Latécoère 631 found
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Latécoère 631 found
Apparently a Latecoere 631 six engined seaplane has been found at the bottom of Lake Simon in Canada.
https://thecanadian.news/he-finds-an...k-by-accident/
https://thecanadian.news/he-finds-an...k-by-accident/
Last edited by Airclues; 21st Jun 2021 at 22:15.
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Does it say "Spitfire" on the crate?
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According to an article (in French) in the 'Journal de Montreal', the military have confiscated the photos until a full investigation has taken place. Could be more to this? The diver claims to have found six propellers.
Barrels and bodies.? And six props.! Will be very interesting to hear the final outcome regarding this find.
Wiki shows the 631 as a major piece of kit, as a poster said, all accounted for elsewhere.
Wiki shows the 631 as a major piece of kit, as a poster said, all accounted for elsewhere.
Have all Convair tradewinds been accounted for?
Those had counter rotating props so 8 in total.
I have to give in that 4 Latecoers have been broken up.
I do not know where that has been done.
Could be one of them been scuttled?
But then no bodies and barrels.
Don’t drink and dive.
Those had counter rotating props so 8 in total.
I have to give in that 4 Latecoers have been broken up.
I do not know where that has been done.
Could be one of them been scuttled?
But then no bodies and barrels.
Don’t drink and dive.
All tradewinds are accounted for as per baaa-acro site.
So far there's nothing published to support the claims on six props etc. Will be interesting to see the pictures once published.
But I'm wondering if this is actually a C54 or some earlier four engined military transport (which happened to carry props amongst other things as cargo). A few of those are still missing.
I find it more plausible to be some rather common type as the missing rare ones are known and would've been already brought into question. All that the authorities have stated is that there seems to be "a mass that could resemble a plane", the rest of the description is from the diver.
How clear are the waters over there and is it rocky/muddy/smthn else? The plane is apparently laying at more than 45 meters deep, so there are many challenges in identifying the aircraft, never minding counting for 150+ chests that has been laying there for more than half a century.
So far there's nothing published to support the claims on six props etc. Will be interesting to see the pictures once published.
But I'm wondering if this is actually a C54 or some earlier four engined military transport (which happened to carry props amongst other things as cargo). A few of those are still missing.
I find it more plausible to be some rather common type as the missing rare ones are known and would've been already brought into question. All that the authorities have stated is that there seems to be "a mass that could resemble a plane", the rest of the description is from the diver.
How clear are the waters over there and is it rocky/muddy/smthn else? The plane is apparently laying at more than 45 meters deep, so there are many challenges in identifying the aircraft, never minding counting for 150+ chests that has been laying there for more than half a century.
Last edited by Beamr; 22nd Jun 2021 at 16:33.
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If the wreck does exist, it is most probably an RCAF PBY Canso. Between 1935 and 1946, a total of 3,431 PBYs of all types, were built in North America; 730 of them in Canada. Over 300 of the type were built at nearby Montreal.
After the Second World War, Cansos served with the RCAF in photo reconnaissance and search and rescue roles, until they were finally retired November 1962.
The diver's details of the wreck are predictably vague and give rise to my innate scepticism. I remain to be surprised.
After the Second World War, Cansos served with the RCAF in photo reconnaissance and search and rescue roles, until they were finally retired November 1962.
The diver's details of the wreck are predictably vague and give rise to my innate scepticism. I remain to be surprised.
Last edited by evansb; 22nd Jun 2021 at 18:32.
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Is the name Gillespie involved?
Actually, the idea of the possible wreck being a RAF B24 or some other lend-lease plane is not that far fetched, as starting from 1941 the RAF Ferry Command flew the planes to Dorval airport in Montreal prior to trans-atlantic ferry flights. Dorval is mere 100km away from Lake Simon.
Furthermore, based on junobeach.org, once the route was found successful the ferried planes were increasingly used to carry passengers, mail, and essential cargo such as medical or technical supplies, even ammunition.
The crew were civilians, it seems a bit difficult to find any info on the accidents enroute.
I'd consider feasible that if the supposed wreck was a civilian aircraft there would be some legacy info about the accident of such a large aircraft with many hands lost. Instead if it was a military aircraft on a ferry flight among thousands of ferry flights on same route in the midst of years of warfare, no one blinks an eye.
Furthermore, based on junobeach.org, once the route was found successful the ferried planes were increasingly used to carry passengers, mail, and essential cargo such as medical or technical supplies, even ammunition.
The crew were civilians, it seems a bit difficult to find any info on the accidents enroute.
I'd consider feasible that if the supposed wreck was a civilian aircraft there would be some legacy info about the accident of such a large aircraft with many hands lost. Instead if it was a military aircraft on a ferry flight among thousands of ferry flights on same route in the midst of years of warfare, no one blinks an eye.
"Six props" is very possibly technical mis-speak for six propellor blades...
Particularly as a twin piston 'boat is far more likely anyway.Were it reallt a Latecoere they would surely comment at length (sorry!) on its vast size.
Particularly as a twin piston 'boat is far more likely anyway.Were it reallt a Latecoere they would surely comment at length (sorry!) on its vast size.
[QUOTE]The plane is apparently laying at more than 45 meters deep[/QUOTE]
A depth of 45 metres requires “technical diving” equipment and skills. The limit for non-decompression diving is about 25 metres.
A depth of 45 metres requires “technical diving” equipment and skills. The limit for non-decompression diving is about 25 metres.
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Interesting that the windows and nose of a Consolidated C-87 could resemble a Latecoere 631 when viewed through the murky depths of a lake.
FYI The wreck that diver Mark Sarazen found in Lac Simon in 2007 was a Republic RC-3 Seabee that disappeared on November 21, 1957, with four hunters. The wreck was retrieved in 2008.
FYI The wreck that diver Mark Sarazen found in Lac Simon in 2007 was a Republic RC-3 Seabee that disappeared on November 21, 1957, with four hunters. The wreck was retrieved in 2008.
Last edited by evansb; 23rd Jun 2021 at 20:24.
