Aviation archaeology
Aviation archaeology is a recognized sub-discipline within archaeology and underwater archaeology as a whole.
History of aviation archaeology and current issues
The activity dates to post-World War II Europe when, after the conflict, numerous aircraft wrecks studded the countryside. Many times, memorials to those involved in the crashes were put together by individuals, families, landholders, or communities.
Crash sites vary in size and content; some may have fuselages, engines, and thousands of parts and debris. Other sites, like in civilian/commercial crashes, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will have almost all of the aircraft and debris removed; which makes aviation archaeology more challenging. Remains of military aircraft crash sites may also be removed by various aircraft restoration groups, particularly if the aircraft was found largely intact. In general, most recent-day (since the 1980s) aircraft crashes are removed entirely, due to environmental regulations, leaving very little to indicate the existence of a wreck.
For example, military crashes in Arizona originate from numerous air bases, past and present. Because of the warm and sunny weather, much of the U.S. Army Air Forces flight training was located in the state, both during and after WWII. Numerous air bases dotted the states – creating conditions for numerous training accidents.[2] Old abandoned US Army Air Corp auxiliary fields and those converted to city municipal airports provide archaeological sites to be researched and investigated.[3]
Keeping a record of a crash site, such as photographs, maps, journals, logs, and all terrain and weather recordings are essential, e.g., the
The internet is an ideal media for sharing, recording, educating, and promoting aviation archaeology as a hobby, as well as research projects for local and state aviation historical groups. For identifying aircraft type and manufacturer by part numbers
Protection laws and regulations
United States
Legal protection of aircraft wreck sites is highly variable. In terms of protection by aircraft ownership, the
The National Register deems aviation wreck sites as “any aircraft that has been crashed, ditched, damaged, stranded, or abandoned”.
State lands protection laws vary widely across the nation but the language describing a historical resource is the same as federal laws. Therefore, aviation properties and aircraft wrecks on
Under the 'Sunken Military Craft Act’ (SMCA) of 2004, it is illegal to disturb, remove, or injure the wreck sites or associated contents of
As a part of federal air regulations, NTSB Part 830, protects any aircraft whose accident cause is under investigation.[16][17] NTSB officials will routinely seize portions of wrecked aircraft for further analysis. Most of the time, after their study is complete, the sequestered debris is returned to the owners' representation – most often the aircraft's insurance company. However, examples like the reconstructed wreckage of TWA Flight 800 are held in perpetuity by the NTSB to educate the public and future investigators on the NTSB's role in transportation safety.
United Kingdom
The laws in the UK cover the remains of all aircraft which have crashed during military service (land or sea) are protected by the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. This Act defines an offence of tampering with, damage to, moving, or unearthing the aircraft remains. Exceptions apply to those holding licences, which can be issued by the Secretary of State, authorising specific procedures to be performed.
For the wreck-chasing hobbyist there is a self-regulating body, the
Types of aviation archaeology sites
Terrestrial sites
Aviation history sites on land that can be subject to archaeological survey or excavation can include airports (which can contain hangars, terminal, other facilities, etc.), crash sites, monuments, or even properties associated with important persons or events in aviation history. Some examples of potential and current archaeological sites:
Aircraft crash sites
The Loon Lake B-23 Dragon crash site in Payette National Forest, Idaho is a remarkably intact example of an aircraft wreck. The crew survived and was rescued, and some avionics removed from the site, and it currently is the subject of a teaching aviation archaeology field school in various years.
Abandoned airfields
Abandoned airfields can yield much information of historic information about aviation and related industries.[20][21] From civilian airfields to military airfields, aviation archaeologists can find, uncover, and recover a variety of artifacts, just to name a few: aircraft parts with serial numbers, equipment parts, asphalt or runway material, variety of contamination, structures and foundations, businesses and economics, to community and cultural changes. With the closure of a military airbase, the street system and runways become local expansion of city streets and business; one example is the community conversion of Lowry Air Force Base to a local residential, commercial, and educational environment. Other bases, like the Arlington Auxiliary Army Airfield reverted to farming and ranching.
In 1990, 1994, and 1998, archaeologists investigated, using airborne remote sensing studies and limited excavation, a vintage hangar of the
Another example is
Abandoned missile silos and sites
In the
Underwater crash sites
A B-29 "Superfortress" Serial No. 45-21847 ditched in Lake Mead in 1949. This particular aircraft is listed in the National Register under Criterion C as an example of a significant type of aircraft construction and under Criterion D for it potential to yield important information.
The remains of the
Underwater surveying and recovery
Underwater search and recovery is a complex aspect of aviation archaeology. Dive and recovery team have to do extensive research and planning before any recovery is performed. The aircraft site may be left as a memorial and not recovered. Once an aircraft has been located, an underwater survey is conducted before recovery operations begin. Many tasks are established and the research is a long process that requires the detailed review numerous and various sources of information. The complexities include a great deal of preparation, extensive training, precise planning, and very technical equipment and coordination. Conservation has often proved very difficult[26]
Australia
The Australian focus has been on underwater aviation archaeology,[27] partly as a result of the interest of the relatively large number of maritime archaeologists and shipwreck conservators in the field. This has resulted in numerous studies and reports, including some cross-fertilization or ideas, theory and techniques with practitioners in other parts of the world, with a strong emphasis on the involvement of conservators.[28] Underwater aviation archaeology commenced in Australia at the wrecks of the Dornier, Catalina, and Sunderland Flying Boats destroyed by Japanese fighters at Broome in WWII. These lie, both in the intertidal zone, and in deeper water.[29] The study continued in Darwin in the Northern Territory with research and fieldwork at its series of submerged PBY Catalina wrecks,[30] Subsequently, the study has spread to other regions in Australia, partly as a result of the Interest of Flinders University and its postgraduate student body.[31] While military aircraft remain the property of their respective governments unless delegated to a third party, submerged aircraft wrecks (such as the wrecks at Broome in Western Australia), have proven to be quite difficult to protect from unauthorized recoveries and looting. Those in Broome are now protected under the provisions of the 1990 Heritage of Western Australia Act.[32]
As a profession
In America, aviation archaeologists, crosstrained in other areas of study, are found in the employ of
Professional aviation archaeologists may also be involved in the recovery of near-complete examples of wrecked or abandoned aircraft for profit. The clients of these professionals range from private individuals and aviation museums, to government agencies. Often these aircraft are in remote areas, which aids wreckage preservation.
See also
- Aerial archaeology
- Aviation accidents and incidents
- Aviation safety
- Crash cover
- Industrial archaeology
- List of aviation historical societies
- Protection of Military Remains Act 1986
- Wreck diving
References
- ^ McCarthy, M., 2004. Historic aircraft wrecks as archaeological sites. Bulletin of the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology, 28: 81–90.
- ^ Arizona Crash History Archived January 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Colorado: Northeastern Denver area". www.airfields-freeman.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Glenwood B-17". coloradowreckchasing.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Crash Site of the B-17C near Tells Peak, CA". www.check-six.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Aviation Archaeology - Part Number Prefix By Manufacturer". www.aviationarchaeology.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Aviation Archaeology - Aircraft Inspection Stamps". www.aviationarchaeology.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ Sterling City, TX, B-36 Accident Report Archived February 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Historic Preservation Policy Regarding US Navy Sunken Military Craft". navy.mil. Archived from the original on 7 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ National Historic Preservation Act 1966 Public Law 102-575 16 U.S.C. 470w
- ^ National Historic Landmarks Program 36CFR65 et seq.
- ^ California public resources code Section 5020-5029.5
- ^ "National Park Service Law 36CFR2.1" (PDF). wilderness.net. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ Joeckel, Jeff (29 November 2001). "Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Historic Aviation Properties, National Register of Historic Places Bulletin". nps.gov. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ History.Navy.mil: The Sunken Military Craft Act (US) Archived 2010-04-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ NTSB Part 830: U.S. Accident Preservation and Reporting Regulations (US) Archived 2010-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ US Federal Registry: 49 CFR Part 830[permanent dead link]
- ^ "British Aviation Archaeological Council". www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ Arlington Auxiliary Army Airfield Aerial View Archived 2011-10-06 at the Wayback Machine, see image no. 11
- ^ Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields
- ^ Abandoned, Forgotten and Little Known Airfields in Europe
- ^ "Archaeological, Geophysical, and Remote Sensing Investigations of the 1910 Wright Brothers' Hangar, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio" Archived 2016-01-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Missile Sites". ed-thelen.org. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ SiloMan. "SiloWorld". www.siloworld.net. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association Dive Recovery Team Archived September 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Western Australian Museum Broken Wings Archived 2012-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Broken wings". 202.14.152.30. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011.
- ^ "Broome". 202.14.152.30. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011.
- ^ Jung, Silvano (2001). Wings Beneath the Sea: the aviation archaeology of Catalina Flying Boats in Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory. Unpublished Master of Arts thesis, Northern Territory University (now Charles Darwin University), Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
- ^ e.g. Ford, J., 2006. WW Aviation Archaeology in Victoria Australia. Department of Maritime Archaeology. Flinders University. Adelaide.
- ^ McCarthy, M., Green, J., Jung, S. and Souter, C., 2002. The Broome Flying Boats: Papers relating to the nomination of a suite of flying boat wrecks at Broome to the Register of Heritage Places under the Heritage Of Western Australia Act 1990. Report – Department of Maritime Archaeology Western Australian Maritime Museum, No. 170.
- ISBN 0-345-43617-2.
Further reading
- Daly, Lisa M. (April 2015). Aviation Archaeology of World War II Gander: An Examination of Military and Civilian Life at the Newfoundland Airport (PhD). Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- Freeze, Christopher (2005). The Wreck Chaser's Bible. Check-Six. p. 2 vols. ISBN 0-9765562-1-9.
- Gero, David (1999). Military Aviation Disasters-Significant Losses Since 1908. Patrick Stephens Limited, Haynes Publishing, UK. ISBN 1-85260-574-X.
- Jung, Silvano (2001). Wings Beneath the Sea: the aviation archaeology of Catalina Flying Boats in Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory. Unpublished Master of Arts thesis, Northern Territory University (now Charles Darwin University), Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
- McNab, Chris (2005). The World's Worst Military Disasters: Chronicling the Greatest Battlefield Catastrophes of All Time. New York: Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 0-7607-7090-5.
- Merlin, Peter W. & Moore, Tony (2008). X-Plane Crashes: Exploring Experimental, Rocket Plane, and Spycraft Incidents, Accidents and Crash Sites; Specialty Press, North Branch, Minnesota. ISBN 1-58007-121-X
- Mireles, Anthony J. (2005). Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941–1945. McFarland & Co. Inc., Jefferson, NC. ISBN 0-7864-2106-1.
- Veronico, Nicholas A. (2013). Hidden Warbirds: The Epic Stories of Finding, Recovering, and Rebuilding WWII's Lost Aircraft. Zenith Press, Minneapolis, Mn. ISBN 978-0760344095.
- Veronico, Nicholas A., Ed Davies, et al. Wreckchasing: A Guide to Finding Aircraft Crash Sites; Pacific Aero Press, Castro Valley, Calif., 1993. ISBN 0-9636332-0-1
- Veronico, Nicholas A., Ed Davies, Michael B. McComb, Donald B. McComb. Wreckchasing 2: Commercial Aircraft Crashes and Crash Sites; World Transport Press, Miami, Fla. 1996. ISBN 0-9626730-3-X
- Pritzker Military Library Webcast Panel from December 4, 2012, on the ongoing efforts to recover and preserve aircraft lost in Lake Michigan during carrier qualifications in World War II
External links
- International sites
- TIGHAR.org – The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery
- Waymarking.com – coordinates for selected crash sites
- Australia
- Canada
- chaa-recovery.ca Canadian Underwater Recovery Team
- harvards.com Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association
- Germany
- German Aviation Archaeology at archive.today (archived August 28, 2013)
- UK sites
- British Aviation Archaeological Council – official site
- Thameside Aviation Museum – aviation archaeology
- Peak District plane wrecks
- US sites
- National Park Service's National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for evaluating and documenting historic aviation properties
- AircraftArchaeology.com – aircraft wrecks in Arizona and the Southwest
- Check-Six.com – aviation archaeology, before & after photos
- US Army Nike site information
- Wreckchasing.com – The on-line community for aircraft crash and crash site information.
- The X-Hunters.com – Echoes of Thunder: Remembering the Lost Airmen and accident sites of Edwards AFB