Navy Bird Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Has this been posted yet? Paul Allen has found Lady Lex. More aircraft pix on the Hyperscale thread. The F4F has four kill markings. But why does it have the Felix the Cat emblem? I don't recall VF-3 being on-board Lexington. Unless I'm wrong... Cheers, Bill 14 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted March 5, 2018 Author Share Posted March 5, 2018 More photos here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r9l1yy0je3wj3dp/AAA7hWRgc9JCygpmmPbVWQoFa/Photos?dl=0 Cheers, Bill 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 On 06/03/2018 at 08:55, Navy Bird said: The F4F has four kill markings. But why does it have the Felix the Cat emblem? I don't recall VF-3 being on-board Lexington. Unless I'm wrong... Cheers, Bill According to the website linked below, VF-3 did indeed have F4F-3s aboard Lexington when she sank: http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/Airgroups/CV-2.html Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted March 6, 2018 Author Share Posted March 6, 2018 21 minutes ago, mhaselden said: According to the website linked below, VF-3 did indeed have F4F-3s aboard Lexington when she sank: http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/Airgroups/CV-2.html Cheers, Mark Those dates seem mixed up at the end of that chart. How do you interpret it? I've seen other order of battle web pages that don't mention VF-3, such as these two: http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Coral_Sea.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Coral_Sea_order_of_battle Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme H Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Really good to see that she has finally been found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 11 minutes ago, Navy Bird said: Those dates seem mixed up at the end of that chart. How do you interpret it? I've seen other order of battle web pages that don't mention VF-3, such as these two: http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Coral_Sea.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Coral_Sea_order_of_battle Cheers, Bill Yeah, there's something weird going on. I found another book reference which stated that a number of VF-3 machines were transferred to VF-2 immediately prior to Coral Sea. Perhaps this was one of those airframes and never had its VF-3 identity replaced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 I just saw this on the BBC news. Stunning pictures. Thanks for your posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan B Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 I don't recognise the overlay so don't know what type of ROV it is but I'm guessing it's an American Company so the depth'll be in feet? The Arado I found in a Fjord in Norway (yes, I'm such a Brag!) didn't look in as good condition as this Grumman, lovely find. Duncan B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 1 hour ago, Duncan B said: I don't recognise the overlay so don't know what type of ROV it is but I'm guessing it's an American Company so the depth'll be in feet? The Arado I found in a Fjord in Norway (yes, I'm such a Brag!) didn't look in as good condition as this Grumman, lovely find. Duncan B Paul Allen clarified on his Facebook page when someone asked the depth. He said it was 3000m / 2 miles deep. The preservation of these aeroplanes is stunning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepboy Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Now that is a diorama to be made 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Amazing what condition those artifacts are in. Cheers Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Lots of people on another site are banging on about trying to recover some or all of the accessible aircraft for preservation or restoration but is this ship not a war grave? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 The ship is, but the aircraft aren't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick4350 Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 The look of the five inch gun barrel was slightly rusty. I'd say the paint was blistering at some stage before she was sunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 I would love to see the aircraft preserved, it would be a fitting tribute to the men lost on the Lexington Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 As the finder, isn’t Paul Allen able ‘claim ownership’ of the wreck (if it’s in international waters) much like Robert Ballard regretted not doing with Titanic? That way there is an extra layer of safeguarding, in addition to it being designated as a war grave? Personally and as much as I would like to see the planes preserved, I think they should stay where they are because it’s all part of the overall wreck site. By all means take as many photos/videos as can be managed, but leave them untouched. Trevor 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 (edited) 10 hours ago, mhaselden said: Yeah, there's something weird going on. I found another book reference which stated that a number of VF-3 machines were transferred to VF-2 immediately prior to Coral Sea. Perhaps this was one of those airframes and never had its VF-3 identity replaced? I researched this some minutes ago yes some F4Fs landed on Lexington after it was damaged due to lack of fuel. I think the F4F was flown by Lt Albert O Vorse. I stand to corrected but that's definitely why they were onboard. Link: https://books.google.ie/books?id=pouHCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT163&lpg=PT163&dq=albert+o+Vorse&source=bl&ots=Inx5iY2Tod&sig=Ab3yN8e84mfPyiyyfTpRvevk8Zc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjXgYHs49fZAhUFWsAKHQhNBPcQ6AEwEXoECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=albert o Vorse&f=false Edited March 6, 2018 by noelh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted March 6, 2018 Author Share Posted March 6, 2018 22 minutes ago, noelh said: I researched this some minutes ago yes some VF3 F4Fs landed on Lexington after it was damaged due to lack of fuel. I think the F4F was flown by Lt Albert O Vorse. I stand to corrected but that's definitely why they were onboard. But where did it come from? VF-3 isn't listed as part of the Yorktown's air group either. Thanks for finding the pilot of 2-F-5, but that Felix logo has me intrigued. More photos - Devastators! Cheers, Bill 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 1 minute ago, Navy Bird said: But where did it come from? VF-3 isn't listed as part of the Yorktown's air group either. Thanks for finding the pilot of 2-F-5, but that Felix logo has me intrigued. Cheers, Bill As noted in an earlier post VF-2 took ownership of a number of ex-VF-3 F4F-3s. The most likely explanation is that F-5 is one of those airframes and that it hadn't been its markings updated at the time Lexington was sunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted March 6, 2018 Author Share Posted March 6, 2018 1 minute ago, mhaselden said: As noted in an earlier post VF-2 took ownership of a number of ex-VF-3 F4F-3s. The most likely explanation is that F-5 is one of those airframes and that it hadn't been its markings updated at the time Lexington was sunk. Correct - Noel posted this link in the maritime chat section: https://books.google.ie/books?id=pouHCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT163&lpg=PT163&dq=albert+o+Vorse&source=bl&ots=Inx5iY2Tod&sig=Ab3yN8e84mfPyiyyfTpRvevk8Zc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjXgYHs49fZAhUFWsAKHQhNBPcQ6AEwEXoECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=albert o Vorse&f=false Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Amazing pics of those Devastators. The condition of these airframes is truly remarkable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted March 6, 2018 Author Share Posted March 6, 2018 Just now, mhaselden said: Amazing pics of those Devastators. The condition of these airframes is truly remarkable. Truly. I see T-4, T-5, and T-9. I guess I shouldn't have painted the wing fold areas with zinc chromate green! Cheers, Bill 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 It would be great if someone would be able to read a Bu. Nu. on aircraft's tail. What a modelling reference, than you Bill. Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 47 minutes ago, mhaselden said: As noted in an earlier post VF-2 took ownership of a number of ex-VF-3 F4F-3s. The most likely explanation is that F-5 is one of those airframes and that it hadn't been its markings updated at the time Lexington was sunk. Also if this F4F is fact the one flown by Vorse as I linked to earlier. He was in fact a VF3 pilot lent to VF2. Indeed he later returned to VF3 after the carrier was sunk. It would make sense that his personal aircraft would retain the original badge? Just a thought. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaselden Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 1 minute ago, noelh said: Also if this F4F is fact the one flown by Vorse as I linked to earlier. He was in fact a VF3 pilot lent to VF2. Indeed he later returned to VF3 after the carrier was sunk. It would make sense that his personal aircraft would retain the original badge? Just a thought. The problem is that pilots didn't always fly "their personal" aircraft...if such a thing existed. Given the sortie generation challenges on an aircraft carrier, I suspect pilots would simply fly whichever airframe was available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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