Warbird TBM Ditched

Oh my. I glad no one was hurt, but now to clean all that salt water out of the plane.

just what Hoo Yah Deep Sea stated $$$

Unfortunately the six TBF's of VT-8 at Midway diidn't do a whole lot better than the TBD's. Five were shot down; one made it back to the island.

That thing may need a lot of work in the future.  It may not be allowd to fly again depending on the damage it took on impact.  The whole forward section might have to be x-rayed for damage induced stress and the engine mounts were probably damaged too.  Did you see how badly the prop was bent?  You can figure the framework gave to some extent, here and there, and some major engine work might be due.

So thats what it must have looked like on the way back at, was it Midway, when they were running out of gas. 

I was flying aboard the B-25 Saturday for the airshow. I was wearing a headset and was plugged in to the intercom on the B-25 and could hear all of the radio traffic between the airshow air boss and the Patrick AFB tower. Coordination between the two was excellent. We couldn't hear the TBM as he was apparently on another frequency. The VAC C-47 followed the TBM south toward Patrick until the TBM ditched and the pilot exited the aircraft. When the B-25 landed back to Space Center Executive Airport, we heard the pilot was out of the TBM and Patrick was sending equipment to help retrieve the TBM from the surf. This is a picture I took of the TBM before our formation took off for the airshow. Yes, it is painted to represent one of the aircraft from Flight 19. A little ironic, I guess.

Textbook water landing - shallow water, far enough from the beach, no injuries, and fished out quickly. Hopefully the officials release the plane quickly or allow mitigation to begin.

Unlike the P-47 a few years ago that ditched in the river by NYC killing the pilot, was fished out and left to rot while the investigation proceeded. They weren't allowed to even hose it down with fresh water. 

so it didn't crash, it was heading home.

Why isn't anyone talking about the tail number?

It's from flight 19.

Just kidding but it reminded me of that story.

Bill

Greg

 

 

keavdog

Don't know much about flying but looked like about the best ditching you could ask for.

 

 

Looked good to me too. Same sentiments, shame about the Avenger, fantastic nobody was hurt.

 

Outstanding.  A perfect example how-to.

Rather unfortunate, but hopefully fixable. Aluminum aircraft and salt water don't mix well. Optimistically only the engine will require a full rebuild; If the pilot had the wherewithall, he shut down all of the avionics if he could. That way, they're only wet , not fried.

keavdog

Don't know much about flying but looked like about the best ditching you could ask for.

Looked good to me too. Same sentiments, shame about the Avenger, fantastic nobody was hurt.

Wow that's a shame.  Really glad to hear no one was hurt.  18 years restoring... wow.  I hope they can salvage the plane.  Don't know much about flying but looked like about the best ditching you could ask for.