[bert]

I visited the Museum Of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola and saw one such restoration in process. The restorers were old guys, volunteers, but also a sizeable group of Navy aircraft mechanics from the base.

Our guide that sent us over to the building where the restoration was in process learned carrier landings on submarine free Lake Michigan. The Lake Michigan waters are clear and cold and sort of preserved the aircraft

For his 80th birthday, he got to fly one of the re built wildcats. Quite a Story.....quite a man

[Snickering Hound]

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=sbd-2_dauntless

That Pensacola museum has the only survivor from the Battle of Midway, an SBD-2 that was pulled out of Lake Michigan.

All the other aircraft and ships have long ago been scrapped.