They Didn't Ask Me (dr_phil_physics) wrote,
They Didn't Ask Me
dr_phil_physics

Wildcat Out Of Lake Michigan

MLive today has a story about the restoration of a Navy Wildcat by the Kalamazoo Air Zoo. The FM-2 was lost in 1944 when launched from the training carrier USS Sable in Lake Michigan with insufficient speed, and thence run over and cut in two by the Sable. "Between 80-120 World War II aircraft are believed to be at the bottom of Lake Michigan as a result of training accidents while operating off of these two carriers."

"A General Motors/Eastern Aircraft Division FM-2 "Wildcat" was pulled out of Lake Michigan on Dec. 7, 2012 after spending 68 years beneath the waves."

Yes, the Navy had two fresh water aircraft carriers during WWII -- in fact, they were sidepaddle steamers!

The USS Sable (IX-81) and...


... her sister ship on Lake Michigan, the USS Wolverine (IX-84).

Shame we don't have any carriers in the Great Lakes any more -- never know when Canada, or Wisconsin, might get uppity.

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