Article on Underwater Aircraft Graveyards

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sun Jan 26, 2014 7:25 pm

jdvoss wrote:

Here is another link of dumped aircraft off of Roi-Namur. According to the article there are an estimated 130+ aircraft there.

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/article ... hp?aid=582

How many years will it take until these planes are completely rotted away to nothing?

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:50 pm

sadly beautiful.......

davidwomacks · **Joined:** Sat Aug 04, 2012 2:34 pm **Posts:** 195

Chappie wrote:

Warbird Kid wrote:

I still can't believe those wrecks wouldn't be worth salvaging.

They are all worth saving. I'd love to see that Milne Bay P-38 salvaged.

Chappie

Maybe 20 years ago but now I fear if they were removed they would simply fall apart. Then again they recently pulled up a Do17 from the English channel and it was pretty far gone but it's gonna spend years in a electrolyte tank to be preserved in state. What I'd like to see is museums recover these planes then put them in large salt water aquariums in their current state. It would be pretty cool to see that B-17 or the zero in a tank with fish swimming about. The planes could then be preserved or at least protected from storms, currents and the most destructive recreational divers! I would think that the Zero is rare enough to warrant its recovery though as its in pretty good shape and looks pretty solid as do those PBJs.

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

Hemiman wrote:

We are fortunate enough that in the past 20+ years CNC machine work, along with other tooling advancement, has saved many a bird from the scrap heap. As far as using parts for templets, I would bet the house that most efforts to break down the a/c would result in a total loss...

Salt water corrosion is an absolute bitch!

The CNC technology is why I'd like to see as many of these airplanes saved as possible, within $$$ reason. Having just a few pieces of an original aircraft makes it just a touch more special.

Speaking of submerged warbirds or to change the subject- how's Dottie Mae coming along?

Chappie

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