Searching for Lost
World War Two Aircraft

A unique application for the GSFC Search and Rescue Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR2) program

Gerald Yagen, Aviation Institute of Maintenance vocational schools
Christopher R. Jackson, User Systems, Inc.
Barton D. Huxtable, User Systems, Inc.

ABSTRACT
The principal purpose of the Search and Rescue (SAR2) program is the efficient and rapid location of recent small aircraft crashes for timely recovery of surviving victims. An additional side benefit might prove to be the detection and discovery of long lost or forgotten historic aircraft that have now become of immense value for museum display or among wealthy collectors. As such innovative systems become smaller, more mobile, and less expensive, they will eventually find their way into the hands of amateur and professional airplane hunters. We recommend that such ancillary benefits be kept in mind during the continued development and testing of such equipment, which would be of benefit to all future generations concerning the history of aviation. We welcome and encourage all participants to notify organizations such as ours of the discovery of any historic aircraft wreckage or intact abandoned old aircraft throughout the world.