Most authentically restored airworthy P-38

[GRNDP51]

Is it up for debate or is there a dead set most authentic? Glacier Girl? White 33? How about the L models?

[maxum96]

I'm far from an expert on this, but my money would be on Glacier Girl. It was a time capsule when it was pulled up out of the ice. She was still armed with her original guns and they were loaded. The recovery team even fired off the 20mm cannon when the pulled it out. I don't know if it's still the case, but GG was restored with her original engines. Granted there was a lot of damage from the ice, but they saved a lot of the original parts. White 33 was just a shell when they pulled it out of the dump.

Last edited by maxum96 on Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnTerrell]

"White 33" certainly holds the edge on the most complete/authentic P-38 restorations flying right now - besides authentic finishes and hardware throughout, factory inspection stamps and marks everywhere there should be, it also has the armor plate installed behind the pilot's seat and working turbos (and all associated parts) that "Glacier Girl" doesn't have/were kept out. Still, both are quite comparable. Of course when the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum's P-38J is completed, it will certainly be the most authentic example flying (I'm sure it will have to have all of the period radios, armor glass and gun sight installed, items that none of the other P-38's flying today have).

[aerojock]

It is a non flyer but how about the one at the Smithsonian? All original.

[GRNDP51]

Awesome information so far, much appreciated. I knew that GG and 33 would be a good debate as both have their niche perfections. Can't wait to see how Allen's Lightning turns out. And aerojock yes the Smithsonian example is as amazing as it gets for the non-flyers! Is the Yanks Museum Lightning original at all?

[Jerry O'Neill]

NASM's P-38 hands down, if you are including ALL P-38 survivors.
Remember, the flying ones have various amounts of new and modern parts and equipment installed to operate safely.
Jerry

[Dan Jones]

There are still another five in Greenland yet that are completely original! Any updates on the last group that was planning a dig?

[bdk]

Is the Yanks Museum Lightning original at all?

I recall this aircraft was operated as an aerial survey aircraft for some years. The most recent restoration was some years back so possibly not up to the level of the latest restorations.

Glacier Girl has outer wing panels from a different aircraft I believe. At the time it was deemed too difficult to repair the original wings with the leading edge heat exchangers.

[CoastieJohn]

There are still another five in Greenland yet that are completely original! Any updates on the last group that was planning a dig?

Select portions from a 2/21/18 email that was making the rounds: (Edit note....there are 3 different groups working on the J2F-4 search and recovery)


From:
Hot Point Solutions/FAMIARF

Lost Squadron Update:

As most folks are aware, recovery of one or more of the P38's that force landed on the Greenland Icecap in 1942 is one of our primary goals. We are hoping to make an attempt this summer if all the extensive preparations continue on course.

The DC3 is certainly one of the key items in the project and it is progressing well. Ski system has been fully restored and ready for installation and test.

Restoring the DC3 has been a major undertaking and we would like to thank numerous suppliers and providers for their support.


Progress and Basic Plan of Action

Upon completion of local test flying, the DC3 will be heading to Arizona where our team member, Vernon Rich of VR Fabrication will direct the installation of the skis and hydraulic system required for the retractable skis. From Arizona, the airplane will be flown across country to a staging point in the northeast USA. Our Evangel 4500 light utility twin will depart from Anchorage, Alaska, and hopefully arrive to Kulusuk on the east coast of Greenland by early May.

The Evangel will be used to fly our GPR radar team and equipment out to the icecap for the radar work to re-locate our target P38 buried in the ice and the USCG F2F Duck search thereafter.
Following the radar work will be the steam probing, in an attempt to make contact with the aircraft to pinpoint the exact location and depth.

If the decision is made at that point to continue with a recovery attempt, our DC3 will be flown from northeast USA up in to Canada and across to Greenland, where it will be utilized to haul the heavy equipment out to the icecap required for the complex recovery operation.

This is also the phase of the project where we will need 'all hands on deck'! as the preparation for the recovery project is massive and will take numerous able-body men willing to lift, load, pack, and set up all the heavy equipment required.