Any recovery of UNDERWATER wrecks?

Discussion about wrecks and losses as well as historic sites in the Pacific.

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global
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Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:11 pm

Any recovery of UNDERWATER wrecks?

Post by global »

- of anything other than the Matupi (Rabaul PNG) Mitsubushi Zero raised in 1971 by Bob Scott?

If you know of any - please post.

I'm writing an article.

It needs to be whole wrecks - the idea being that there was a wreck to dive, but as a result of salvo there is no longer a wreck to dive.

Thank you friends,

H

dfboy
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Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:36 am

Re: Any recovery of UNDERWATER wrecks?

Post by dfboy »

There aren't many, mainly because recovery from the ocean requires expensive resources and most wrecks were far from intact (even before impact with the water). Those that sank at their moorings were either strafed or bombed and partly burnt out. Corrosion and marine life encrustation not to mention pillaging from divers means only a shell remains after fifty or sixty years. These factors make ocean aircraft wrecks unattractive for wreck salvagers.

However, some like the Matupi Zero, survived the impact and because of their location did not suffer greatly from corrosion.

In Japan, Gusukube, a Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden fighter was discovered by fishermen in 1978 and recovered in July 1979 (see pic). After 30 odd years there was some corrosion of the skin but sediment had protected the duraluminum remarkeably well. This aircraft is now displayed in a museum at Minamiuwa.

If you search http://www.google.jp with the japanese name for N1K2-J Violet lightning 紫電改 you will get the story of this aircraft in detail plus some great images.

Some US WWII aircraft have been recovered and of course some from the lakes and fjords of Europe and Russia but most wrecks have been left largely alone. Governments have protected them realising the value of the tourist dollar and because they are not a good proposition for restoration - and the mighty dollar always wins in these situations.

dfboy
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