We've been watching this one for awhile and will bring you whatever we can get of attempts to lift a war-era Douglas SBD Dauntless out of frosty Lake Michigan.
Our understanding is that the beautifully preserved veteran has actually reached the surface of the lake, has been boomed off to prevent oil discharge and is being allowed to drain a bit before she is lifted onto a recovery barge.
Incredible work by preservationists. The airplane will replace an SBD currently on display at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans after restoration. Early indicators are that some wing crumpling and nose damage is apparent but that the fuselage is intact and still bearing its WWII markings.
It's a relic of a time when young pilots practiced takeoffs and landings from a pair of coal-burning paddlewheel ships converted into freshwater aircraft carriers, so seagoing carriers could stay at war. There are dozens of such wrecks in the lake.
This one, when restored, should be worth a cool $2 million.
2 comments:
Beautiful aircraft. Built to drop bombs but still a beautiful design
She's in great shape. look at the prop!
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