Salvaging SB2U Vindicator: Raising WWII’s Only Intact Survivor скачать в хорошем качестве

Salvaging SB2U Vindicator: Raising WWII’s Only Intact Survivor

SB2U Vindicator was lost off USS Wolverine on June 21, 1943—then disappeared into 130 feet of cold, fresh Lake Michigan. Decades later, SB2U Vindicator became the centerpiece of an extraordinary aircraft salvage: the last complete Vindicator known to exist, preserved by low temperatures, low salinity, and silt that slowed decay. This documentary follows the wreckage recovery step-by-step: side-scan sonar grid work to pinpoint the target, a careful inspection in near-zero visibility, and a rigging plan built around one rule—don’t crush the fabric-covered rear structure. To make SB2U Vindicator liftable, the team used a spreader bar and vertical straps to transfer load into stronger metal sections, then broke the mud suction and executed a slow crane hoist through the air–water interface. And salvage wasn’t the finish line. SB2U Vindicator had to stay wet and shielded to prevent catastrophic shrinkage and cracking, shifting the mission from freshwater salvage to conservation and museum restoration. If you’re into aircraft recovery engineering, this is the blueprint—what to touch, what to avoid, and how history survives underwater. Subscribe for more aviation recovery, rescue, and investigation documentaries. Disclaimer: Educational documentary-style content based on historical accounts; not an official accident report.