Bass Fisherman Lands World War II Dive Bomber

Bass fisherman Duane Johnson was looking for a lunker with his "fish finder" in San Diego's Lower Otay Reservoir when he caught the outline of something much bigger - an SB2C-4 Helldiver in 85 feet of water.

Duane made a phone call when he got his bass boat back on dry land and a team of historians and conservators was assembled to recover the Helldiver and land it in a local museum.

The plane was forced into a water landing in the reservoir back in 1945 during a practice bombing. The crew made it out but the Navy, faced with wartime priorities, decided to leave the aircraft in place.

Until Duane came along, that is.

Antique Cars - And Their Owners - Not Doing Well On Modern Roadways

In the past, a convoy of antique cars whirring down the Interstate with their occupants waving to any and all who gave them the universal "thumbs up," was a quaint sight - a vestige of a long-gone period in our automotive history.

These days, however, as more people flood our highways in overpowered and overbuilt cars with power plants that would have left Henry Ford agape - an older car is merely an obstruction. Several have been hit in recent weeks, and their occupants killed.

A 62-year-old Bowie man and his 10-year-old daughter were killed Tuesday night in Howard County, Maryland when the antique car they were riding in was struck from behind and overturned on Interstate 70 near the Route 97 exit in Lisbon.

Witnesses told police that the man's Model A was travelling at about 50 mph when it was hit from behind and overturned. The car was in the slow lane and carried appropriate signage advising other motorists that it couldn't go as fast as they could.

It was the second fatal accident involving a vintage automobile in the area in less than a week. A week earlier, a 73-year-old Gambrills man was killed when his 1936 Ford was hit head-on on Defense Highway, police said.

It seems modern motorists may have higher expectations of older cars, expecting them to react as swiftly as their modern cousins. The disconnect is frightening. But it seems that modern society has somewhere to go and likes to get there at Warp speed.

Our condolences to the owners of these old treasures and to their families.

Father's Day Finds - Great Treasures That Have Come Our Way

Not all found on Father's Day, of course, as we have to take a break sometime. But close enough.

You know that feeling you get when you walk in on something nice, perfect color and nicked in a nice way that lets you know it has been around awhile and lived an exciting life - and no one else knows what it is?

For that minute it's yours and you move to it as if you're in a dream, heart pounding, the light glinting off the surfaces in just the right way as the maker's hand begins to reveal more and more of itself the nearer you get.

Here was one of those, a nice plains Indian hatchet pipe, found in a local house one afternoon. We were just taking it easy, moving through the house and having fun, staying away from the shriekers and the shovers looking to shell out fifty cents for something they could sell at the flea market. A man ahead of us picked it up, snorted at it derisively and snorted again when he looked at the price tag.

"Reproduction," he said, moving off to the Depression Glass.

And then it was in our hand, warm and full, the haft just perfect and shaped 150 years ago, rocker engraving on the hatchet blade, everything just the way it should be. Paying at the door and looking up in time to see an Imperial German regimantal banner, hanging in a foyer wall.

"I'll take that, too," you say, heart thumping - and you know it's going to be a great day. Happy Father's Day!

"You Are About To Embark On A Great Crusade..."

Remembering all those who slogged ashore on this day 65 years ago - and those who still rest there.

Video of Antique Thieves In Action, Do You Know Them?

Police in Boston released surveillance video of two men they say are responsible for a break-in at a South Boston condo building over the Memorial Day weekend - and helping themselves to jewelry, antiques, and artwork.

The victims said they had been away for the weekend. No signs of forced entry were detected. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the recovery of the stolen items.

If you know these guys, it may be time to "drop a dime" to the police.