P-38 Update please

corsair166b · **Posted:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 8:54 pm

Great pics....this new bird is gonna be a flyer, is it? Are both of them?

Mark

setter · **Posted:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 11:50 pm

Hi Mark

Which ones do you mean - as you can see from my previous posts the South Australian, Bob Jarrett - P38 is a static job and the other parts are just that so neither airframe nor parts are due to fly again - or have I got it wrong and you are asking about another P38.

Regards
John P

Lightning · **Joined:** Fri Nov 05, 2004 7:06 pm **Posts:** 424

Howdy all !

Just thought I would let you all know that Bob Jarrett's/Classic Jets Fighter Museum's Lightning is a P-38H-5-LO, AAF S/N.42-66841.
It was last assigned to the 432nd FS/475th FG as ship # 153. The assigned Pilot and Crew Chief's name was 1st/Lt. Edward G. Dickey and Sgt.Manuel Malandrakis respectively.
The aircraft was found to have 2 painted victory markings (rising sun/Japanese flags)
This aircraft had Forced Landed at Fieta Emergency Strip on Sep 20th 1943 and was written off.

Both Bob Jarrett and a Mr.Rob Greinert have major components/parts/ remains of a P-38H-1-LO, AAF S/N.42-66534 ex 431st FS/475th FG
This aircraft was featured in the Classic Wings magazine (Vol.10, No.5)
The P-38 had crash landed/forced Landed close to Sarapa Village, near Wewak on the Jan 18th 1944 and was classed as Missing In Action. The Centre section of the P-38 had burnt away and the Pilot, 2nd/ Lt. John R.Weldon is still M.I.A.

Keep em flying

Lightning

setter · **Posted:** Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:32 am

ROB

Static restoration only - Static - No flying thezzze Planes OK

John P

Lightning · **Joined:** Fri Nov 05, 2004 7:06 pm **Posts:** 424

Howdy again

From what I have gathered from Pacific Wrecks, a Mr. Rob Greinert has recovered substantial remains/parts/components of several P-38s. I gather that these will be restored at Precision Aerospace like quite a few other aircraft in the land of Oz.

P-38H-5-LO, AAF S/N. 42-66905
This aircraft has quite an interesting history
It was originally assigned to the 39th FS/35th FG to 1st/Lt. Richard E.Smith
as Ship # 33 "JAPANESE SANDMAN II/ MISS HELEN-JO"
It was turned over to the 431st FS/475th FG on Nov 19th 1943 and was Forced landed by 1st/Lt. Dulphus R. Dawson. It was Ship # 120 with the
431st FS

P-38H-1-LO, AAF S/N.42-66538
This aircraft was assigned to the 433rd FS/475th FG to Pilot 2nd/Lt. John C. Smith. The aircraft was Ship # 180. It was Forced landed on Sept. 2nd 1943 by Lt. Smith near the Village called Arufi. Smith eventually made it back to his squadron.

P-38G-5-LO, AAF S/N. 42-12847
This aircraft was assigned to the 39th FS /35th FG to a 1st/Lt. John C. Dunbar, as ship # 37. The aircraft had the nose art and name "DUMBO!" ( painted pink Elephant trailing nuts and bolts). The assigned Crew Chief was Sgt. Ray Chartrey. The aircraft was Forced Landed at Terapo on Sept. 2nd 1943 by 2nd/Lt. Hamilton Laing

P-38F-5-LO, AAF S/N. 42-12647
(Will be restored for the PNG National Museum )
This aircraft was assigned to the 39th FS/35th FG as ship # 34 and was assigned to a 1st/Lt.Ralph C.Bill's. Though many other Pilots from the 39th FS also flew this ship, and a few even scored Victories in this aircraft.
A book could be written about this P-38 (There is to much history on this aircraft to list)

F-5A-10-LO, AAF S/N. 42-13084
This aircraft was assigned to the 6th PRG and was Forced landed in the Waigoni Swamp.

Keep em flying

Lightning

setter · **Posted:** Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:24 am

Hi Lightning

Although I wouldn't presume to coment on Precision Aerospace or Rob Greinert's business I wouldn't link it all that closely as not all of these machines are necessarily involved nor should you exclude others not mentioned here. What happens in the end almost always is not what was intended at the start.

This is not meant to sound like a riddle it's just saying that whilst you could be right there is probably a bit more to it as well. All will be revealed with time as Precision is a pretty open book thank goodness and anything that goes there seems to be open to view.

Regards
John P

Lightning · **Joined:** Fri Nov 05, 2004 7:06 pm **Posts:** 424

Howdy all

Does anyone know if Mr. Rob Greinert"Jungle Bob" will be recovering another P-38 soon ?

I have heard that a Mr.Alfred Hagen has bought the rights to a P-38H-5-LO, AAF S/N. 42-66851.
This aircraft was assigned to the 39th FS/35th FG, to Pilot: 1st/ Lt. Charles P. O'Sullivan as Ship # 23. Lt. O'Sullivan named his aircraft " MAREELEE II " (named after his wife). O'Sullivan Forced landed this aircraft on Sep 20th, 1943 near the Village of Brahman in the Ramu Valley.
There is a picture of this P-38 and information on Pacificwrecks.
Rumour has it that this aircraft is quite complete (has guns and ammo still in it)

I presume that Mr.Greinert is the only person that would be able to recover this aircraft, with his connections and experience so far.

Keep em flying

Lightning

setter · **Posted:** Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:28 am

Hi Lightning

Good post as always

A couple of points

I have it on Good authority from Rob that he isn't "Jungle Bob" and that the real Jungle Bob works there (Rob's facility)and you are free to go and meet him any time you like.

As regards the P38 I don't know if Rob is recovering a P38 soon but totally unrelated to this I have heard as we discussed earlier in this post that a few P38s will be restored here in Aus soon.

I am aware that sources of P38s are currently increasing and PNG is not necessarily the sole location of aircraft coming to Australia.

A fair amount of work is required prior to the dismantling of the various wrecks we are discussing here to verify the identities proported as it is my experiance that provinance on there machines is often illusory. So it will be interesting to have a look at the machines when they arrive at whatever site for restoration.

Kind regards
John P

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

setter wrote:

A fair amount of work is required prior to the dismantling of the various wrecks we are discussing here to verify the identities proported as it is my experiance that provinance on there machines is often illusory. So it will be interesting to have a look at the machines when they arrive at whatever site for restoration.

Hopefully all the parts won't be mixed and matched like Tallichet's aircraft apparently were!

Wolverine · **Posted:** Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:10 pm

Setter, are the P-38s that you have mentioned listed on any survivor sites or are they previously unknown/recently recovered?

I'd like to see Mareelee III and Japanese Sandman recovered and restored.

setter · **Posted:** Wed Apr 13, 2005 4:33 pm

Hi

Some responses

BDK

I am noticing a lot of Mix and matching going on at present on many restorations and the discarding of a lot of material that is of no use once it has been used as a pattern or whatever - the emphasis is on building an airworthy aeroplane and little attention is paid to reuse or provinance issues - this is natural enough when you consider the restorers are in business and quality and safety are paramount .

I really do hope better retention of discarded material can happen and be used in static rebuilds but it will take a lot of work to get it happening.

Wolverine

The answer is both ! At present there is huge confusion over P38s and a few of us are trying to sort out which machines have been recovered and what their identities are. For very good reason some of the recent / current recoveries can't be talked about yet so that causes confusion and some of these as yet unmentioned machines turn up with already mentioned machines at various locations and people decide that they must have been previously identified machines - A real mess but it will be sorted out and soon I think - It isn't helped of course when some machines are removed and never see the light of day again to the US or somewhere and the trail goes cold.

Regards
John P

snj-5 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:18 pm

I haven't thrown one single piece of corroded / replaced junk (grins)
away on my SNJ restoration. And a T-6/SNJ can hardly be considered
rare... I just can't bring myself to throw this stuff away, regardless
of condition.

If everyone would have done this over the decades, think how many
"junk" (non-airworthy) parts would be available for static display efforts.

Moral of the story is: Don't throw anything away!!!