Thanks Ric, I had seen a mention somewhere here that the C-87 in question sank quickly but what I'm wondering about really is:
quoting myself
Re: The Question of 2-2-V-1
« Reply #605 on: March 18, 2014, 08:48:07 AM »
- B-24's seem to be noted as likely to break apart in a predictable pattern notably immediately aft of the wings
in shall we say off-nominal landings/ditchings (ie Atka Island, Lady Be Good)
- If the C-87 broke up in the usual fashion, could the now exposed interior side of a section of 0.032 skin be exposed
to hydraulic forces (ie impact with water) that might provide similar features to 2-2-v-1?
- Accident report may note note how/if plane broke up
- Not sure about bouyancy but if there were attached empty o2 tanks in the area as in a B-24 or other floatables, who
knows what was recovered when the survivors were picked up or what washed ashore later...
Thinking if this C-87 had the "fancy" interior (including Kapok insulation which I assume to be buoyant ie life preserver?) and if it broke up in the usual fashion, there is at least a good possibility, maybe even likelyhood for "floaters" with relatively light bits and pieces of structure or interior fixtures attached.
I think one of the photos in the link above shows the nav station and it appears to be just ahead of the cargo bay/passenger compartmentimmediately in front of the wings...so bookcase may have been in general area of where fuselage break up may have happened (if it did in fact break up)
All just hypothetical for discussion of course
I also have an
anecdotal only reference to another C-87 loss at Canton, in 1945 I think, will find that and post