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Posted by John on Wed Feb 25, 2004 04:51:53 PM

In reply top Re: P-51D Mustang G-UAKE & Fw 44J G-STIG posted by ANDY WEST on Wed Feb 25, 2004 02:10:53 PM

To the best of my knowledge, Da'Quake is still buried at the place it sank during a unsuccessfull recovery attempt made by the locals in October 1944, some 2 months after its crash-landing. A second plane, 44-13663, from the same unit, had crashed nearby at the same date (aug 26th, 1944), and lost its tail during the same recovery attempt, as its nose was already deeply buried in sand, that's the reason why the recovered wreck was found tailless in May 1981 by association Ailes Anciennes(it should be also interesting to note that Da'Quake had been raised on its landing gear before the towing attempt, and sank with the landing gear in that position as it was towed too close of the sea to avoid a minefield. The recovered plane still had its landing gear in the up position when it was recovered).

'663 was then put on outdoor display display for a few years at the Musee de l' Air at Paris-Le Bourget, before the Museum decided to have it moved away. Association Ailes Anciennes took it back, and it was stored in the open until August 1997, when it left for England, minus engine and prop, as those items had been donated to some museum in Normandy a few years previously (at Arromanche, I was said, but it was not there when I visited in 1994).

As the plane had been buried in a beach for nearly 37 years, and displayed outdoor for 16 years, you can imagine how much corroded the sad remains were, and one can wonder how many original parts will fly in that recreation. Anyway, does that really matter since it's going to fly with the wrong number?

John



: Tony,
: the registration G-UAKE is a clue. T'is David and
: Annette Kingshot's P-51D project 'Da'Quake', a sometime mo
: unt of Lt. Col. John 'Earthquake' McGinn as the story goes
: - if I've gotten it right.
:
: Any other information on the history of this aircraft anyo
: ne?
:
: ANDY WEST
: London, England

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