P-38 at Lackland

Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:00 pm

Is it a replica or an original? What kind of P-38 (P-38L? P-38J?)?

Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:44 pm

It's a fiberglass "J" or "L" model.
A very nice one..it took me awhile to make sure it was fiberglass. It's on a pole in a dramatic attitude...a nice display. I"m glad it not a real aircraft. I belive there is a plastic P-38 at McGuire AFB, NJ as well.

IMHO: the plastic B-24 is fine at Lackland. I'm glad the real one was restored and taken out of the weather. Now if the USAF would only do the same for the P-47N, P-51H and F-82 also at Lackland, we'd be better off.

Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:48 pm

The P-38 at McGuire is original. It was with the Air Pirates for a while.

If they take the P-51H, F-82, etc and restore them, they might go to the Imperial War Museum with the B-24!!

Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:58 pm

The first time I got chewed out in basic training was because of that P-38!

Within about ten minutes of getting off the bus at Lackland AFB, we were standing in formation doing the whole "pick em up..put em down" routine with out bags. It was night time and the parade ground was just barely visible from our barracks. I saw the P-38 out of the corner of my eye and turned around to look at it just as the T.I. looked over my way. He asked (not very politely I might add) what I was looking at and I told him "a P-38". He wasn't impressed and made me do push ups.

Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:51 pm

I know a guy over here got caught out doing something similar but he got away with it. told me he said something like " a memorial to soldiers who were here before me and paid the ultimate price."

Wed Feb 02, 2005 3:49 am

Jeffrey wrote:told me he said something like " a memorial to soldiers who were here before me and paid the ultimate price."

He should make a 5 star General !

OK with that common sence... prehaps Chief Master Sgt.

Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:59 am

My experience was the opposite...

My barracks at Lackland were across from another static display (near the west gate) that had a bunch of statics painted up in SE Asia camo. From memory, there was a BUFF, a B-66, a mock AC-47, an F-5B, a Hun, and an O-2.

When I was caught looking at them while we were in formation, the MTI asked me what I was looking at so intently, and I proceeded to be a big smarty-pants and rattle off the names of all the airplanes sitting there on display. Naturally, I got push-ups punishment for that, but...

The next day I was tasked to take my flight over to the airpark and give 'em a history lesson on all those airplanes. I think the MTIs thought it was punishment, but I thought it was pretty cool!

Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:48 am

The last time I was at Lackland was back in '94. For both Basic training and Tech school. I was at the 331st TRS down at the lower end of the base across from the Medical Hold building. Just beyond my barracks the was a mock flightline used by the SP's (at the time) for training. On the flight line was an impressive row of a dozen to 20 Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs. Does anyone with more recent knowledge, know if they are still there? Thanks

Shay

Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:39 am

Wolverine wrote:The P-38 at McGuire is original. It was with the Air Pirates for a while.

I thought this was the P-38 that Tallichet traded to the USAF and flew in there?

Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:07 am

The P-38 at McGuire AFB is 44-53015 and the one at the NMUSAF is 44-53232. It's a shame to have and actual airframe mounted on a pole out side. Seems to me that is you want a gate guard on a pole, that a fiberglass replica should be called for.

Shay

Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:08 pm

bdk wrote:
Wolverine wrote:The P-38 at McGuire is original. It was with the Air Pirates for a while.
I thought this was the P-38 that Tallichet traded to the USAF and flew in there?

Yes it is. "A tribute to the greed of the former owner" was Air Classics' take on that situation. It's the 38 that was flown by Tony Levier around 77 at the reunion at Lockheed.

JH