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Missing WWII Aircraft Located .. By "Accident"
Members of a submarine crew sent to examine artificial reefs off the coast of Miami had the surprise of their lives earlier this year when they instead stumbled across a World War II relic. (www.huffingtonpost.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Looking at the flaps which are down, perhaps this was a ditched aircraft? Question is, was it a successful one where the pilot was picked up? Lots of footage of Hellcats that you see on the tele show the aircraft flipping over. This one is on its back. Hopefully the pilot got out. Guess when the Navy does a little research, the answer will be there. I've read more than a couple of books that say "LT so and so" flew out there one day and was never heard from again. Maybe this is one such incident. If he is still in his plane, may he continue to Rest in Peace.
Navy will probably send divers down to get the Bureau Number so they can identify the aircraft, who the last pilot was, and whether he was recovered. If he wasn't recovered, they will probably have a ceremony over that spot and place a wreath. Regardless, the wreck is protected under Federal law from any exploration beyond the discovery and subsequent Navy investigation.
It looks like it's deep enough so it won't be bothered. You have to be pretty experienced to dive that deep. Recreational divers generally aren't, and there is nothing there of interest for a pro.
There are a good number of Navy divers with helmet diving experience, especially among the Seabees. Finding an experienced diver won't be that hard. It's more a matter of whether the Navy wants to spend the money to do it. I think they will so they can close this particular chapter.
My comment was a response to a comment about "trespassers" and nosy Nelly's disturbing and possibly vandalizing the site. I don't even see the comment now, but my comment is displaced.
Your comment is up there. Other than finding out about the pilot, what's the big deal. Off coast Florida is littered with WW2 aircraft, mostly down on training flights. And now let's don't get that Bermuda Triangle out there either.LOL
No big deal. I'm so misunderstood :-). You're right. I think half Grumman's production lies under the waters around Florida. I'll bet there are more aircraft under Tampa Bay than Savo Sound.
let's don'r FORGET that Bermuda Triangle