May 5th, I wrote about the Dauntless being pulled from Lake Michigan and that I had lost the article. I found it and will give some more information. This is from the April 25th Chicago Tribune by James Janega. There was a nice picture of it arriving in Waukegan Harbor. Tuesday, one of the guys at the American Legion said he'd seen the plane on a truck en route to Florida. That would have been a sight to see. The plane looks in the picture to be in remarkable shape, other than bent wings and prop and marine growth on parts.
It was found off Waukegan Harbor in 315 feet of water and then it was hauled underwater to Waukegan. It was raised Friday, April 25th, for the first time in six decades. A crane slowly lifted it.
The SBD-5 Dauntless WW II dive-bomber No. 36291 touched down on a blue tarp.
WORLD WAR II HOME FRONT
At the onset of World War II, the US had an immediate need for as many naval pilots as could be trained. Thousands learned the tricky art of take-offs and landings on aircraft carriers on Lake Michigan where two passenger liners had been turned into carriers, the USS Wolverine and USS Sable.
A few died and more than 100 planes were lost in the lake due to mishaps. About 40 have been recovered, restored, and in museums and airport terminals.
More to Come. --Cooter
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