Lake murray B-25s

[_evan]

Does anyone think there might still be a few planes in the lake? I have heard that there may still be 1-2 to upwards of 20 planes lying on the bottom of the lake since the records were lost telling us the true numbers that would remain.... Id sure like to get out there with a side scan sonar system....

[thunderbolt47d]

I live about 3 miles from the lake. There may and the emphasis is may be one or two B-25s still in the lake. Nothing but rumors without sustantiation so far. There are also a couple of civil amphibious planes in the lake as well.A friend from high school's brother flipped his dad's amphib and it sank, took about a month for the recovery crew to get out and look for it. It was no where to be found and after a couple weeks they gave up. The lake is over 300 feet deep in spots and there are very strong under water currents so things tend to move around. There was also a rumored B-17 in the lake but no-one has turned up any proof.
So the best answer is that possibly one or two may still be there most were it is believed were salvaged at least those in shallow water so after they crashed.

Last edited by thunderbolt47d on Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[tom d. friedman]

i participated in the appraisal of the recovery. took 3 months to gather the needed info. dr seigel who headed up the operation speculated there could be a few more, but his theory was unsubstantiated as of the last time I spoke w/him. the recovery was the C MODEL w/ the lower turret, very rare. personally w/ the info I gathered I feel that any other 25's accompanying the intial recovery is pretty remote regarding the circumstances of the crash. it was just a single crash. I hope somebody proves me wrong!!

[_evan]

How exactly did they go about finding out more on the b-25 wreck they ended up raising?? It seems like they knew a little info on the plane before they decided to look for it. They must have had a general area on where it crashed or was it dumb luck they found it??? I'm just wondering if in there research they turned up any remote possibility that another might still exist.

Pretty cool that a 17 might be in the lake as well. with the fish finders that are being sold to the public today I'm betting its only a matter of time before many previously unknown wrecks turn up. Humminbird is producing a fishfinder that has 360 degree bottom mapping capabilities up to 1500 feet deep in a 180 foot radius around the boats.

Im also hoping someone somewhere has substantial evidence there are one or two still down there.
Thanks
Evan.

[TonyM]

There were at least three fatal AAF accidents at Lake Murray: 25 Nov 42 (B-25C); 23 Feb 43 (B-25C); 19 June 43 (B-25C).

[_evan]

Bump there has been some good comments so far but I am still hoping to find alittle bit more out on the b-25s and how they ended up finding out more on the b-25 that they ended up recovering. Thanks for all the good info recieved so far.

-Evan

[michael barnette]

I was fortunate to dive on the B-25 in Lake Murray as part of the project that raised the aircraft. I only did a couple dives on it and shot video for an episode of "Mega Movers." Dr. Seigler conducted a fair amount of research on the loss of this particular aircraft and others that crashed in Lake Murray during training. I used to have copies of a few of the news articles regarding the other crashes. If memory serves, one of them bellied in very shallow water and the surviving crew were picked up and the plane was eventually pulled out. I believe the other may have met a similar fate.
FWIW, the starboard engine ripped loose from the wing upon impact and is still out in the mud from where the aircraft was found. And the port engine's prop spun off and dropped to the bottom sometime during the slow tow to the dam. So, if you want a B-25 prop....
Cheers,
Mike