Explorers find US Air Force plane that crashed into Lake Ontario in 1952 after crew bailed out

OSWEGO, N.Y. – Underwater explorers say they’ve found the wreck of a U.S. Air Force twin-engine plane that crashed into Lake Ontario more than 60 years ago.

The C-45 flew for miles on its own after its three-man crew and two civilian passengers bailed out when one of the engines failed during a flight over central New York in 1952. The aircraft flew on automatic pilot for more than an hour before it crashed into the lake off Oswego.

A team of explorers from the Rochester area say Tuesday that they located the nearly intact plane in deep water while searching for historic shipwrecks on the lake’s eastern end.

The C-45 was on a routine flight on Sept. 11, 1952, from Bedford, Massachusetts to Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York when it crashed.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.