Saturday, June 16, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Personal story of Lt. J. M. DeVane Jr. and SBD BuNo 06624
Some people travel to frigid Greenland to retrieve aircraft from beneath 250 feet of glacial ice. Others go to the sweltering jungles of New Guinea to bring them back. The National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Fla., went to the bottom of Lake Michigan to recover a Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless, and the Michigan-based Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, along with the national Guadalcanal Memorial Museum, are the beneficiaries. After years of fundraising and negotiation, this aircraft was brought to the "Air Zoo" in early November 1993. This type of dive-bomber is probably most noted for its work in the Pacific, especially during the Battle of Midway where its type sank three major Japanese aircraft carriers and damaged a fourth.
Aircraft BuNo. 06624 was one of a number of SBDs lost during training in the Great Lakes aboard the paddlewheel carriers Wolverine and Sable. It was stricken on September 19, 1943 when the pilot trainee accidentally switched to a dry fuel tank, lost power on landing, boltered and went over the side into the lake.
Divers retrieved SBD BuNo 06624 from Lake Michigan where it crashed near Naval Air Station Glenview, Ill. After sustaining damage in the landing accident and being underwater for 50 years, the Dauntless was in very poor condition. To prevent further corrosion, power sprayers were used to remove muck and silt from the aircraft, which was then completely disassembled. All of the parts were cleaned and oiled to preserve them.
From John M. DeVane III (USN/Vietnam Vet):
The SBD3 pulled from Lake Michigan -#06624 - was my father's assigned aircraft aboard the USS Ranger, CV-4, during Operation Torch. It was he - Lt. J. M. DeVane Jr. - who dropped one of two 1.000 lb. bombs on the bow of the Jean Bart. The other was Lt.(jg) McReynolds. Lt. R. A. Embree had a near miss in the water on the port beam.
In May, 2002, after 50,000 hrs. and nine years of restoration, SBD3/06624 was dedicated. My son and I attended, representing my Father. (See the photo above).
Dad also scored a direct hit on the bridge of the light cruiser Primaguet, disabling command and control. He was awarded the Navy Cross for valor for his actions in Torch.
Thanks to Mr. DeVane for allowing me to share his father's story.
Click here from more information on Operation Torch.
Click here from more information on USS Ranger, CV-4.
Click here from more information on the Jean Bart.
Click here from more information on the Primaguet and the battle.
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