TIGHAR

Amelia Earhart Search Forum => General discussion => Topic started by: Glenn McInnes on July 09, 2015, 05:35:22 AM

Title: Airplane graveyard in the pacific
Post by: Glenn McInnes on July 09, 2015, 05:35:22 AM
Here is a link to some WW2 aircraft that were dumped around the Marshall Islands in the Pacific at the end of the war..While not at 600ft it gives you some idea what aircraft from 70 years ago would look like at 130ft in similar surroundings as the Electra.

http://www.argunners.com/gallery-wwii-airplane-graveyard-in-pacific-ocean/





Glenn





Title: Re: Airplane graveyard in the pacific
Post by: Ric Gillespie on July 09, 2015, 07:49:34 AM
Here is a link to some WW2 aircraft that were dumped around the Marshall Islands in the Pacific at the end of the war..While not at 600ft it gives you some idea what aircraft from 70 years ago would look like at 130ft in similar surroundings as the Electra.

Not at all.  Those aircraft are on a nice flat sandy bottom off Kwajalein.  You won't find conditions anything like that on the steep, craggy, intensely dynamic reef slope at Nikumaroro.
Title: Re: Airplane graveyard in the pacific
Post by: Bob Smith on July 09, 2015, 03:50:46 PM
But Ric, wouldn't the surface texture, covering with coral, corrosion, etc. be roughly similar?
Title: Re: Airplane graveyard in the pacific
Post by: Ric Gillespie on July 09, 2015, 04:02:49 PM
But Ric, wouldn't the surface texture, covering with coral, corrosion, etc. be roughly similar?

I don't know.  The aircraft off Kwaj look to be in similar condition to the TBDs in Jaluit lagoon but I've never seen a photo of an aircraft or even pieces of an aircraft on an active coral reef slope that is regularly pounded by storms. It may be that airplane wrecks in such environments just don't last long.  Maybe somebody can find an example of a wreck surviving in an environment similar to reef slope at Niku.
Title: Re: Airplane graveyard in the pacific
Post by: Glenn McInnes on July 09, 2015, 04:32:47 PM
wouldn't the surface texture, covering with coral, corrosion, etc. be roughly similar?


Yes,this is what I was attempting to show, aircraft that have been under water for 70 years in the Pacific fairly close to Niku (1000 miles maybe)...The anomaly looks somewhat intact though,at least the main body.




Glenn
Title: Re: Airplane graveyard in the pacific
Post by: Bob Smith on July 09, 2015, 04:51:51 PM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2401816/RAF-Cosford-restorers-spray-Nazi-Dornier-Do-17-Flying-Pencil-bomber-hydration-tunnel.html

Just for looking, copy and paste in  your browser.
Title: Re: Airplane graveyard in the pacific
Post by: Ric Gillespie on July 09, 2015, 05:39:09 PM
wouldn't the surface texture, covering with coral, corrosion, etc. be roughly similar?


Yes,this is what I was attempting to show, aircraft that have been under water for 70 years in the Pacific fairly close to Niku (1000 miles maybe)...The anomaly looks somewhat intact though,at least the main body.
Glenn

Yes, the aircraft could be largely intact.