World War II Aircraft Wreckage Pulled From Lake Michigan

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 8, 2010 10:05PM

Now this is cool: the wreckage of a F4U-1 Corsair Fighter was pulled from Lake Michigan in Waukegan today. The salvage operation was privately financed by Chuck Greenhill, a Korean War veteran.

The plane crashed during a training exercise on June 12, 1943. The plane's pilot, Ensign Carl H. Johnson, was trying to land the plane on the USS Wolverine during aircraft carrier qualification training. Johnson survived the crash but later was killed in action. The plane emerged from Lake Michigan rusted and covered in zebra mussels. It will be transported to National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. for restoration for a possible exhibit.