Harrington's Hellcat (Laguna Beach, California -- 200 fsw)

[beldridg]

I wasn't the first to locate this wreck (Gary Fabian) or the first team to dive it (Steve Lawson & Chris Gilmartin) but it is yet another airplane wreck in Southern California that is relatively unknown. I don't think anybody else has dived it.

The entire front part of the airplane is still there with the wings relatively intact and the 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney Double WASP Radial Engine (same as the F4U Corsair) is in front of the cockpit. If you don't know about the F6F Hellcat, it was credited with shooting down more Japanese aircraft than any other plane in WW II -- by a long shot. It was a "stout" aircraft with a lot of protection for the pilot and could cary in excess of 2,000 pounds of bombs.

More information about the Hellcat and this particular wreck along with photos and a link to a photogrammetry model are at the post below.

Harrington’s Hellcat (Laguna Beach, CA — 200 fsw)

Intro Tyler and I had heard about a Hellcat that crashed off Laguna Beach but had never found it or dove it. It was originally located by Gary Fabian and the first divers on the wreck were Steve La…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

Here is a screen capture of the front of the wreck from the photogrammetry model:

Enjoy!

I should have another post with a great back-story coming up next week.

- brett

 

[wnissen]

That is just super pretty. Thanks for posting.

 

[beldridg]

That is just super pretty. Thanks for posting.

I'm glad you enjoyed it - thanks for the comment!

B

 

[Eric802]

I've spent a lot of time reading the stuff on your website - very impressed with the kind of diving you're doing and the work that goes into researching those wrecks. Please keep it up!

 

[beldridg]

I've spent a lot of time reading the stuff on your website - very impressed with the kind of diving you're doing and the work that goes into researching those wrecks. Please keep it up!

Thanks, I appreciate the comments.

If you haven't already, you should consider signing up to get email updates for the blog. I only publish 2-4 times a month and I don't always "cross-post" to Scubaboard.

- brett