At first glance they appear like ghosts from the past, and for more than half a century they were indeed forgotten beneath the chilly waters of Lake Michigan. Recovered from the depths of the lake as part of the museum’s underwater aircraft recovery program that began during the early 1990s, the wrecks of an F4F Wildcat and SBD dive-bomber are tangible links to a unique endeavor in which World War II naval aviators conducted carrier qualifications on Lake Michigan aboard two paddle-wheel steamers converted to aircraft carriers. Ditched as a result of mishaps during the demanding mission of operating an aircraft from a moving ship, the wrecks are displayed in the manner in which they appeared before recovery from the lake bottom, a light box shining through running water giving visitors the illusion of being underwater. Displayed with the aircraft are items removed from the wrecks, including machine guns and survival gear still containing candy bars. For more information on the museum’s underwater aircraft recovery program, Click Here.