Video of USS Macon wreck released

[Russ Matthews]

Spotted an article tonight with a link to HD video shot during a recent expedition to the wreckage of the USS Macon (ZRS-5), a US Navy dirigible lost in heavy weather off of Big Sur, California in February, 1935.

In some of the footage, you can make out the upper wing structure and distinctive "trapeze" hook of one of her Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk fighters.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/15623554.htm

[Django]

Neat.

Here's a site with cool pics. Show's the aircraft getting the "hook". That took some skill for sure!

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/ac-u ... s/zrs5.htm

[RickH]

Naval Museum at Pensacola has a very detailed and accurate diorama of the wreck site modeled from this video footage. It is on display next to the only surviving Sparrowhawk.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Shouldn't that be the only "Restored" Sparrowhawk on display at Pensecola?
Four others DO exist, just not on dry land!
Jerry

[RickH]

Maybe intact, restored would be the most accurate !

Bottom line is that once again four very rare aircraft are known to exist, their exact location is known and the Navy ( or at least their academic representatives ) prefers to store them under deep saltwater for future generations !

[DaveM2]

NASM has a Sparrowhawk.....is that the same aircraft, and was on loan to Pensacola?. It is about to go on display at Dulles.

Dave

[RickH]

Yes, Dave. Same aircraft. It's a crying shame that NASM has pulled that aircraft from Pensacola.

At Dulles it's just another neat aircraft lost in a sea of neat aircraft.

At Pensacola it ties in with all of the other Navy lighter than air items that they have on display. You can see the Sparrowhawk as it relates to the rest of that program.

[Mike]

Yes, Dave. Same aircraft. It's a crying shame that NASM has pulled that aircraft from Pensacola.

Perhaps it will encourage the Navy to go and get their own example - after all, they know where four others are.

Than again, perhaps not!

[Warbirdnerd]

Perhaps it will encourage the Navy to go and get their own example - after all, they know where four others are.

Than again, perhaps not!

The loss of the SB2C Helldiver to Dulles has yet to inspire P-Cola to call our friend Mike about one of his Helldiver projects...

[RickH]

Maybe they are culling. Making room for the Vindicator, Buffalo, etc...

[Mudge]

Sorry troops...gotta' disagree with those who bemoan the "loss" to NASM of the Sparrowhawk. I'd venture to say that more people will get to see it in a month at Dulles than they would in a year at Pensacola. IMHO

Mudge the disagreeable
(Somehow that doesn't sound right. )

[RickH]

That may be so Mudge. But is attendance the only criteria that should be used to justify a move like that ? Is the NC-4 next ? It's on loan from NASM too !

[Mudge]

OK...Let me rephrase....The historical significance of the object (whatever it may be) can be realized by a greater number of people. So...yes, I'd say it does justify the move.

Mudge the cunning linguist
(That don't sound quite right, either. )

[Jerry O'Neill]

I think the PBY is on laon from NASM also.
Jerry

[Chris Brame]

Are there any Consolidated N2Y trainers left? They were also used for the trapeze pickup; you can see a couple on the video.

For that matter, are there any NY-1 or PT-1s left besides the NMUSAF one?