US Features

In Pictures: 'World War II Fighter Recovered'

By James Wray Dec 1, 2009, 6:23 GMT

A World War II F6F-3 Hellcat fighter plane breaks the surface of Lake Michigan for the first time in nearly 65 years in Waukegan Harbor in Waukegan, Illinois, USA 30 November 2009. The plane reportedly saw action in the Battle of Guadacanal in the Pacific Ocean before being used for training and aircraft carrier landing qualifications in Lake Michigan. On 05 January 1945 the plane, piloted by Lieutenant (junior grade) Walter B Elcock, landed but failed to securely catch the carrier arresting cable and plunged into the icy waters. Elcock, now 89 of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, was rescued by the Coast Guard. The plane came to rest on the bottom of Lake Michigan, nose down in 250 feet of water about 50 miles from Chicago. A salvage team recovered the plane 21 November 2009 so it can be restored and put on display. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Hunter Brawley (R), the grandson of the pilot of a World War II F6F-3 Hellcat fighter plane, sits in the cockpit beside salvage chief Taras Lyssenko of A&T Recovery (L) after the plane's recovery from beneath the surface of Lake Michigan for the first time in nearly 65 years in Waukegan Harbor in Waukegan, Illinois, USA 30 November 2009. The plane reportedly saw action in the Battle of Guadacanal in the Pacific Ocean before being used for training and aircraft carrier landing qualifications in Lake Michigan. On 05 January 1945 the plane, piloted by Lieutenant (junior grade) Walter B Elcock, landed but failed to securely catch the carrier arresting cable and plunged into the icy waters. Elcock, now 89 of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, was rescued by the Coast Guard. The plane came to rest on the bottom of Lake Michigan, nose down in 250 feet of water about 50 miles from Chicago. A salvage team recovered the plane 21 November 2009 so it can be restored and put on display. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

The barnacle encrusted instrument panel of a World War II F6F-3 Hellcat fighter plane is seen after its removal from beneath the surface of Lake Michigan for the first time in nearly 65 years in Waukegan Harbor in Waukegan, Illinois, USA 30 November 2009. The plane reportedly saw action in the Battle of Guadacanal in the Pacific Ocean before being used for training and aircraft carrier landing qualifications in Lake Michigan. On 05 January 1945 the plane, piloted by Lieutenant (junior grade) Walter B Elcock, landed but failed to securely catch the carrier arresting cable and plunged into the icy waters. Elcock, now 89 of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, was rescued by the Coast Guard. The plane came to rest on the bottom of Lake Michigan, nose down in 250 feet of water about 50 miles from Chicago. A salvage team recovered the plane 21 November 2009 so it can be restored and put on display. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

A World War II F6F-3 Hellcat fighter plane is placed on blocks after being removed from beneath the surface of Lake Michigan for the first time in nearly 65 years in Waukegan Harbor in Waukegan, Illinois, USA 30 November 2009. The plane reportedly saw action in the Battle of Guadacanal in the Pacific Ocean before being used for training and aircraft carrier landing qualifications in Lake Michigan. On 05 January 1945 the plane, piloted by Lieutenant (junior grade) Walter B Elcock, landed but failed to securely catch the carrier arresting cable and plunged into the icy waters. Elcock, now 89 of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, was rescued by the Coast Guard. The plane came to rest on the bottom of Lake Michigan, nose down in 250 feet of water about 50 miles from Chicago. A salvage team recovered the plane 21 November 2009 so it can be restored and put on display. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

The barnacle encrusted cockpit of a World War II F6F-3 Hellcat fighter plane is seen after its removal from beneath the surface of Lake Michigan for the first time in nearly 65 years in Waukegan Harbor in Waukegan, Illinois, USA 30 November 2009. The plane reportedly saw action in the Battle of Guadacanal in the Pacific Ocean before being used for training and aircraft carrier landing qualifications in Lake Michigan. On 05 January 1945 the plane, piloted by Lieutenant (junior grade) Walter B Elcock, landed but failed to securely catch the carrier arresting cable and plunged into the icy waters. Elcock, now 89 of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, was rescued by the Coast Guard. The plane came to rest on the bottom of Lake Michigan, nose down in 250 feet of water about 50 miles from Chicago. A salvage team recovered the plane 21 November 2009 so it can be restored and put on display. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

A World War II F6F-3 Hellcat fighter plane is lifted from beneath the surface of Lake Michigan for the first time in nearly 65 years in Waukegan Harbor in Waukegan, Illinois, USA 30 November 2009. The plane reportedly saw action in the Battle of Guadacanal in the Pacific Ocean before being used for training and aircraft carrier landing qualifications in Lake Michigan. On 05 January 1945 the plane, piloted by Lieutenant (junior grade) Walter B Elcock, landed but failed to securely catch the carrier arresting cable and plunged into the icy waters. Elcock, now 89 of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, was rescued by the Coast Guard. The plane came to rest on the bottom of Lake Michigan, nose down in 250 feet of water about 50 miles from Chicago. A salvage team recovered the plane 21 November 2009 so it can be restored and put on display. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Hunter Brawley watches as a World War II F6F-3 Hellcat fighter plane once piloted by his grandfather is removed from Lake Michigan for the first time in nearly 65 years in Waukegan Harbor in Waukegan, Illinois, USA 30 November 2009. The plane reportedly saw action in the Battle of Guadacanal in the Pacific Ocean before being used for training and aircraft carrier landing qualifications in Lake Michigan. On 05 January 1945 the plane, piloted by Lieutenant (junior grade) Walter B Elcock, landed but failed to securely catch the carrier arresting cable and plunged into the icy waters. Elcock, now 89 of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, was rescued by the Coast Guard. The plane came to rest on the bottom of Lake Michigan, nose down in 250 feet of water about 50 miles from Chicago. A salvage team recovered the plane 21 November 2009 so it can be restored and put on display. EPA/TANNEN MAURY