Who, then, is the legal owner?
There's a great mystery in the background of this whole story: who owns the planes that have been lying in the swamp for decades, like the Swamp Ghost? That marsh is difficult to cross, but the legal issue is even more so. You see, the U.S. Navy retains full legal title to any aircraft and vessels in its possession, regardless of where they are located. However, the Air Force considers any plane that crashed on land prior to November 1961 to be abandoned and hence fair game. Simple? Unfortunately, that doesn't cover planes that ditched in the ocean, so no. Need more confusion in your life? In this case, does the swamp extend into the ocean or onto dry land? I hope you win that case in court.