Lecture Series- Lake Huron Red Tails: Recovering a World War II Tuskegee Airplane
Event published by Michigan Maritime Museum
The Michigan Maritime Museum will be hosting guest presenter Wayne Lusardi Wednesday, April 16 th from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm as he shares his experiences recovering a World War II Tuskegee airplane that crashed into Lake Huron in 1944 during his presentation, Lake Huron Red Tails: Recovering a World War II Tuskegee Airplane.
Since 2015, Michigan’s State Maritime Archaeologist Wayne Lusardi has been leading expeditions to archaeologically document the airplane wreck in Lake Huron. In 1944 a Bell P39 Airacobra flown by Tuskegee airman Lieutenant Frank Moody crashed into the lake during a training mission. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was lost until divers discovered the wrecked airplane in 2014. Utilizing the skills and experiences of various organizations including law enforcement agencies, the State of Michigan, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and members of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers and Diving with a Purpose, Lusardi organized and led a team that was able to document most of the scattered pieces of the wrecked aircraft. Following documentation, Lusardi has been actively working with a variety of partners to recover, conserve, and exhibit the aircraft in Detroit.
“This is a truly inspiring project from both a historical and scientific perspective,” says Director of Education & Programs Ashley Deming. “To also be able to showcase Moody’s story as well as all of the people that have come together to celebrate his and other Tuskegee Airmen contributions to history is a privilege.”
Wayne Lusardi is Michigan’s State Maritime Archaeologist. He has been at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary since 2002. Wayne researches and documents the nearly 1500 shipwrecks located in the state. He is involved in all aspects of fieldwork, surveys, research, education, and outreach. Wayne has an extensive background in underwater and terrestrial archaeology, artifact conservation, and material culture studies. Wayne was previously employed as an archaeological conservator for the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia, and excavated the USS Monitor’s turret after its recovery in 2002. He also spent four years on the Blackbeard shipwreck project in North Carolina. He received his MA degree in Maritime History and Nautical Archaeology from East Carolina University in 1998, and a BS in Anthropology from Illinois State University.
This lecture is part of the Museum’s year-long programmatic series Whispers Across the Water which showcases and celebrates the invaluable contributions of minority communities to Great Lakes maritime history and heritage. Through a dynamic collection of programs and events, this series amplifies the often-overlooked narratives of Indigenous peoples, African Americans, women, and other minority groups who have molded the region’s maritime legacy. This lecture series will continue monthly through November.
This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Susan Smith.
Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Doors open at 6 PM. For more information about the Museum’s events, please visit:
https://www.michiganmaritimemuseum.org/events/.
Event Details
Lecture Series- Lake Huron Red Tails: Recovering a World War II Tuskegee Airplane
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: 260 Dyckman Avenue, South Haven, MI 49090
Cost: Free to members/$10 non-members.
Admission: $10