Can someone help me with some P-38 research?

[fritzthefox]

I’m trying to puzzle out the markings on Tom Maloney’s P-38 “Maloney’s Pony” for a drawing I am working on. I was wondering if anyone knew what markings could be found on the tail boom and vertical stab? If you know of any existing photos or reference anywhere, that’s be great, but even just a serial number would be more than I have now.

Any information you could point me to would be welcome. Thanx!

[Jack Cook]

I have some photos...BUT-This was NOT Tom Mahoney's P-38.
After he was shot down the sqd decided to name a P-38 in his honor. Mahoney never saw or flew it or even knew of it's existance. In the 80s, the 27th FIS decorated one of the F-15s with the insignia for the 1st FG reunion.
Mahoney's P-38 actually had no marking at all.

[fritzthefox]

Ah...that explains a lot. I was beginning to wonder. Whose P-38 was it, then. Do you know?

[Jack Cook]

Whose P-38 was it, then. Do you know?

It was unassigned but Lt Jim Hunt flew it quite a bit. I
have a shot of him sitting on the nose.

[Jack Cook]

Foggia, Italy 1945

[fritzthefox]

Thanks, guys. I ended up getting frustrated enough by the search that I alrady decided to do Sleepy Time Gal instead. That in itself proved interesting, as some digging revealed more than one Sleepy-Time Gal!THREE, in fact...two lightnings and a B-24 (I think...it wasn't a lightning, so I didn't care). I like the 27th Lightning's paint and nose art better, but I couldn't find any info on the plane itself, so I went with the other one.

Anyway, I found enough info to make a reasonable guess at the markings for a P-38J of the 434th, L2-Z, serial 44-23169. I'm still a little fuzzy on how the 434th planes were painted, but it looks to be red rudder and the rest aluminum. (I have yet to find a profile or any pix other than the nose art).

If anyone knows more about the 434th aircraft markings, feel free to sound off. [/img]