Warbirds in Lake Mead

Meg Godlewski

Friday, September 09, 2022 at 08:50 AM ET

Verified

Vertical stabilizer of a B-29 covered in quagga mussels at the bottom of Lake Mead. [Courtesy of Brett Seymour]

Key Takeaways:

Lake Mead's receding water levels, caused by prolonged drought and increased demand, are making two submerged World War II aircraft—a B-29 bomber and a PBY Catalina flying boat—more accessible and vulnerable.
These aircraft are federally protected archaeological sites that divers can view but are strictly prohibited from touching or disturbing, with park authorities concerned about potential damage or illegal salvaging due to their increased exposure.
The B-29 crashed in 1948 during a research flight (all five crew survived), and the PBY Catalina in 1949 during a test flight (resulting in four fatalities).
Beyond accessibility issues, the wrecks are also threatened by invasive quagga mussels, which are proliferating in the lake's warmer waters and attaching to the aircraft, adding weight and causing structural stress.

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There is a saying to remember when you visit a national park: Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. Unfortunately, some people ignore that admonishment, and that is what authorities at Lake Mead Recreation Area are concerned about as the water level drops and two World War II aircraft that have been submerged in the lake for decades become easier to access.

Lake Mead is on the border of Arizona and Nevada. At maximum capacity, Lake Mead is 112 miles long and measures 532 feet at its greatest depth. The lake supplies water for Arizona, Nevada, and California. According to park officials, the lake has been steadily shrinking since 1983 because of increased demand for water and a prolonged drought. Federal studies indicate the lake has dropped 64 feet since 2020.