Trip Report The Dogfight (P-38 & Corsair) -- Newport Beach, CA

[DiveTucson]

That's what I guessed looking at the gearout in the photos, but inquiring minds want to know.

There is a group of us that have spent tons of money and resources hunting and finding these wrecks.

Depths are typically not disclosed to help keep the sites private until they can be completely identified. Once the wrecks have been identified conclusively and fully documented then the numbers are often released to the local tech charters that have assisted in the search.

Until then they are kept secret. We have dove numerous new wrecks in the “SoCal” area from 65 feet to 330+ feet.

If you are in the SoCal area Lora with Marissa Charters is running a tech trip on July 31st to a known site and then a second dive to a site that has maybe been dove 3-4 times. Depths in the 130-150’ range. (Not one of the wrecks mentioned in Brett’s blog)

 

[coldwaterglutton]

I get that, it's why I asked only for the roughest of estimates - but my idle curiosity has been satisfied.

 

[kumimonster]

There is a group of us that have spent tons of money and resources hunting and finding these wrecks.

Depths are typically not disclosed to help keep the sites private until they can be completely identified. Once the wrecks have been identified conclusively and fully documented then the numbers are often released to the local tech charters that have assisted in the search.

Until then they are kept secret. We have dove numerous new wrecks in the “SoCal” area from 65 feet to 330+ feet.

If you are in the SoCal area Lora with Marissa Charters is running a tech trip on July 31st to a known site and then a second dive to a site that has maybe been dove 3-4 times. Depths in the 130-150’ range. (Not one of the wrecks mentioned in Brett’s blog)

totally awesome. thanks for the time and investment and work!

 

[dead dog]

Two very interesting airplane wrecks that are largely unknown here in Southern California. They collided back in January 1944 and the rumor is that they were involved in an unauthorized dogfight. They are both debris fields without any fuselage structure but very interesting to dive.

We had unbelievable visibility on the Corsair dive. Water was 54F on the bottom and a balmy 68F on deco @ 20'.

The whole story along with photos and information about the planes is posted here:

The Dogfight (Newport Beach, CA)

Photo of @California Diver at the prop of the P-38:

View attachment 669645

I dove these two wrecks back in 1959, at that time it was called Scotchman's Cove. You could reach the wrecks from the shore if you were a good swimmer There are two large anchors (1000 pounds) from the 1850s in the same cove. I'm surprised to see parts of the planes still there.