Some enthusiasts in South Africa believe that a US Navy aircraft carrier returning from the Far East during the Korean War dumped a whole lot of Mustangs overboard off the coast of South Africa (some versions have them being disassembled and being deck cargo on an unidentified type of ship).
The story goes that the Mustangs were being shipped back to the USA (why? – and wrong side of the country surely?) and were offered to the South African Air Force – whose no. 2 Squadron had flown them there before re-equipping with F-86 Sabres. The SAAF supposedly declined the offer and they were unceremoniously pushed over the side …..

I am sure the UN Navy would be quite happy to get rid of USAF aircraft making their ship look untidy but still …….

The black spot may more likely be the carb air intake (a la Harvard).

To my lousy eyesight the aircraft in the background looks like a Miles type or a Gonzalez Gil-Pazo Gp-1 ….

The Hornet Moth SAAF no. 2007 (ex ZS-ALA) is still on charge of the SAAF Museum and is potentially airworthy though it is currently on static display.

The Mozambique one (CR-AAA) was shipped to South Africa for supposed restoration to flying condition a good few years ago and as far as I know is still in SA – probably in storage / long-term rebuild at Krugersdorp Airfield.

There are also the substantial remains of at least one other one in South Africa.

The only “damage” I know of and as reported by some of the media as being suffered to the MiG, is ignorance / sensation on their part. The very heavy nose cone was unsecured due to the removal of the radar system at the time of its recovery in SWA. It was merely secured in place with one or two screws which came adrift when being steadied during its move and caused it to hang downwards.

I know a bit about the aircraft – having had to move it from one hangar to another in the past.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256650[/ATTACH]

Yours truly – many years ago – ground running the Spitfire after a coolant tank repair!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256651[/ATTACH]

A frame of three cloth patches I wore at the time, two metal pin badges and a piece of the one propeller with the Dowty-Rotol logo on it – salvaged from the crash site.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]254718[/ATTACH]

Rather unconvincing looking Mustang wannabe