Another SBD Raised From Lake Michigan Bottom 6-19

Information about Pacific Theatre aircraft currently flying or under restoration.

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Joer911
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Another SBD Raised From Lake Michigan Bottom 6-19

Post by Joer911 »

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... 20.article

Again, for those of you wondering how an SBD ended up in Lake Michigan, here is the short answer. During WWII, Carrier Qualifications Training was established at NAS Glenview, in suburban Chicago, IL. Two sidewheel steamships were converted into training carriers, the USS Wolverine and USS Sable. From 1942 until Sept of 1945, teh Sable and Wolverine trained half of all carrier qualified pilots in the US Navy. They operated in the summer and winter, even when ice developed on Lake Michigan.

The planes used were more likely to be combat veteran aircraft. It's likely that this SBD participated in early campaigns before being replaced by newer versions of the SBD or the SB2C Helldiver. As lake Michigan is fully inside US Boundries, the US Navy has held ownership rights to these aircraft. Anumber have been recovered and restored to museum status including another SBD, a Vultee Vindicator (only known example) and a F4F (an F4F, not an FM2 built by GM) and are now in the Navel Air Museum in Pensecola, FL.

The F4F was traded to a private part and restored to flying condition. I saw it at Oshkosh a number of years ago. One of the youngest pilots to earn his CQTC qualification was an 18 year old by the name of George H.W. Bush. Robert Taylor and a number of other actors served at NAS Glenview during the war. Almost every type of carrier borne aircraft was involved in CQTC training including the SNJ trainer.
Joe

Hollywood
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Re: Another SBD Raised From Lake Michigan Bottom 6-19

Post by Hollywood »

Yeah, and we're STILL cleaning the mud and crud out of it! I work at NMNA in Pensacola and this last one is a BEAUTY.......
It looked like you could straighten the prop, work the ding out of the wing, and fly it away! We got the wing off and it's broken down pretty well now but the most amazing thing was the cockpit. Except for a few zebra mussels and barnacles it was just muddy. The rubber eye piece on the bomb site was still flexible! The one we have in the Museum actually fought in the battle of Midway, and we're pretty "stuffed" in the main exhibit building, so we'll sit it out back until we can restore it to a "new" condition since we already have two ahead of it and one is going to the Pearl Habor Museum.......

PF
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Re: Another SBD Raised From Lake Michigan Bottom 6-19

Post by PF »

related link at http://www.pacificwrecks.com/forum/view ... f=8&t=2146
Years ago Popular Mechanics had a short article of a WW II aircraft salvaged

PF
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Re: Another SBD Raised From Lake Michigan Bottom 6-19

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NS38th_Aristaeus
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Re: Another SBD Raised From Lake Michigan Bottom 6-19

Post by NS38th_Aristaeus »

Hollywood wrote:Yeah, and we're STILL cleaning the mud and crud out of it! I work at NMNA in Pensacola and this last one is a BEAUTY.......
It looked like you could straighten the prop, work the ding out of the wing, and fly it away! We got the wing off and it's broken down pretty well now but the most amazing thing was the cockpit. Except for a few zebra mussels and barnacles it was just muddy. The rubber eye piece on the bomb site was still flexible! The one we have in the Museum actually fought in the battle of Midway, and we're pretty "stuffed" in the main exhibit building, so we'll sit it out back until we can restore it to a "new" condition since we already have two ahead of it and one is going to the Pearl Habor Museum.......
Hello Hollywood
The NMNA is my fav spot in Pensacola.
CAN'T TALK; GOTTA SHOOT
http://www.Hawaiiclipper.com
http://www.NS38th.com
http://www.com-central.net
Find Them, Restore Them, Fly'Em

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