other P47 loses in European lakes

[markjsheppard]

Had a few hours to spare so went through the P47 loses that made reference to lakes.

Couple near lake Bracciano, Italy

One in/near Lake Constance
42-75155 P-47D-10-RE
510th FS 405th FG
Codes 2Z-?
Accident on 25/05/45 towards Lake Constance - Pilot : James A. Gilson - aerial collision.

One in Lake Massaciaccoli in Italy.
44-19667
P-47D-28-RE
350th
1° GAvCa
B2
Perdu lors d'un vol d'entraînement le 28/10/44 dans le lac Massaciaccoli (Ita.) - Pilote : Frederico Gustavo dos Santos

One in Lake Garda
44-20987
P-47D-30-RE
57th
65th
"BALLS OUT II"
MACR 14010 - 26/04/45 dans le lac de Garde (Ita.) - Pilote : Truman L. Allen - MIA - Flak

Near Wurmsee (Lake Wurmsee) Germany
44-33058
P-47D-30-RA
368th
397th
D3-?
Crashé le 19/06/45 dans le lac Wurm (All.) - Pilote : Kenneth G. Wenk - Défaillance moteur

Do we think any of these are still in the lake. Some of them are very large and surrounded by mountains.

Only the Brazilian machine seems to have been in the lake but it seems to be shallow so was no doubt recovered after WWII.

Just 'fishing'

regards

MS

[maxjvb]

i can add a P51 lost in Lake Garda in maj 1945, pilot Kenneth Leighton, never found. We are looking about P47 Balls Out, i will post you the results of research

[markjsheppard]

Maxjvb

Sounds interesting. Keep me informed.

regards

Mark

[DB601E]

Hi Mark,

i did some research concerning the P-47 in the "Wurm lake" today called "Starnberger See", near my hometown. The AC was salvaged,
i have published pictures and the history on my website:

http://www.abtauchen.com/pdf/P47StarnbergerSee.pdf

Specially the story behind the crash is very interesting :-)

There has been another P-47 in the close "Ammersee", but also salvaged.
I wrote an article about for Flugzeug Classic 2009/10:

http://www.flugzeugclassic.de/zeitsc...75&show=seite1

http://www.flugzeugclassic.de/zeitschrift.cfm?heft=432

Regards

Lino

[DB601E]

Forgot another link concerning the P-47 in the "Ammersee":

http://www.u-air.info/www/uair/uair....9?OpenDocument


Regards

Lino

[markjsheppard]

Hi Lido

Great articles.

Lost recovered and lost again. Shame they did not survive but great to see.

So what about Lake Garda and Lake Constance?

Bit bigger lakes. Know there was a lot of salvage from Lake Constance but have only heard about B17's and Lancaster's that I recall.

Thanks for the links.

regards

mark

[DB601E]

Hi Mark,

Concerning the P-47 in Lake Constance:
I was looking again in my documents. I was in contact some years ago with the head of the leading salvaging company in "our" area of the years 50 to 60. So i was looking again in his picture and documents collection.
They have salvaged about 10 ACs in lake constance these days.

I'm sorry,I found a note: P-47 salvaged near Meersburg, Lake Constance. But unfortunatly i have no picture.

I have no information about a known P-47 wreck or a salvage operation in Lake Garda, but as this lake is "behind the mountains" from my bavarian point of view, i'm not sure about.

Another P-47 was found and salvaged some years ago, a diver i know was participating in the salvage. A small lake in Austria:
http://www.tecserv.org/bergung.htm



Regards

Lino

[Erick88]

Great information guys, thanks for sharing it.

[markjsheppard]

Lino,

The 'other' one I know lots about - P47D-28-RA 42-29150 K4-S 'Dottie Mae' of 511FS, 405FG, 9AF - lost 8th May 1945.

www.alliedfighters.com

Make very good restoration progress.

regards

Mark

[Smithy]

Absolutely fascinating. Many thanks for the links to the articles.

No doubt there's a few more of these "old girls" to be found at the bottom of alpine lakes.