Gents, I have read many times of aircraft being ‘found’ in Lakes in Europe in a state that may be possible to rebuild them (with a lot of work of-course).
So in my time talking with veterans of the 325th Fighter Group based at Lake Lesina, they described at-least 3 P-51’s being lost in the waters.
I’m just wondering if anyone can shed light on what the typical situation wa regarding recovery of the aircraft as the veterans I talked to could not remember seeing them be recovered.
Would their be a chance that these may still lie at the bottom of the Lake?
It may be an obvious answer to many, but if they are still there, would the non Saltwater content have helped preserve them?
Cheers, MP
By: shepsair - 14th March 2013 at 13:43
Lake Lesina
Its not so much of a lake – more of a area of beach/water which has been closes off by the formation of a coastal spit.
Mark
By: tricci57 - 13th March 2013 at 20:47
On the 325th FG quest
To all concerned:
my name is Tommaso Ricci from Lesina, FG, ITALY.
My quest is to complete a 25 year research in the remains of the Allied (and Axis) equipment either left behind or under the waters of the lake or near by beach by the 325FG and its Squadrons.
It would be extremely helpfull if anyone has in their possessions and willing to share (with credit due) any material, photographs, articles that can help my research to give applaud to those airmen and crews that served under the Allied flag to rid of the Axis forces from Italy. I am retutning to Lesina this May and August to further my investigation into the whereabouts of the fields and what remains of the structure and artifacts, and commence to make arrangements to map the waters for underwater work.
Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated and credited.
By: Mike J - 12th March 2013 at 15:39
Does a lake of that size really have a maximum depth of only 5 feet?
By: Scouse - 12th March 2013 at 15:30
If it’s that shallow then any aircraft wreckage would almost certainly be only partly submerged. Half-in, half-out of a salt water lake is hardly the best environment for preserving metal parts.
Given the likely visibility of any aircraft wrecks, I’d guess that the P-51s were salvaged for scrap a long time ago.
By: shepsair - 12th March 2013 at 13:35
Lake Lesina
More to the point, not very deep!
Max. length 22 km
Max. width 3.5 km
Surface area 51.4 km²
Average depth 0.7 m
Max. depth 1.7 m
Residence time 100 days
(summer 306 days,
winter 31 days)
Surface elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Now, with the German lakes I know of Bf109’s, Fw190D, Bu181, Seibel 204 crashed in 1945 and even a MiG 15/17 post war. Unfortunately all owned by the German Government if you wanted to recover them.
regards
MS
By: Mysticpuma - 11th March 2013 at 16:16
That’s irritating, I thought it was freshwater! However it’s not ‘tidal’ so maybe not too much salt/sand abrasion. I’ll ask a couple of the 325th Aces if they ever saw anything recovered in their time at the base. Cheers, MP
By: Porter - 11th March 2013 at 10:20
In fresh water there is a reasonable chance of something being left, of course a lot depends on how hard they went in.
Lesina is a saltwater lake
By: D1566 - 11th March 2013 at 02:34
In fresh water there is a reasonable chance of something being left, of course a lot depends on how hard they went in.
By: Mysticpuma - 10th March 2013 at 12:20
and I should add, I am sure a couple of P-47’s too! ?
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March 9, 2013 at 8:20 pm