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June 2008 Vol 12

The Explorer is a regular publication of MSRA distributed via email. For more information visit michiganshipwrecks.org

Letter From the BoardLetter From the BoardLetter From the BoardLetter From the BoardLetter From the BoardDear MSRA Members,

What a fabulous first half of theyear for MSRA and itsmembers!

We have an exhibit that will runthrough the balance of the year.

We’ve published one book,ICEBOUND!, and another in theworks “From Hennepin to theThousand Footers.”

We’ve located twoshipwrecksalready this year.

NUMA will be returning in 2009.

The Hennepin was listed on theNational Register.

We have continuedcollaborations with a number ofindividuals and begin newcollaborations.

Many more members arebecoming involved in researchand other activities of theorganization.

MSRA is now an official 501c3charitable organization.

AND Clive Cussler was here tomeet with the team!

Check out the newsletter filledwith lots of pictures and greatnew information.

Let’s work together to completethe year with a rousingsuccess!

Valerie van HeestValerie van HeestValerie van HeestValerie van HeestValerie van HeestDirector, MSRA

Clive Cussler Joins the SearchClive Cussler Joins the SearchClive Cussler Joins the SearchClive Cussler Joins the SearchClive Cussler Joins the Search

The NUMA team arrived in mid April to begin the 5th expedition to locate the remains of Flight2501. One week into the search, Clive Cussler, head of NUMA and the man who has been fundingthe search effort for the past four years, arrived in SouthHaven to join Ralph Wilbanks, Steve Howard, andnewest crewmember, Cameron Fletcher, aboard thesearch vessel in hopes of finally locating the DC-4.

Clive sure brought luck! On his very first dayout, the team located three targets. It was clear thattwo are most certainly shipwrecks based on the sidescan images. (see page 3) It was unclear what thethird might be. Additional scanning suggested it wasa small airplane-- not a DC-4 though. Only a dive wouldconfirm what it really was. (Story on page 2)

After an amazing day of search success, Cliveand his team journeyed up to the van Heest’s housefor a dinner and a team meeting. The MSRA Board,the technical dive team, David Trotter, Chriss Lyonand Kevin McGregor ,who had flown his own plane infrom Colorado to reenact the final flight path of Flight2501, (Full story page 4) enjoyed hearing stores ofshipwreck hunting from the grand master himself, CliveCussler! Con’t next page

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Clive Joins the Search Clive Joins the Search Clive Joins the Search Clive Joins the Search Clive Joins the Search Con’t from page 1Con’t from page 1Con’t from page 1Con’t from page 1Con’t from page 1

Valerie van Heest and Craig Richlook over Ralph Wilbank’sshoulders with great interest tosee the first images captured oftwo new shipwrecks.

Everyone enjoyed getting their books signed. The van Heest’s daughtersnervously approached Clive with their copyof “Vin Fizz” and were overjoyed to getClive’s autograph.

The World’s most legendary ship-wreck hunter and the Great Lake’s mostlegendary shipwreck hunter swap stores ofships gone missing. They both agreeFlight 2501 apparently is not yet ready tobe found.

The excitement of Clive Cussler and NUMA coming to town spread throughout West Michigan rapidlybut even more so within MSRA. With many promising days of Lake Michigan searching at the end of

April and first part of May, everyone was eager to hear from Ralph Wilbanks. And thosemagic words, “we found a target” emerged one day late in April that gave team-membersValerie, Jack, Craig, and Ross something to get excited about. After Ralph and the NUMAteam made a few more passes of a small target off of South Haven, they brought back asonar image to share with the group. The tiny laptop screen contained a sepia-tonedimage that appeared to be a small plane. The cross wing, the tail piece, the nose. Itappeared to be lying flat on the bottom like it had just gently floated there. The image alsohad “ribbing” of the wings appearing that they might have worn from the back leavingmuch to speculate on what could have possibly brought down this small plane. The sizeand location gave other clues and from research that Ross had already done, we knew ofthree small planes that had already gone down in this general area. Could it have beenone of them?

As more emails and phone calls transpired between each other, detailed discussion tookplace as to the possible identity of this plane. It became clear that one specifically stood out as beinga very good possibility and I took the information that Ross collected and went into genealogy mode.Ultimately if this plane had been found, MSRA would need to contact the NTSB and family members ofthe deceased so this would give them a jump start.

On October 10, 1979 a Piper PA-24 single-engine aircraft left Palmyra, Wisconsin piloted byStewart Greger enroute to Detroit, Michigan for a business meeting. When the plane was about 25miles west of South Haven, air traffic controllers in Chicago lost contact with him and although CoastGuard rescue crews were sent immediately from the surrounding areas, nothing was ever located. Noplane, no body, no wreckage. The information that Ross gathered from just one UPI article in a SouthHaven newspaper was enough to give me the chills. If no wreckage was ever found of this planecrash, it would lead one to believe that it sunk to the bottom in one piece, just like the image appeared

Even someone who has never seemsa side scan, would think this is anairplane. The NUMA team, MSRAteam and David Trotter all antici-pated that dives would reveal asmall, single engine airplane. Thenthe research began. Read Chriss’story “Off the Radar” to see whatreally was discovered!

Clive spent about three days on the water working towards a discoveryof Flight 2501, but then headed off to Europe for a book tour. TheNUMA team stayed on for a total of almost six weeks this spring,two weeks longer that they had ever worked here before. We wereinitially concerned that they arrived too early in April. We did notexpect the weather would cooperate, but we had nearly ten days ofuninterrupted good weather upon their arrival. Fortunately for Clive,he was here during that beautiful streak of flat, warm days on thelake. Then May got nasty!

Maybrought vrey unusual, cold, windy weather this year. Despitehaving two extra weeks, NUMA only got about 20 good days on thelake. They did have some new equipment and revised searchmethodology that allowed them to cover about two square miles perday, nearly double what they could accomplish in previous years.Over five search seasons, the team has covered over 120 squaremiles. BUT...still no Fight 2501.

We have expended all theories, all weather suppositions, andall witness accounts. It is now just a matter of expanding out from areas already covered. We aregrateful that Clive Cussler and his son Dirk, who together run NUMA, have agreed to at least onemore season. It will eventually be found, and we must have patience. As Clive always says :“Wrecks will be found when theywant to be found!”

Off the Radar - Discovery of the “Airplane” Target Off the Radar - Discovery of the “Airplane” Target Off the Radar - Discovery of the “Airplane” Target Off the Radar - Discovery of the “Airplane” Target Off the Radar - Discovery of the “Airplane” Target by Chriss Lyonby Chriss Lyonby Chriss Lyonby Chriss Lyonby Chriss Lyon

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on the sonar. As emails began circulating between Valerie, Kevin and me, the technical end seemed tomatch up and I needed to find out more about the pilot, Stewart Greger.

As I started my basic genealogical search, I immediately was coming up empty handed,which was somewhat surprising. Given the name was not at all common, I figured that I would uncoversome basic vital records. Newspaper archival searches also proved fruitless and after a long night ofsearching, I had determined that Stewart Greger did not exist. Going back to the original source wasthe South Haven newspaper and after making a trip to the library and pulling up the microfilm for the dayin question, I confirmed that it indeed was listed as Stewart Greger, aged 39. I also found several morearticles from previous days, all with the same spelling of the name. Taking this one step further, Ichecked the Herald-Palladium newspaper archives at the St. Joseph library and found a small articleburied in the newspaper. The name was Stewart Draeger.

My thought at the time can be summed up by stealing a phrase from Dave Trotter, “BINGO”. Icalled Valerie from my cell phone as soon as I bolted out of the library doors andwithout saying “Hello” or “Hey, it’s Chriss”, I just yelled out, “It’s Draeger”. Ofcourse I immediately got home and start plugging the name in every database Icould think of. But again….Stewart Draeger did not exist.

Frustration is a very family-friendly word I will use here to explain what I wasfeeling after all, these articles are from reputable reporters from the UPI and theAP. Neither reporter could agree on the name nor did the person exist. As agenealogist and researcher, I know for a fact that everyone leaves a paper trail ofsome sort if you’ve lived long enough.

By this time, Valerie and Kevin had been working on finding the originalNTSB reports. One night the three of us had a conference phone call and whileKevin and Valerie were pulling up the crash report in hopes of finding out whichname was correct, I logged onto my various databases with my trigger fingersready to go. As the report came up, the name appeared: Stewart Dreger.

With trigger fingers already firing away, the true identity appeared:Stuart T. Dreger

December 16, 1939 – October 10, 1979Palmyra, Wisconsin

Stuart Thiel Dreger was a 1963 graduate of MIT and ironically his 35th class reunion is beingheld this month. Although have just started to learn about him, more will come with the social security

death records that have been ordered. We are hoping to learn about his familyand any descendants that he may have so that we can share with them anyinformation we may obtain regarding this tragic loss.

In mid-May Valerie, Jack, Jeff, Todd and Bob made a dive to confirm theidentity of the plane. Confident with our hunches and with all the research, thedivers descended one cold but sunny afternoon to the depth of 160’. As theimage came closer in view, it became very apparent it was not a plane, it wasmuch too small. The zebra-mussel encrusted cross-shaped object was justthat; a cross. Two pieces of wood placed in the form of a cross. The diversquickly left the site to save precious mixed-gas and to limit their exposure to thecold. They were not able to determine whether the two pieces were fashionedtogether. How did this object, or objects get out there and how could this beenmistaken for a plane?

Sometimes we see what we want to see, not what is really there. Althoughwe might not know how this symbol got there or why it is there, I have alwaysbelieved that if you pay attention, you will receive signs that you are on the righttrack. This cross can be viewed as a reminder on why we are all doing this; thespiritual side of it. A reminder for me is when we fail to document the lives ofpeople accurately; their lives go off the radar. In the case of the real StuartDreger who existed for a short 39 years was barely documented while those

representing him do not exist. These are the ones we as historians are left to follow and we mustpreserve their memories by honoring their names….their true names. This just makes us all havemore ambition to find Stuart Dreger and his plane. —Chriss Lyon

TWOTWOTWOTWOTWONEWNEWNEWNEWNEWWRECKSWRECKSWRECKSWRECKSWRECKSFOUND!FOUND!FOUND!FOUND!FOUND!

Off The Radar - Off The Radar - Off The Radar - Off The Radar - Off The Radar - Con’t from Page 2Con’t from Page 2Con’t from Page 2Con’t from Page 2Con’t from Page 2

Target A: While at first glancethis appears to be a nearlyintact vessel, lack of shadowsmeans it has very little reliefoff the bottom.

Dive’s on the New Wrecks Pose More Questions than AnswersDive’s on the New Wrecks Pose More Questions than AnswersDive’s on the New Wrecks Pose More Questions than AnswersDive’s on the New Wrecks Pose More Questions than AnswersDive’s on the New Wrecks Pose More Questions than Answers

Target B: No this is not half a ship.The extreme width tells us that theship has been filleted open.

In early June the MSRA dive team made first dives to the two new wrecks pictured above left. As the sidescans indicate, they are both considerably decayed. The stern section of target A may be buried. Thetimbers of the forward section leave little identifying features. There is only 58’ of ship visible above thesand. MSRA is planning future dives in hopes of at least determining if this is a steamer or schooner.Target B is most certainly a steamer. A boiler, small engine and blade of the prop just above the sandidentify this as a steamer. If future measurements put the length around 152’, then we can surmise thisto be the Joseph P. Farnam, which burned and eventually sank in 1898. Again, many dives will be neededto fully document this wreck. Stay tuned.

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MSRA Presents Two Going Overboard AwardsMSRA Presents Two Going Overboard AwardsMSRA Presents Two Going Overboard AwardsMSRA Presents Two Going Overboard AwardsMSRA Presents Two Going Overboard AwardsChriss Lyon received a 2008 “Going Overboard” award for her research in connection with Flight2501. An MSRA member for less than a year, she has worked closely with MSRA director Valerie van

Heest to locate families of Flight 2501 victims and has contributed other research on theaccident. Chriss also is researching a number of shipwrecks and other small plane crashesand has been filming many of MSRA’s expeditions.

As a native of St. Joseph, Michigan, Chriss was born into maritime history. With aninnate curiosity of tragedy and unsolved mysteries nurtured by two grandmothers with apassion for genealogy and local history, Chriss evolved from the family historian into a forensicgenealogist and investigative researcher for several nationally-known authors and projects.A graduate of Lake Michigan College and Grand Valley State University, Chriss studied Film/Video Production and worked in the cable news and radio industry before joining the BerrienCounty Public Safety Communications Center in 1995 as a 911 Supervisor where she hasworked ever since. When not handling shootings, suicides, robberies and wanted subjectson traffic stops, Chriss spends her time researching and writing about gangsters in SouthwestMichigan, browsing through cemetery sexton records, scouring newspaper articles for clueson various shipwrecks in Lake Michigan

Robert Doornbos received a 2008 MSRA “Going Overboard” award for his contributions creatingbeautiful original renderings of the shipwreck sites discovered by MSRA. To date he hascreated drawings of the Hennepin, Ann Arbor No. 5, the SS Michigan and the Hamilton. Hewill be working on future discoveries as well.

Bob was born and raised in the West Michigan area. His rural heritage was a primefactor in influencing the subject matter of his drawings and paintings. Days at Lake Michiganand tours along the lakeshore produced a love for the beauty of the dunes, harbors, buildingsand vessels that make up the history of the region. As a graduate of Kendall School ofDesign, Mr. Doornbos has worked for some of the most respected advertising and designagencies as graphic designer, art director, and illustrator. He has been responsible for manyaward winning projects, recognized locally and on the national level. His drawings andpaintings have been seen throughout the region at art fairs and in galleries. Bob recentlycollaborated with MSRA Director Valerie van Heest on the graphic design for the 2008 exhibit“Lost & Found - Shipwrecks of West Michigan” which is on exhibit at the Zeeland HistoricalSociety through 2008.

Michigan Shipwreck ResearchAssociates inaugurated the“Going Overboard” award in2006 to rec-ognize out-s t a n d i n gc o n t r i b u -tions to theorgan iza -tion. Honor-ees do nothave to dis-cover ashipwreckor donate alot ofm o n e y .Each has contributed in his orher own personal way their ex-p e r t i s e ,their timeand theirtalents tofurther theorganization’sgoals.

In the last issue of TheExplorer, you read thatMSRA was awarded a grantfrom the Great LakesShipwreck ResearchFoundation in Wisconsin.One of the three foundingmembers, Kimm Stabelfeldtwas scheduled to presentthe grant at MSRA annualfilm festival, however, othercommitments got in theway. Instead, he mailed thecheck, which was opened atthe event: $1000.00 !!!!!

These funds will be directedtowardsdocumentation ofthe two newlydiscoveredshipwrecks. Manythanks to theGLSRF for theircontinued support!

Captain Kevin McGregor, one of a two-man team whodiscovered the remains of Northwest Flight 4422 on Mt.Sanford in Alaska, has been lending his research and pilotingskills to MSRA in our search for Flight 2501. In late April heflew from his home in Colorado in his Cessna Turbo 210 tothe Park Township Airport near our home to re-fly the finalflight path of Flight 2501 to help us understand thechallenges Captain Lind faced on June 23, 1950.

On April 21st, Kevin took off with his “crew,” yourstruly, Craig Rich and Chriss Lyon. We headed off towardsBattle Creek to “begin’ the flight. The day was clear andcalm, unlike the stormy night brewing in 1950. Werecreated the transmission that took place from Lind toATC when over Battle Creek, continued flying towardsBenton Harbor, then recreated the final transmission inwhich Lind requested clearance to 2500 feet, but wasdenied and told to maintain 3500. We continued on overthe lake at 3500 feet towards the area where the NUMAcrew was searching. We discovered that even on a clear

sunny day, it is nearly impossible to discern waterfrom horizon when far off shore. We imaginedhow disorienting it must have been for pilots, Lindand Wolfe to have been flying at night in a storm.We were able to locate the search boat andthen quickly turned an headed backto shore, glad that we had noproblems that far out into the lake.MSRA wishes to express ourdeepest thanks to Kevin for hisdedication to this project. -- VvH

Flight 2501....RecreatedFlight 2501....RecreatedFlight 2501....RecreatedFlight 2501....RecreatedFlight 2501....RecreatedGrant From GLSRFGrant From GLSRFGrant From GLSRFGrant From GLSRFGrant From GLSRF

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Lost and FoundLost and FoundLost and FoundLost and FoundLost and FoundShipwrecks of West MichiganShipwrecks of West MichiganShipwrecks of West MichiganShipwrecks of West MichiganShipwrecks of West Michigan

The Zeeland Historical Society hasopened a new exhibit at the Dekker HuisHistorical Museum at 37 East MainStreet in Zeeland. The exhibit, entitled“Lost and Found – Shipwrecks ofWest Michigan”, was designed byMSRA’s Valerie van Heest who willserve also as the guest curator.

On May 22, the Zeeland HistoricalSociety hosted an exhibit opening andover 50 people attended that eveningincluding several MSRA members.Thank you for your support. If you have

not yet visited theexhibit, please do so. Itis open on Thursdaysand Saturdays and isfree to the public.Please stay tuned forspecial programs thatwill be held inconjunction with theexhibit. ***

Introductory text for the exhibit

MSRA member Neel Zoss, assistedwith obtainingimages of theWhalebackships, includingthe Andaste, forthe exhibit. Neelis author of therecently releasedbook publishedby Arcadia called“McDougall’sGreat LakesWhalebacks.”

Tim Mar of Advance Scuba inHolland outfitted a mannequin withall the latest dive gear, which drawsvisitors into the exhibit.

MSRA members Chuck and AnnWingard loaned the museum severalartifacts from Chuck’s father, Ernie,who captained the pleasure yachtVerano for many years when owned bythe Davis Family of Northport, MI

You can order Neel’sbook through the MSRAw e b s i t e :michiganshipwrecks.org/store. A portion of eachbook sale will go to

MSRA. This book is loaded withphotographs of these famouswhalebacks and wonderful stories aboutthese unusual vessels.

Check out the May/June 2008 issueof Michigan History Magazine forValerie’s article about the MichiganUnderwaterPreserve system.

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MSRA Board of Directors

Valerie Olson van HeestGeoffrey ReynoldsCraig RichRoss RichardsonJack van Heest

Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates,is a Michigan nonprofit corporation, whosemission is to Preserve Michigan’ssubmerged maritime history. To that end,the organization’s work includes research,exploration, documentation and educationregarding historic shipwrecks within Michiganwaters, with an initial emphasis on the area offWest Michigan. MSRA works in cooperationwith State Agencies. As a Holland-basedvolunteer-dr iven organizat ion, MSRArelies on memberships, fundraising eventsand grants to continue its work.

1134 Goodwood CourtHolland, Michigan 49424

www.michiganshipwrecks.org

Associates

William Lafferty, PhDDirector of Research

Arthur AllenOceanographer, U.S. Coast Guard

Brendon BaillodHistorian/Writer

Jed JaworskiMaritime Historian

Dr. Guy MeadowsUniversity of Michigan

Kenneth PottMaritime Archaeologist

Dr. David SchwabOceanographer, GLERL

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The Search forThe Search forThe Search forThe Search forThe Search forthe Andaste Beginsthe Andaste Beginsthe Andaste Beginsthe Andaste Beginsthe Andaste BeginsDavid Trotter arrived June 6th to begin the MSRA’s 10th annualexpedition to hunt for lost shipwrecks. The search area willbe nearly 30 miles off shore between Holland and Saugatuckin very deep water. Jack van Heest spent weeks preparingthe boat with an engine overhaul, new gimbal bearings and U-Joints. Tim Mar from Holland’s newest dive store, (See below)

lent his boat mechanic skills tocomplete the engine overall inpreparation for the search.

Members will receive detailedemails with search updates as the10-day search progresses.

MSRA is funded in part by a Grant from theGreat Lakes Shipwreck Research Foundation, a Wisconsin 501c3

founded by Kimm Stablefeldt, Brad Friend and Jon Albrecht

New Dive Shop in TownNew Dive Shop in TownNew Dive Shop in TownNew Dive Shop in TownNew Dive Shop in TownEarlier this year, a new dive shop opened in Holland:Advance Scuba. Owner, Captain Tim Marr, has 25years of experience in the Marine and Dive Industry andcurrently holds a 100 ton U.S. Coast Guard MasterLicense. Tim is also a Tdi/Sdi/SSI Scuba Instructor, holdsFirst Aid/CPR/AED Certifications, and is also a MasterMarine Technician that operates a marine salvagebusiness.

Tim has been active with MSRA since openingthe shop and was involved in kicking off the search seasonthis year Using his talents in engine repair, he helpedcomplete the boat maintenance, assisted with the sidescan set up and adjusted the outboard motor to run at peak performance- all this during threedays in a row! He made house-calls and even showed up dressed in his best after a Saturdayafternoon wedding! What ever it takes seems to be Tim’s motto. MSRA is grateful for hisvaluable assistance.

Whether you are already a diver or thinkingabout getting into the sport, stop by AdvanceScuba at 11363 East Lakewood Blvd. inHolland, just a few storefronts west from theWalgreens at Lakewood and 112th. Tim hasa great supply of gear, he does air fills includingnitrox and mixed gas, does full service gearrepair, and instruction from the most basic tomost advanced class. Book a charter on his30’ Bayliner or call him to tune up your boat.Check out his website atwww.advancescuba.com

Chinese Takeout heads out into the big lake on Saturday morningJune 7th on the first day of the search. The webcam mounted atSpyglass Condominiums is an excellent way to check conditionson the lake before leaving home.