Hi all
via a French contact (aviation historian involved in the finding of St. Exupéry’s F-5 Lightning) I have received information on a P-51B that was found by divers near Toulon, southern France (French Riviera), during the search for said Recon Lightning:
Investigation has revealed the identity of the aircraft as P-51B-15-NA 42-106748 by the “Radio-Call” plate in the cockpit.
I therefore was able to add the details:
42-106748; P-51B-15-NA; 52nd FG 2nd FS; QP-?; lost 13 August 1944 on ops – ditched (out of fuel)
I then received the following two photos:
From them my conclusions are:
The position / state of the propeller blades clearly shows that the forced landing on the water (ditching) has been effected without engine-power – further to that the landing was relatively smooth and under pilot’s control – therefore the forward fuselage stayed relatively intact. The tail most probably broke off during the impact on the water, a common occurrence with P-51’s when landing on water. Another clue for the controlled landing is that the fuselage sits upright on the seabed. The open hatch, i.e. missing cockpit enclosure glazing also clearly shows that the pilot had jettisoned the canopy before attempting his emergency landing.
I am currently working on further details to tell the whole story of the last flight of this Mustang.
There currently are no plans to raise the aircraft – this may well change in the near future when funding, preservation and exhibition room are secured.
I hope you liked this P-51 trivia as I did.
Comments are appreciated.
Cordially
Martin
By: Swiss Mustangs - 22nd February 2005 at 15:23
Bonjour Chacal et bienvenu ici !
There are many P-51’s that were lost over water and only because of a diver luckily discovered the ‘Radio Call” plate on the instrument panel, reading “2-106-748”, an identification was possible without raising the aircraft itself.
As per my information, the wreck isn’t a very recent discovery, but the ID is.
Laurent (happymeal), est-ce que tu as des informations differents ?
Merci & Salutations
Martin
By: Chacal - 22nd February 2005 at 15:05
Happymeal,
“Pas à ma connaissance”, The divers club who brings me there didnt know the exact
story of the plane (date of landing, name of the pilote etc.), the depht of the plane protect him from the mass-diving and keep him a bit secret. But at that time, I dont’have all the tips to make a serious search. I am a better diver than aviation-historian.
Salutations
Alain
By: Manonthefence - 22nd February 2005 at 14:55
That first photo is superb, very eerie.
I assume that the pilot escaped from the aircraft.
By: happymeal - 22nd February 2005 at 14:42
Chacal, do you mean it had not been identified so far ?
By: Chacal - 22nd February 2005 at 11:52
Thank you Martin ! Last summer I asked on differents forums if anybody knew this plane and I had no clear response. I already dived on this plane in 2004, it’s pretty deep and there is nothing around. This wreck is well known by divers for a very long time. The tail is missing, beacause a fishnet bring it away.
I’am very happy to have your informations now, keep posting.
Greetings from Switzerland too…
Alain
By: STORMBIRD262 - 22nd February 2005 at 10:31
Interesting Martin
Top stuff Martin 😎 ,
Not sure if she will be good for anything in Warbird term’s :rolleyes: , But good to be found and put in a Museum 😉 .
Cheer’s mate 😀 , Tally :dev2: Ho! :dev2: Ho! Phil :diablo: . Con grates on 1000 Swiss Mustang’s Ah Daz with that many post’s mate :rolleyes: , You must be a pretty serious Warbird Nerd, with no real world life, Much like the rest of us I guess :p .
By: DazDaMan - 22nd February 2005 at 09:34
55m = about 180ft. At least it’s not under a load of sediment and stuff like some recoveries have been.
By: Swiss Mustangs - 22nd February 2005 at 09:29
The aircraft is sitting at 55 meters depth near the Island of Porquerolles SE of Toulon. The photographs were taken (copyright) by professional diver & photographer Frédéric Bassemayousse.
Martin
By: DazDaMan - 22nd February 2005 at 09:24
The clarity of that water is pretty good – it looks to be pretty shallow, so I imagine if they do find the chance to raise it, it should be pretty straightforward.
Thanks, Martin.
By: turbo_NZ - 22nd February 2005 at 09:16
Thanks Martin.
Good story and nice pics
Cheers
TNZ
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February 22, 2005 at 9:14 am