The FM-2 Wildcat fighter plane, recovered from approximately 200 feet (61 meters) of water, crashed into the lake on December 28, 1944. The plane’s engine had died during an attempted takeoff from the U.S.S. Sable, one of two U.S. aircraft carriers used for pilot training on Lake Michigan in the 1940s.
Resurfacing History: The FM-2 Wildcat Recovered from Lake Michigan
Beneath the tranquil surface of Lake Michigan lie echoes of a pivotal era in American military history. One such relic—a Grumman FM-2 Wildcat fighter plane—was plucked from approximately 200 feet (61 meters) below the waves, its corroded frame a testament to both wartime innovation and the unforeseen hazards of routine training. This particular Wildcat met its watery fate on December 28, 1944, when an engine failure during takeoff from the USS Sable transformed a training exercise into a dramatic crash landing.
Wartime Training Above the Waves
During World War II, most American pilots destined for combat served their apprenticeships not on far-flung battlefields, but over the heartland’s own inland seas. The USS Sable, along with its sister ship the USS Wolverine, were the world’s only freshwater, coal-fired, paddle-wheel aircraft carriers. Anchored off the shores of Chicago and Cleveland, these converted sidewheel steamers were reimagined as floating runways, essential for qualifying new pilots in the art (and peril) of carrier takeoffs and landings.
With war raging on two oceans, the U.S. Navy needed to produce a generation of carrier pilots with unprecedented speed. Lake Michigan offered safer, submarine-free waters for training—but that didn’t make the task easy. Novice aviators faced short decks, tricky crosswinds, and the nerve-wracking bounce of a vessel converted for war.
On December 28, 1944, one FM-2 Wildcat, powered by a reliable Wright R-1820 radial engine, lined up for takeoff on the USS Sable’s abbreviated flight deck. Moments later, disaster struck: the engine failed, robbing the pilot of both lift and time. The Wildcat plunged into the icy lake, vanishing beneath the waves but sparing the life of its pilot, who was quickly rescued by vigilant deck crews.
The FM-2 Wildcat: Sturdy Symbol of Naval Aviation
The FM-2 Wildcat, built under license by General Motors, was an improved variant of Grumman’s rugged F4F design. With its lighter airframe and more powerful engine, the FM-2 could out-climb its predecessors, earning a reputation as a dependable workhorse from the Pacific to the practice decks of Lake Michigan. While the Wildcat was being eclipsed by newer fighters overseas, its reliability made it ideal for training the thousands of pilots passing through Sable and Wolverine.
Decades Beneath the Lake
For nearly 70 years, the Wildcat sat undisturbed beneath Lake Michigan’s dark, cold waters. The same environment that claimed so many training planes also provided astonishing preservation; the cold, fresh water slowed corrosion and protected many artifacts from the ravages of the sea. Over time, these underwater sites became time capsules of American ingenuity and courage—visible only to divers and the occasional sonar scan.
Then, in a remarkable feat of underwater archaeology and engineering, the Wildcat was recovered from its deep resting place, bringing with it a story that connects today’s generation with the daring fledglings of the 1940s.
Restoration and Remembrance
Once back on dry land, the battered fighter underwent careful, painstaking restoration. Each patch of corrosion and dent told a tale—from the frantic attempt to save the aircraft during its doomed takeoff, to the decades spent submerged in utter darkness. Restoration teams work not only to preserve the machine, but also to recreate the atmosphere and challenges faced by the “home front” pilots whose heroics sometimes went unsung.
The recovered Wildcat is now not merely a marvel of wartime engineering, but a unique teaching tool and tribute. It reminds visitors that behind each combat victory stood a thousand hours of training, a legion of instructors, and an enduring spirit of perseverance.
A Living Legacy
Lake Michigan’s role as a secret silent partner in Navy training is further highlighted every time a plane is recovered. Hundreds of aircraft—Wildcats, Dauntlesses, and Avengers—dot the lake’s bottom, each representing a day that ended unexpectedly but, in many cases, survived without tragic cost.
The FM-2 Wildcat, once lost to the deep, now stands as a link between yesterday’s heroes and today’s admirers. Its story is a reminder that victory in war owes as much to preparation and practice as it does to the climactic battles of history. And just as importantly, it pays tribute to the men who climbed into their cockpits, over the heart of the Midwest, and risked everything in the name of readiness.
