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Author Topic: How is this for a "re-build?" Hellcat recovered from Great lakes  (Read 731 times)

Offline Shultzie

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 Talk about the ultimate in a rebuilding project...Found this on the AvWebcast this morn.
Hellcat recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan...from 1945!
www.avweb.com

Don Shultz

Offline Douglas Ames

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Re: How is this for a "re-build?" Hellcat recovered from Great lakes
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2009, 06:59:36 PM »
Well, someone thinks they have a treasure....The reality is that it's restorable only if the model specific extrusions and fittings aren't corroded. Sheetmetal can be replaced, alot of what you'll see would be used as patterns. As time goes by, the War spares are drying up and sadly there are parts salvagers still scouring the jungles for crash sites with no regard for MIA/ KIA pilot remains. This article turns my stomach...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/05/25/remains_are_lost_in_race_for_relics/
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Offline Chris McMillin

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Re: How is this for a "re-build?" Hellcat recovered from Great lakes
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2009, 03:40:51 PM »
Well,
That story was certainly one sided! One might believe that all US private warbird owners are brazen war grave robbers. I think the tone and meaning for the writer was completely against something that the warbird movement is not. All of my friends and acquaintances that are a part of the movement are staunch patriots ready to aid the veteran, and the war dead's families.
Throughout me reading, I wondered where the government war grave workers have been for the last 65 years? Also, the fact that fatal crash sites generally produce little of use for flying airplane operators. Also, once the war dead are removed from a crash, the airplane is often sold, removed, sent to museum, or made into a memorial. It's up to the country in which it is residing. I see nothing wrong with this.
I hope no one here on these sites thinks that warbird owners are grave robbing to keep their ships airborne, it just ain't so.
Chris...
 

Offline Douglas Ames

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Re: How is this for a "re-build?" Hellcat recovered from Great lakes
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2009, 05:18:44 PM »
I realize this problem is the result of a small number of "Salvagers".
These guys are not the Warbird Owners!
They are Profiteers who care nothing about recovering a Veteran's remains. If you do a web search there are groups who are documenting crash sites and aiding the US Gov. in recovery. I agree, that any parts should be salvaged only after site is searched and documented, and only if legally authorized to do so. Sadly, money corrupts.
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Offline john e. holliday

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Re: How is this for a "re-build?" Hellcat recovered from Great lakes
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2009, 06:47:19 PM »
It is not the money that corrupts, its the people involved. 
John E. "DOC" Holliday
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Offline Mark Misegadis

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Re: How is this for a "re-build?" Hellcat recovered from Great lakes
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2009, 02:54:20 PM »
I read the article on the jungle salvages. This company is mentioend in the article as a restorer of old war birds. They are only a few miles from my house.

http://www.westpacrestorations.com/west-pac-restorations

We see alot of very cool planes fly overhead. My Wife even gets a kick out of the stuff we see.

Mark

Offline Michael Boucher

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Re: How is this for a "re-build?" Hellcat recovered from Great lakes
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2009, 02:38:50 PM »
Hi Mark, Thank you so much for listing that site, it's wonderful !   #^  Mike
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