tagged w/ army history
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A World War II naval dive bomber was recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan today, 65 years after it crashed on a training mission off Waukegan.
It's known that the pilot survived, but it's not clear which aircraft this is, because definitive identification numbers can't be found on the plane.
Nevertheless a marine salvage company in Illinios, A&T, working with a naval aviation museum, found the aircraft using sidescan sonar in 315 feet of water, 27 miles out from Waukegan.
The plane was lifted from the bottom Thursday using an airbag and towed underwater into Waukegan Harbor this morning, where the j ob was completed.
At 10:15 a.m. a Larsen marine crane began lifting the aircraft from the water and for the next half hour slowly raised it as brown water and black mud poured out of it. At 10:46 a.m., the crane operator and handlers with ropes set the plane down on a blue tarpaulin.
The aircraft was lost during training operations during World War II when naval pilots were being trained out of Chicago's Navy Pier for takeoffs and landings on aircraft carriers.
This plane was one of nearly 100 that were lost during those exercises. About 40 of them have been recovered.
This morning, as the plane was lifted out of the water and gently angled toward touchdown on dry land, A&T diving engineer Keith Pearson looked at the plane with satisfaction. "This thing crashed and has been under water [a long time]. I think it looks pretty darn good, doesn't it?"A World War II naval dive bomber was recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan today,... more
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A PILOT TRAVEL/TOURISM WEBISODE EXPLORING HISTORIC LANDMARKS & SCENIC LANDSCAPES.. A DIFFERENT LOCATION SPOTLIGHTED WEEKLY..
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED..A PILOT TRAVEL/TOURISM WEBISODE EXPLORING HISTORIC LANDMARKS & SCENIC LANDSCAPES..... more
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About two years ago, National Park Service employees stumbled upon a fascinating and largely untold piece of American history.
It involves a secret World War II interrogation camp at Fort Hunt, Va., not far from the Pentagon. During and right after the war, thousands of top German prisoners were questioned there about troop movements and scientific advances.
Soldiers at the site also prepared special "care packages" for American POWs that they sent overseas. They included maps, radios and other escape tools.
Many of the camp's records were destroyed right after the war, and those who worked there were sworn to secrecy. Many veterans never spoke about it, even to family and friends, although the operation has been gradually declassified over the past two decades.
The National Park Service, which now runs Fort Hunt Park, has been trying to piece together the story of the interrogation facility — code-named P.O. Box 1142 during the war....About two years ago, National Park Service employees stumbled upon a fascinating and... more
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It's safe to say that Owen Thornton has found his niche. The 40 year old Thornton has made a name for himself selling vintage camo clothes. In particular his pieces represent scenes of intense violence. Colorful design names like U.S. Frogskin and "Penis Pattern" Tigerstripe and a passion for his craft has made this ex-punk rocker quite the success.It's safe to say that Owen Thornton has found his niche. The 40 year old Thornton... more
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