I have brought up the Canton C-87 crash (#41-23903 crashed Feb 7 1943 on final approach) in other threads but have compiled a bit of additional data over the summer that might be of interest regarding a possible connection with 2-2-V-1 and maybe other artifacts.
BackgroundThis particular C-87 transport was the 48th of the first 73 C-87's. These first 73 were all conversions of existing B-24D airframes.
Conversion from B-24D included among other things removal of all armaments,
skinning over gun positions, nose replacement with a hinged version, removal of bomb bay doors and replacement with new skin, addition of a two piece cargo door on rear port side and addition of a bunch of passenger/cargo compartment windows.
We know some B-24D's were unpainted (Atka Island wreck for one example).
Most photos of C-87s show them painted but here's one in the nude
http://flgrube1.tripod.com/id329.html As I understand it the only firmly identified aircraft parts found on Gardner Island have B-24 part numbers on them. Of these, the navigators bookcase wears a stamped part number which was installed in B-24D aircraft up to number 42-42482
http://tighar.org/wiki/2-1Apparently, the only known B- 24D loss in the region is this C-87 conversion of a B-24D mentioned above (the other B-24 accidents at Canton were M and J models). The C-87 crash description talks about location being about a mile out from Canton on turn to final approach
DiscussionStandard B-24 has been looked at as source of V-2-2-1 and rejected but what about the modified areas on these 73 early B-24D/C-87 conversions that were skinned over on existing aircraft upon return to the factory.
Meaning it would seem the Electra can't be considered the only possible source of a skin patch of oem level quality in the vicinity of Gardner Island.
Might lack of paint or additional corrosion protection on 2-2-V-1 also fit with a 1941 B-24D since the Pacific war didn’t start until December 41? Number 23903 out of a total of 39600 for 1941 puts this airframe in the middle third of orders/production for all types.
Google Earth view of Canton runway and use of the scale provided indicates that a mile out from end of the runway (end of runway being the logical reference point in local context) could put the C-87 wreck or at least parts of it on an accessible enough part of the reef to allow salvage by natives or eventual washup of debris . Assumes planned approach would be to touch down at distant portion of runway and roll/taxi to the hub area and that current GE view is reasonably representative of the WW2 era. Wiki article
http://tighar.org/wiki/Kanton_(Canton)_Island suggests that an engine from this wreck was salvaged so why not other pieces...."The most likely source of the engine that Yoho worked on is the C-87 crash detailed in the next section."
Does anyone on the forum have a means to identify what specific model of B-24 corresponds to the 32P 009 7 part number on the B-24 exhaust part found on Gardner, if not common to all models? This info could turn out to support or detract from the idea of the C-87 being the source of all B-24 parts on Gardner Island