Interesting photos on EnglishRussia

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Member for

17 years 10 months

Posts: 784

http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2010/06/16/guess-what/

Found these photos today, no details at all given but these few pictures here may interest some:

http://englishrussia.com/images//4520226034_2423b9ffc9_o.jpg

http://englishrussia.com/images//4520227494_58e0143e1b_o.jpg

http://englishrussia.com/images//4519589355_cdc958ac5e_o.jpg

http://englishrussia.com/images//4519590503_6e85c9d70e_o.jpg

http://englishrussia.com/images//4520225720_5338b6bf4c_o.jpg

http://englishrussia.com/images//4520226552_916d05aec5_o.jpg

Theres quite a few others posted.

Anyone able to shed some light?

Original post

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 1,861

The photos were taken during the "Operation Windmill" early 1948.
Two ships involved: USS Edisto and USS Burton Island.
They both carried a Sikorski HO3S-1 helicopter.
XC-28 is a Sikorski HO3S-1.
http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/content.php?pid=29777&sid=681201
They found at least one Douglas R4-D leftover from the former six of "Operation High Jump"
The serials:
BuNo.12415, 42-23443
BuNo.17101, 42-108803
BuNo.17197, 42-108916 (the second photo shows very probably this one)
BuNo.17237, 43-48055
BuNo.17238, 43-48063
BuNo.39092, 42-100600

"The following year the US Icebreakers 'Edisto" and Burton Island, spotted the goonies while visiting the Bay of Whales in early February 1948. Snow was cleared away from one of the Douglas Aircraft and its engine started up , but no attempt was made to try and fly it."

Member for

17 years 10 months

Posts: 784

Ok many thanks!...

I knew someone on here would work it out for me. :D

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20 years 1 month

Posts: 802

Will they still be there? or were they eventually recovered?

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 1,861

I can't find anything about a recovery attempt!
...just to add - on the second photo:
Nose art: Penguin with "Project Highjump"
and "Naval Air Transport (Service)" above the cabin windows

ATC and NATS were later joined to MATS on 1 June 1948

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16 years 7 months

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I never knew that those Grumman J-2 (OA-12?) biplanes saw service post-war, nice pictures.

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 1,861

I never knew that those Grumman J-2 (OA-12?) biplanes saw service post-war, nice pictures.

USS Edisto carried a Grumman J2F-6 Duck

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 1,861

Will they still be there? or were they eventually recovered?

17197, 17238, 39092 - these three aircraft were tied down at Little America (nickname of the airfield at the US base) and abandoned. 1948 the ice pack broke away and drifted off with the aircraft.

Member for

19 years 9 months

Posts: 447

Will they still be there? or were they eventually recovered?

I'm not 100% sure where I read it, but I think at a later date the Russians actually recovered some of C-47 for their own use.

Second thought, I may refer to airplanes abandoned near the North Circle, so please ignore this post more ore less... :o