[rlmorel]

LOL, this is why I love FR. Any subject will bring us in, but when the aviation related threads come up, we swarm to them like flies to honey!

Before I continue: I looked mostly at the aft end of the wing root to rule out an Avenger, because an Avenger wing appears to go straight in without tapering...same for a variety of other planes.

Also, I was certain there was no way it was inverted, but...I realize I could likely be wrong. Now I tend to agree that it IS inverted, because the forward side of the wing root is nearly flush with the fuselage, and at the aft end, it is more towards the center of the fuselage. That would be an EXTREMELY weird configuration if the plane were right side up, so...my apologies for the scare quotes around “expert”.

Also, if it were a purpose built variant of float plane, from a fighter platform then it would have no gear, only the struts for the floats.

I was clearly wrong there, I think...:)

Sorry. Therefore it likely is some Japanese variant...

Sheesh...you think they could have gotten a better photo of the darn thing?

Also, how on earth would a Japanese plane have lasted that long? you would thing the skin would have all disappeared a long, long time ago!

Great discussion though! Love it...:)

[Red Badger]

It’s in fresh water, not salt, so it tends to preserve...............plus no marine organisms...............

[Phlyer]

Now I tend to agree that it IS inverted, because the forward side of the wing root is nearly flush with the fuselage,

I must respectfully disagree. Relative to the fuselage the leading edge of the wing is noticeably higher than the trailing edge, which has to indicate that the wing is right side up. Plus, as I said before, the flap on the trailing edge is down (with an obvious fairing for it to fair into when up).

My problem is that there isn't an obvious single-engine, WWII era plane that has a wing that high on the fuselage - float plane, attack plane, or fighter. The OS2U was mid-wing with very low canopy rails (which allows for the canopy to be missing from the wrecked plane). It's still the closest I can come up with.