WIX Archives

Navy neglect of Corsair on Guam

Posted by MGM on Tue Dec 04, 2001 05:02:05 AM

Also in Classic Wings is an article about a Corsair wreck that still remains on the old abandoned US Marines base at Orote Point on Guam.

The Corsair has been there since the war and until about 20 years ago it was still fairly complete.

Because access was allowed , it has now had it's rear fuselage hacked off and disappeared from 30 inches behind the cockpit, also the outer wings have been hacked off outboard of the gun ports.

The cockpit is gutted, the canopy and windscreen gone, and it sits on its belly with the undercarriage extended but folded back.

The engine apparently came off during the crash, which sadly killed the pilot, when it was witnessed by someone rolling by his tent !

Civilians can no longer get on the old base because a new commander has decided to restrict access, but apart from that, absolutely nothing is being done to rescue the remains.
And of course if the US Navy can't be bothered with a Corsair wreck that still remains on land on their property......well it's no real surprise that they can't be bothered to raise a certain Devastator and many other wrecks from the sea or lakes, before they corrode into piles of aluminium dust...........

Who knows what they would say to someone who dares to ask them about recovering it.......but if no-one tries, then we'll never know ?

There is also a Jake floatplane upside-down in 90ft of sea water, just off an old rusting pier....and there has just gotta be loads of stuff still on and around the island...........maybe even another very nice and complete Zero in a swamp.......?

TTFN
Mick


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