World War II fighter aircraft rot in abandoned plane graveyard

Raline · Post time 13-10-2014 11:10 AM

World War II fighter aircraft rot in abandoned plane graveyard

These eerie pictures show all that remains of a fleet of World War II fighter planes. The rotting planes lie derelict at an abandoned aeroplane graveyard in Ohio, amongst overgrown foliage and scrap metal. The haunting images were captured by 24-year-old photographer, Jonny Joo, who has made a name for himself by venturing into long-abandoned places.
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

Joo, from Ohio, said: 'I was driving around looking for derelict buildings to photograph and I stumbled across a big open space on the map so I decided to check it out. 'There ended up being someone at the property and he gave me a bit of history and let me take photographs.'
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

The planes were assembled by scrapyard worker Walter Soplata in his back garden in Newbury, Ohio, from the late 1940s. After Soplata's death in 2010 the aviation graveyard was kept a secret by relatives fearing scrap collectors.
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

An F-86D Saber plane
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

Around 50 engines and 30 aircraft currently lie in the cemetery
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

'It is crazy how much history is just sitting there like an outdoor museum,' said Joo. 'It's definitely one of the most interesting places I've photographed...'
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

'...It creates its own post-apocalyptic view and it's like art in a sense. It's totally deserted and forgotten and the atmosphere is really eerie.'
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

The graveyard is a resting place for several serving planes from the second World War. 'Some of these planes actually bombed places - people could have died in those planes,' said Joo.
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

'There's so much history throughout the whole entire place - it's a little bit creepy when you think about it. If a picture could tell a thousand words you could write books and books from these.'
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

'It's been sitting pretty much abandoned since the seventies. Today's decay is yesterday's memories.'
Picture: Johnny Joo / Barcroft Media

Last edited by Raline on 13-10-2014 11:12 AM