Re: Pax River Buried aircraft...
 

During the late 40s and 50s non-flyable WWII aircraft of any national origin were worth no more than their scrap value. I was an airplane nut in those days and had the opportunity to buy complete but non-flying WWII military types for as little as $200. In some cases, derelicts were to be had for just hauling off and I did participate in a least one such incident. Service buddies who were stationed in Germany during that period told of huge Luftwaffe aircraft scraps yards that were being melted down at a rapid rate.
It is like the Spyder we bought out of a garage attic in 1957 for $200, complete with Porsche engine. The last real Porsche Spyder I sold was for a price well over 1000 times greater and the 356 I bought for $250 and raced is probably worth a bit more today. My suggestion is get over being mad about such things, even if a person had been there, the chances are slim that they would have saved as useless an item as a completely stripped fighter plane or a trashy out of date race car.

Best regards,

Artie Bob

Re: Pax River Buried aircraft...
 

Sad sight here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21088552@N05/page4/

Dave

Re: Pax River Buried aircraft...
 

I was able to buy a Packard V1650-9 as late as 1974 for $50 and a Norden Bombsight in 1976 for $75.

Re: Pax River Buried aircraft...
 

Hi
If it's still there, there is enough for a rebuild...
cheers
jerry

Re: Pax River Buried aircraft...
 

I contacted Prof. Steinle from the DTM Berlin regarding the possible relicts of these aircraft ...... He answered me, that he knows already since years of these wrecks, but they don't have enough money to start some research at American bases .... so they focussed at possible locations in Europe only ! Sad for me, i don't think that there is a second chance to find an Arado 234 wreckage elsewhere ..... But that's life !

Thomas

Re: Pax River Buried aircraft...
 

My information is third party and tests my memory, but according to what I recall from a conversation many years ago, a civilian gained USN approval to remove the nose from one of the Arados at Pax River, had it shipped to his home in upstate NY, where he installed it in his bathroom over the toilet. I believe the story true and the Arado's nose went with the house when it was sold!

Re: Pax River Buried aircraft...
 

Thomas

There is supposedly an example in one of your lakes near Rechlin according to a diver who has seen it (along with a few other 'gems'). A very long story attached to this which I can't go into here though.
Perhaps DTM should do a sonar check on some of your lakes sometime :-)

regards
Dave

Re: Pax River Buried aircraft...
 

Dave

Interesting you mentioned Germany. I think they have the policy as Austria - lost war goods passed over to the country. Unfortunately whereas Austria will allow a recovery and grant a licence, Germany claims everything for the German State - most of which they can't afford to recover/restore and do not seem to allow for any trades/recovery.

Surely you can allow a deal ofof say three recoveries - DTM Berlin gets one restored and the other two get sold/exported.

Having undertaking a lot of research on the 2TAF for Axel Urbanke's book with the Dora 9, I know for a fact there were significnat loses in the lake during April/May 1945.

Most involved Schwerin/Muritz and Plauersee though Schwerin was the main area of operations for 2TAF.

These German loses either covered ditchings, collisions and combat.

Aircraft in the reports for Schwerinersee involved Bf109's, Fw190D-9's, Buchmanns and Seibel 204's. (In Bad Zwischenhahn there is reportedly two Bf110's that collided). Never found any Allied loses in the lakes - Tempest V would be nice!

When th Fw190D was recovered from Schwerin in 1990/91 they went after an aircraft which flew too low and crashed on the lake (17 April 45) and they knew the area. The Fw190D that was recovered was one shot down a few days earlier and this was after only searching one small area of the lake!

In addition - they found a silver MiG-15/17 with Russian stars - a 1950's loss. All these are still at the bottom of the lake!

With regards the other lakes - we have heard what is in there and must also include a number of Russian types? - La5/7, Il-2, Yak9??

Dr Steinle could do with trying to get some arrangements/agreements in place to get some of these recovered/displayed and/or restored.

regards

Mark

Re: Pax River Buried aircraft...
 

Dave

thank's for your suggestions, that gives me some hope ...... ! I only pray, the money of the DTM Berlin will be enough to try it one day ! Prof. Steinle wrote me, that their success in finding this kind of treasures is only round about at 8 % ...... It is true, there is something more to be found in the German lakes, so f.e. the FW 190 D9 salvaged out of the 'Schweriner See' (after 18 years still not completely restored !) was only found by accident, they were looking for another FW 190 D9 also of JG 26 lost the same day. This aircraft should still be there ...... For those interested in the progress of the already salvaged FW 190 D9 here a short link (in German only, i am sorry) http://daedalus-berlin.de/index.php?...&id=2&Itemid=2

Thanks again for the hints

Thomas