Secret Restoration
Sun Jan 17, 2016 8:01 pm
The combat veteran P-38, 42-66841, that fought in New Guinea and over Rabaul, and beautifully restored by Classic Jets, was seen being transported in England a year or so ago. Rumor was it was going to be restored to airworthy. Has any information surfaced on this amazing aircraft after its arrival in England?
Re: Secret Restoration
Wed Jan 20, 2016 7:41 am
It is partway through the restoration as we speak to airworthy. It was reported late last year in flightpath.
Re: Secret Restoration
Wed Jan 20, 2016 10:55 am
Brenden S wrote:It is partway through the restoration as we speak to airworthy. It was reported late last year in flightpath.
So who owns it?
Re: Secret Restoration
Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:19 am
I can't recall and I don't have the magazine anymore to go have a look.
Re: Secret Restoration
Sat Jan 23, 2016 11:24 am
Brenden, thanks for the information. Good to know that the rumors were true that it will fly again. I wonder if any other plane that survived the fighting over Rabaul still exists.
Do any other of our Australian posters recall what the Flightpath article said about where its being restored, who owns it, etc.?
Would love to see it based in Texas, but doubt it would be in England now if that were the case.
Do any other of our Australian posters recall what the Flightpath article said about where its being restored, who owns it, etc.?
Would love to see it based in Texas, but doubt it would be in England now if that were the case.
Re: Secret Restoration
Sat Jan 23, 2016 1:55 pm
The P-38H "Scarlet Scourge" was last reported to be at Bentwaters, under restoration - I don't believe it is public knowledge yet as to who the owner is. (It's going on 20 years now since there was a flying P-38 based in the UK.)
Photo of the airframe partially disassembled at Bentwaters from this site (with Yak-3 G-CGXG parked nearby): http://www.eurodemobbed.org.uk/location ... ation=1128
Photo of the airframe partially disassembled at Bentwaters from this site (with Yak-3 G-CGXG parked nearby): http://www.eurodemobbed.org.uk/location ... ation=1128
Re: Secret Restoration
Sat Jan 23, 2016 5:16 pm
From Flightpath magazine - Vol 26 Number 2 - November 2014 - January 2015
Rare Pacific Veteran P-38 Sold
The Classic Jets Fighter Museum (CJFM) has sold its rare Lockheed P-38H Lightning, the only one in Australia, to the UK. It was previously listed as the star attraction and “most outstanding feature of the Classic Jets Fighter Museum”. Museum Director Bob Jarrett told Flightpath “the Lightning 42-66841 has been shipped to Britain where it will undergo a complete rebuild program to return squadron number 153 to airworthy status. CJFM recognises that this is the best possible outcome for the long term preservation of this rare early model P-38H Lightning”.
This P-38 flew with the 475th FG, 432 FS, of the USAAF 5th Airforce in Papua and New Guinea until its pilot made a forced landing on 14 September 1943 at Fieta, breaking off its propellers and dislodging its two Allison Engines. The remains lay abandoned in the kunai grass area near Brahmin, forty miles (60 km) inland from Madang, until 1992 when initial unsuccessful attempts were made to remove the aircraft. Following three further years of negotiations by Bob Jarrett, the remains of the P-38 eventually arrived in Adelaide, South Australia on 17 May 1999. On arrival the museum’s volunteers began the ‘deep restoration’ of the P38 until it was completed and placed on display. In October 2014, the P-38 was seen while being transported to David Arnold’s Flying A Services facility at the former USAF base of RAF Bentwaters, England. Rob Fox
Rare Pacific Veteran P-38 Sold
The Classic Jets Fighter Museum (CJFM) has sold its rare Lockheed P-38H Lightning, the only one in Australia, to the UK. It was previously listed as the star attraction and “most outstanding feature of the Classic Jets Fighter Museum”. Museum Director Bob Jarrett told Flightpath “the Lightning 42-66841 has been shipped to Britain where it will undergo a complete rebuild program to return squadron number 153 to airworthy status. CJFM recognises that this is the best possible outcome for the long term preservation of this rare early model P-38H Lightning”.
This P-38 flew with the 475th FG, 432 FS, of the USAAF 5th Airforce in Papua and New Guinea until its pilot made a forced landing on 14 September 1943 at Fieta, breaking off its propellers and dislodging its two Allison Engines. The remains lay abandoned in the kunai grass area near Brahmin, forty miles (60 km) inland from Madang, until 1992 when initial unsuccessful attempts were made to remove the aircraft. Following three further years of negotiations by Bob Jarrett, the remains of the P-38 eventually arrived in Adelaide, South Australia on 17 May 1999. On arrival the museum’s volunteers began the ‘deep restoration’ of the P38 until it was completed and placed on display. In October 2014, the P-38 was seen while being transported to David Arnold’s Flying A Services facility at the former USAF base of RAF Bentwaters, England. Rob Fox
Re: Secret Restoration
Tue Jun 10, 2025 1:33 pm
Anybody have an update on this airframe? Last info I have is from 2016.