up today. The rate of deterioration is stunning.

[WIXerGreg]

Take a look at this. http://www.atrecovery.com/Images/Board1 ... -7_jpg.htm This is a photo of a Wildcat recovered from Lake Michigan back in the 1990's. Compare its overall condition to the one pulled up today. The rate of deterioration is stunning.

That's Bu. No. 12260 which is flying today and owned by Rod Lewis. It was in such good condition when they pulled it up much of the paint in the interior is even still original after the restoration. I've got a cylinder removed from the original engine and you'd never know it spent all that time under water.

Has anyone seen the Bu. No. yet of the one that came up today?

[Chappie]

Take a look at this. http://www.atrecovery.com/Images/Board1 ... -7_jpg.htm This is a photo of a Wildcat recovered from Lake Michigan back in the 1990's. Compare its overall condition to the one pulled up today. The rate of deterioration is stunning.

Wow. That is stunning. That Wildcat is flying now? How did Lewis wrench it away from the Navy? I think it is great that these aircraft are being recovered but find it hard to get overly exicted when there is no chance they'll fly again. Really wish the Navy would change their policy to 'Finders Keepers' instead of 'Mine...Mine...Mine'. Think of how many more Navy warbirds we'd have flying today.


Chappie

[WIXerGreg]

I defer to anyone more knowledgable, but:

A&T was awarded 12260 along with another by the Navy as payment for pulling some other aircraft out of the lake. They sold both of them through Courtesy. Jim Porter and Dick Hansen bought and restored this one and it first flew again in 1994. If I remember correctly the pilot (Ensign John Forsberg) that was flying her went she went over the deck of the Wolverine got to sit in the cockpit after the restoration and before he passed away. The accident report officially blamed him for the accident but he always claimed he had the throttle wide open but lost power. When they went down with the underwater cameras they found the throttle was still wide open. I think the plane went through one other owner before Lewis and I believe it's the only actual Grumman built Wildcat still airworthy.

Last edited by WIXerGreg on Fri Dec 07, 2012 10:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Wildchild]

You also have to remember depth still matters in fresh water. Ill bet that recovery groups went and got the best planes, and now there coming back for the others.

But yes, it's now or never.

[cooper9411]

Glad to see that another one was "saved", if memory serves me correct there were over 100 aircraft lost/left in Lake Michigan and to date only about 30 or so have been raised. Any guesses as to when aircraft in any of the other Great Lakes will be recovered? I wonder how hard it was for them to get all the proper permits? I'm sure not as hard as it would be for "Joe Citizen"!