Even though The Swamp Ghost spent all that time being exposed to open air and other weather conditions, the soldiers were surprised to see it remain oddly well-preserved. The machine was still in place and was even fully loaded.
Salvage operations weren’t completed until 2006. When Tallichet and Hagen finally managed to excavate the whole aircraft, it became a proud moment for them. They were standing in front of something that was part of aviation history.