{"id":45,"date":"2014-08-08T03:37:09","date_gmt":"2014-08-08T03:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/?page_id=45"},"modified":"2021-02-09T07:18:33","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T15:18:33","slug":"45-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/?page_id=45","title":{"rendered":"A-1 Skyraider Wreck Dive Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

HIDDEN IN PLANE SIGHT!<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

\u00a0KOREAN ERA A-1 SKYRAIDER WRECKAGE DISCOVERED OFF SAN DIEGO COAST.<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

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\"Naval<\/a>
Test Flight of First Prototype Skyraider off the California Coast<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Rear
<\/span> A-1 Skyraider Fuselage, Port to Forward.<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In June 2014, my dive buddy and I discovered the wreckage of a Korean War era attack bomber aircraft in shallow water just off the coast of San Diego. The wreckage lies in less than 60 fsw, in an area frequently traversed by hundreds of recreational and commercial dive boats annually. The aircraft\u2019s remains have apparently been undiscovered or unreported for over 61 years.<\/span><\/h2>\n

On our initial dive at the site in November 2013, only a few inches of an unidentifiable metal mass was visible above a hard-packed sandy bottom.\u00a0 By chance, eight months later in June of 2014, we revisited the site looking for smaller targets that we had previously recorded.\u00a0 On this second dive, we were stunned to see the outline of an airplane emerge from the gloom as we descended.\u00a0 Apparently winter storms had transformed the metal mass into the remains of a vintage aircraft.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"rear\"Auto\"20mm\"ENGINE\"cannon\"cluster<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

(Above, right to left, Fuselage from Starboard side, Inverter and Interior Lighting Switches, Twin Cannons on Port Wing, Curtiss-Wright Cyclone 3350 Engine Nose Down in Sand, 20mm Cannon Bore, Cockpit Gauge Cluster Bezel.)<\/span><\/p>\n

We found the wreckage while sonar mapping the sea bottom near our home in La Jolla, California on our 13-foot dinghy \u201cZig Zag\u201d utilizing only a Humminbird consumer level side scanning sonar\u00a0and a lot of patience.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Sonar<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

At first we\u00a0questioned whether the aircraft was authentic or a mock-up\u00a0for use as some form of naval training exercise left abandoned by the Navy. \u00a0As we inspected the remains more thoroughly, however, \u00a0it became clear that this was indeed an aviation wreck site. \u00a0Still, its<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Copter-Picks-Up-Pilot-052053\"
<\/span> (Newspaper Article dated May 20, 1953 regarding crash.)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

easily accessible location gave us some pause. \u00a0Could it be that we were simply unaware of this dive site? \u00a0We have been diving extensively in San Diego for 45 years and never heard reference to any airplane wreck dive site south of Del Mar. \u00a0We inquired of local senior divers Chuck Nicklin, Bob Gladden and Joe Barnett, all of whom confessed they had no knowledge of a military plane wreck site in the area we described. \u00a0The condition of the wreck, rich with artifacts, also added credence\u00a0to our belief that the warbird had been left untouched since its demise in 1953. We found no public records referencing the crash with the sole exception of a lone newspaper article published in 1953. \u00a0Even the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration had no listing of this crash site on its maritime wreck and obstructions register.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"_DDB0006\"Skyraider<\/span><\/p>\n

(Above Photographs Showing Serial Number of Aircraft on BuPlate and on Tail of Aircraft Aboard Carrier U.S.S. Antietam on its way to Korea in 1951.)<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to identify the aircraft, we contacted several aviation and wreck hunting experts.\u00a0 Positive identification of the craft as an A-1 Skyraider was achieved by locating the Bureau of Aeronautics registration plate<\/strong> on the fuselage.\u00a0 The information from the plate allowed us to access naval records that revealed the plane\u2019s production in 1951, its Korean conflict service history and ultimate demise on May 19th<\/sup> 1953.\u00a0 Surprisingly, we also found a photograph of the aircraft during its assignment to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Antietam.<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Incident<\/a>
<\/span> (Click Image to Review Official Report.)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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According to the official incident report, the warbird was ditched by its pilot after engine trouble while on a training exercise in May 1953.\u00a0 The pilot landed the airplane in one piece on the ocean\u2019s surface, exited the craft without incident and was rescued by a helicopter.\u00a0 The plane reportedly sank less than one minute after landing.\u00a0 A twelve day, unsuccessful salvage operation by the Navy was attempted on the aircraft just days after the crash.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Unfortunately,\u00a0the pilot, Reserve Officer Lt. Charles A. Kelly<\/a>, is no longer with us. \u00a0Having passed away \u00a0on June 13, 1999. \u00a0(Click on his name above for information on his career and family.)<\/span><\/h2>\n

The site changes on a weekly basis with sand being pulled away one week and being re-deposited the next. \u00a0New areas of the wreck are exposed and then completely buried a short time later.<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Cockpit
<\/span> (Cockpit with Seat Frame and Harness Buckles.)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Curtis
<\/span> (18 Cylinder Curtiss-Wright 3350 Rear View.)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The visibility at the site, due to its shallow depth, sandy bottom and proximity to the shore, is typically poor making wide angle photography difficult.<\/span><\/h2>\n

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\u00a0Methods used to Identify and Verify the Site Wreckage<\/span><\/h1>\n

Initially, all we were certain of was that the aircraft had a single engine, an approximate wing span of 50′ and was obviously military due to its armaments. \u00a0Our find had four cannons, two on each wing, with a bore just the size of my thumb. By going to our local aerospace museum and sticking my thumb into the barrels of several wing guns we determined that the plane’s armaments had a bore of 20mm. \u00a0Online we found manuals for the 20mm Browning \u00a0M-2 Cannon, Naval edition. By comparing the pictures in the manual with our photos from the wreckage we positively identified the plane’s armaments.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Cannon\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"ENGINE\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"Cannon<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

(Above, Right to Left, Breach of Port Cannon #1 with Inset of Cannon Manual, Curtiss-Wright Cyclone 3350 Nose Down and Breach of Port Cannon #2 with Manual Inset.)<\/span><\/p>\n

We then turned our attention to\u00a0the engine. \u00a0I contacted online wreck hunter extraordinaire, Gary Fabian of UB-88 fame who guided us through identifying the engine. By carefully counting the exposed cylinder heads<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"cockpit<\/a>
<\/span> Naval Aviation Museum Virtual Cockpit. (Click On Image to Tour Cockpit.)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

and confirming that the engine had a double-row of cylinders, we narrowed down the possibilities immensely. \u00a0Only one single propeller-driven aircraft of this size had an engine this large, the A-1 Skyraider.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Our early research revealed that A-1’s had only two 20mm cannons, one per wing. With further digging, we discovered that in 1951 the AD-4 Skyraider was introduced\u00a0with four M-2 cannons, \u00a0two on each wing. Despite this fairly conclusive evidence, we had been advised by military aircraft experts that, unless we found the official bureau of aeronautic identification plate on the craft we could never positively identify the plane.<\/span>
\nOnce we had determined with some certainty that the wreckage was that of a Skyraider we utilized the Panoramic Virtual Cockpit page of the Naval Aircraft Museum in Florida’s website to determine the approximate location of the Bureau of Aeronautics Identification Plate. \u00a0On our very next dive we were able to locate and photograph the identification plate.<\/span><\/h2>\n

The information from the plate\u00a0positively identified the aircraft, but did not reveal how it ended up on the\u00a0ocean floor. As indicated above, naval records\u00a0exist as to almost all\u00a0military aircraft. These records are available to the public and\u00a0can easily be referenced once you have the serial number and the name of the manufacturer of the craft. \u00a0By utilizing these records we were able to tell this story of the demise of a legendary warbird, forgotten but not lost.<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"123827\"<\/a>
<\/span> A-1 Skyraider. (Click on Image Above to View Pilot’s Flight Handbook.)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Obtaining the information necessary to identify the aircraft was not without risks. \u00a0Dozens of<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Lightning<\/a>
<\/span> Lightning Storm Passes Over While Diving to Photograph BuPlate. (Click on Image Above to View 20 Second Video.)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

dives on the site were necessary with cameras, measuring devices and other instruments necessary to record the wingspan, cannon dimensions and engine information. Most dives were in\u00a0unfavorable conditions. Limited visibility, heavy surge and current, due to the shallow depth of the wreck site, were common and on one \u00a0day in August a freak lightning storm passed over while we were gearing up.<\/span><\/h2>\n

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\"CANNONS4\"<\/a>
<\/span> (Starboard Wing toward Fuselage with Cannons Protruding from the Sand.) (Click Image to View 46 Second Dive Video.)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By making videos of the wreck site and the use of email \u00a0we were able to obtain the opinions of aviation experts as to the age and type of aircraft we had discovered prior to its positive identification.<\/span><\/h2>\n

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\"zig<\/a>
<\/span> (“ZigZag” and Crew.)(Click on Image to Follow Us to the Dive Site.)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of our dives were done using our 13′ yacht tender “Zig Zag.” \u00a0Prior to our dives we did hours of sonar mapping using \u00a0our Series 700 Humminbird Side Scanning Sonar. Reviewing the image data recorded on the sonar led to the aircraft’s discovery. \u00a0By pure chance we made a timelapse video of our very first dive on the site in November 2013 before we even knew the wreckage was an aircraft.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0What’s Next?<\/span><\/h1>\n

We have learned while investigating our find that most professional wreck hunters maintain a strict ethical practice of not publicizing the location of their discoveries in order to preserve the sites for as long as possible.\u00a0 Though we are by no means professional wreck hunters, we have chosen to adhere to that practice.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Legally the wreckage of any U.S. military aircraft is strictly protected by federal law<\/strong>.\u00a0 The aircraft, its artifacts and debris field may not be \u201cdisturbed\u201d without severe civil and even criminal penalties<\/strong> pursuant to 14 U.S.C.A. \u00a71401, 2004<\/a>. \u00a0(Click Code Section for full Statutory Reference with Highlights.)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Since the discovery, we have contacted several aviation history museums in an attempt to solicit preservation or recovery of the aircraft via a permit from the Navy.\u00a0 Until such effort bears fruit, the wreck will be left intact in its present position, awaiting discovery by other curious divers looking for a new dive spot and an exciting glimpse of aviation history.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Further information about this wreck site is available by emailing us at LaJollaSeaLife@gmail.com<\/strong>.<\/span><\/h2>\n

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\"Skyraider<\/a> \"Skyraider<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

Links<\/span><\/h1>\n

Link to Article Written for the Diver Alert Network’s (DAN)\u00a0Alert Diver Magazine, <\/em>Winter 2015<\/span><\/h3>\n

http:\/\/www.alertdiver.com\/hidden-in-plane-sight<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

February 12, 2015 Local News Coverage:<\/span><\/h3>\n

http:\/\/www.10news.com\/news\/wreckage-of-korean-war-era-plane-found-in-san-diego<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

http:\/\/www.cbs8.com\/story\/28099023\/divers-find-warplane-that-crashed-six-decades-ago<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

http:\/\/fox5sandiego.com\/2015\/02\/12\/divers-discover-korean-war-plane-wreck-off-san-diego-coast\/<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

http:\/\/www.kusi.com\/clip\/11188923\/daves-world-of-wonder-lost-at-sea<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Dave<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

Resources:<\/span><\/h3>\n

Law Offices of Dennis D. Burns, Sponsor<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

San Diego AIr and Space Museum<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

UB-88, Gary Fabian Website<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

National\u00a0Naval\u00a0Aviation Museum Website<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

Chuck Nicklin Website<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

Media and Reference:<\/span><\/h3>\n

Discovery Channel “Wings” Episode Featuring A-1 Skyraider<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

Humminbird Side Scan Sonar-Unofficial Forum<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n

Records of the Bureau of Aeronautics<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n

Restored A-1 Skyraider AD-4L Flying at Airshow\u00a0Video<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HIDDEN IN PLANE SIGHT! \u00a0 \u00a0KOREAN ERA A-1 SKYRAIDER WRECKAGE DISCOVERED OFF SAN DIEGO COAST.     In June 2014, my dive buddy and I discovered the wreckage of a… more<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-45","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45"}],"version-history":[{"count":437,"href":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6363,"href":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45\/revisions\/6363"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/99"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/olddiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}