Fairchild PT-19 (Laguna Beach, California -- 175 fsw)

[beldridg]

@California Diver and I have located and identified another new (as far as we know) airplane wreck in Southern California. We were hunting for a P-51 Mustang and ended up finding a Fairchild PT-19. It took a bit of detective work and time to identify the aircraft type and then the specific airplane, but I'm pretty sure we got it. Details about the wreck, a bunch of photos, and how we ended up identifying it are all posted at the link below.

Fairchild PT-19 (Laguna Beach — 175 fsw)

Background Tyler has been doing a lot of research by reading through old newspaper archives looking for potential new wrecks to locate and dive. He recently came across some articles about a P-51 M…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

Here is a low-res photo of the inline 6 cylinder engine which was a key factor in determining the type of airplane. There are a lot more photos and higher res on the post referenced above.

 

[wnissen]

@California Diver and I have located and identified another new (as far as we know) airplane wreck in Southern California. We were hunting for a P-51 Mustang and ended up finding a Fairchild PT-19. It took a bit of detective work and time to identify the aircraft type and then the specific airplane, but I'm pretty sure we got it. Details about the wreck, a bunch of photos, and how we ended up identifying it are all posted at the link below.

Fairchild PT-19 (Laguna Beach — 175 fsw)

Background Tyler has been doing a lot of research by reading through old newspaper archives looking for potential new wrecks to locate and dive. He recently came across some articles about a P-51 M…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

Here is a low-res photo of the inline 6 valve engine which was a key factor in determining the type of airplane. There are a lot more photos and higher res on the post referenced above.

View attachment 703751

Fascinating as usual. One note I had, when you're talking Southern California and airplanes, I am forced to speculate that there might be some connection to the legendary Dick or Burt Rutan. It seems their sister was named Nellie, but perhaps a cousin with the same lust for flight?

 

[VikingDives]

Nice write up. It looks like young Lieutenant Mayian had a very (un)lucky year. He crashed another plane in July of 64.

 

[beldridg]

Fascinating as usual. One note I had, when you're talking Southern California and airplanes, I am forced to speculate that there might be some connection to the legendary Dick or Burt Rutan. It seems their sister was named Nellie, but perhaps a cousin with the same lust for flight?

Yeah, I saw that last name and thought it was interesting. I haven't had a chance to research but the possibility of a family connection to the "famous Rutan" family exists which would, indeed, make it even more interesting.

- brett

 

[beldridg]

Nice write up. It looks like young Lieutenant Mayian had a very (un)lucky year. He crashed another plane in July of 64.

Hah! Good find. I love the phrase "he ran out of runway before he ran out of speed." That is an absolute classic.

- brett

 

[Jared0425]

@California Diver and I have located and identified another new (as far as we know) airplane wreck in Southern California. We were hunting for a P-51 Mustang and ended up finding a Fairchild PT-19. It took a bit of detective work and time to identify the aircraft type and then the specific airplane, but I'm pretty sure we got it. Details about the wreck, a bunch of photos, and how we ended up identifying it are all posted at the link below.

Fairchild PT-19 (Laguna Beach — 175 fsw)

Background Tyler has been doing a lot of research by reading through old newspaper archives looking for potential new wrecks to locate and dive. He recently came across some articles about a P-51 M…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

Here is a low-res photo of the inline 6 valve engine which was a key factor in determining the type of airplane. There are a lot more photos and higher res on the post referenced above.

View attachment 703751

Misread this at first as being a PT boat. Been looking for a pair of F-106s and and a F-104 in Lake Huron that went down in the 60s. 3 P-51's have been found and we located a 2 army biplane's mounted with a .30 cal. One of them has the poor pilot in it.

 

[broncobowsher]

Cool find. Quick glance at the picture and a few things I saw right away, prop was direct coupled to the crankshaft. Not gear reduction like a V12. Also the fixation for the prop is for a wooden prop. I was not did not know of that inverted 6-cylinder (yes, 6-cylinder, not 6-valve) engine. Looks like the white metal dissolved in the ocean leaving only the crankshaft and cylinder liners behind, along with the steel valvetrain parts.

 

[lowflyer]

Your story brought back memories. Many decades ago my father owned a PT-26 painted in WWII military colors. It was pretty much the same airplane as the PT-19 except for having a canopy. I learned to fly in it. Decades later I logged PIC, though not solo, time in the P-51. Both fun airplanes. I hope you find your P-51.

 

[beldridg]

Cool find. Quick glance at the picture and a few things I saw right away, prop was direct coupled to the crankshaft. Not gear reduction like a V12. Also the fixation for the prop is for a wooden prop. I was not did not know of that inverted 6-cylinder (yes, 6-cylinder, not 6-valve) engine. Looks like the white metal dissolved in the ocean leaving only the crankshaft and cylinder liners behind, along with the steel valvetrain parts.

My typo - yes, definitely 6 cylinder and not 6 valve. Original post is corrected.

- brett

 

[beldridg]

Your story brought back memories. Many decades ago my father owned a PT-26 painted in WWII military colors. It was pretty much the same airplane as the PT-19 except for having a canopy. I learned to fly in it. Decades later I logged PIC, though not solo, time in the P-51. Both fun airplanes. I hope you find your P-51.

Great memories! We'll keep looking for the P-51. It would be a great find, for sure.

- brett