P-39 search in Lake Huron

"DETROIT (AP) — A team of divers have been trolling the deep, cold waters of Lake Huron off Michigan’s Thumb for several weeks each of the past few years searching for scattered pieces of aviation — and Black military — history.
Their target is the wreckage of a World War II-era fighter plane flown by a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen that crashed during training nearly 80 years ago near Port Huron, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northeast of Detroit.
So far, the plane's bullet-riddled propellor and hundreds of other pieces have been recovered. Organizers this week hauled the P-39's 1,200-pound (544-kilogram) mussel-encrusted engine from about 30 feet (9 meters) below the surface of the the lake which is home to scores of sailing vessels, tankers and other ships that have sunk over the past several centuries.
Once restored, the engine, like other parts of the plane, eventually will be exhibited at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum at the Coleman A. Young International Airport on Detroit's east side.
“We’re doing some finalizing of mapping things in terms of what all is there,” said Carrie Sowden, archeological and research director at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio. “As we prepare for these major lifts, we’re finding all these small pieces. When we’re done we’re going to have a complete understanding where every single piece came from.”"
Wreckage from Tuskegee airman's plane that crashed during WWII training recovered from Lake Huron

 

I had the honor to know and do business with a Tuskegee Airman, he was a great guy who retired as a colonel. He died a few years ago and is missed by the community.

What was missing in the story above is did the pilot survive the crash, and how was the propeller bullet-riddled in a training mission?

 

No, his body was washed ashore sometime later. According to this, though, he was flying over an air gunnery range and his body was never recovered-
https://cafriseabove.org/frank-herman-moody/

 

A little WD-40 and a wire brush and that engine will be ready to fly again.

 

From the article:

"Tuskegee Airmen and their aircraft have been referred to as “Red Tails” for the red-painted wings of their airplanes."

 

I believe I have heard that any carrier planes recovered in Lake Michigan are still US Navy property and they will claim it.
12 aircraft have been recovered from the lake in 1991-92. One F4F-3 is on display at O'Hare Int. Airport. It is dedicated to Butch O'hare as the airport is named after him. A Medal of Honor winner who shot down 5 enemy planes and saved the Lexington. The plane was found virtually intact, lost on a training flight off the USS Wolverine in 1943.

 

Note the white water amidships; Wolverine and her near-sister Sable were the only carriers powered by paddle wheels. Sable could be distinguished by having only two funnels.