P-38H "Japanese Sandman II"

[Nathan]

I've been tracking down early P-38s that started service in the Pacific. P-38F "Japanese Sandman II" is an interesting aircraft and there is some good photographs of it. It sports a white 33 on the nose and sharks teeth on each engine. Going over Pacific Wrecks I was shocked to see the aircraft still exists and that parts of it were recovered in 2000. Article states the parts are going into a P-38 restoration, but no mention if they are planning to resurrect Japanese Sandman II.??

[Matt Gunsch]

It should be flying soon, they ran the engines in late Dec

[JohnTerrell]

These are two completely separate aircraft. The one in the photo Matt posted is P-38F 42-12652, which was also coded "White 33" during the war and had shark mouths as well (it is credited with 9-kills). At this time, the aircraft is essentially complete and fully painted (though every time recent photos of the aircraft show up on Facebook, showing the painted/nearly completed aircraft, they seem to be forced to be taken down right away). http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p ... 12652.html

As far as I know, a restoration hasn't ever been started on P-38H 42-66905 "Japanese Sandman II/White 33" - some parts were recovered, and stored at Precision in Australia (and tied to Jerry Yagen), but last I heard, as of last year the main section of the aircraft still remains on the island where it was discovered. http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p ... 66905.html

[Nathan]

Sorry Matt for the confusion. I should have been better on details.

I can't wait for Westpac to finish that P-38F "33". It will be great to have two early war P-38F's flying soon! Now we need to get some E's, G's and H's flying. I can't what to see a P-38 in sharks teeth. I hope the general joe doesn't think its a P-40!

I hope restoration starts on Japanese Sandman II someday. That in itself would be great.

[Courier Sportster]

I made the airfix kit back in '72 or so. How did they ever pick that exact one to make the model of? It's almost as if they knew it would be found and restored, eh? I think it was the sharkmouths that drew me in....

[The Ripper]

I had assumed that 'Japanese Sandman II' was the P-38 being restored for FHC, or am I thinking of another example?

[Nathan]

These are two completely separate aircraft. The one in the photo Matt posted is P-38F 42-12652, which was also coded "White 33" during the war and had shark mouths as well (it is credited with 9-kills). At this time, the aircraft is essentially complete and fully painted (though every time recent photos of the aircraft show up on Facebook, showing the painted/nearly completed aircraft, they seem to be forced to be taken down right away). http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p ... 12652.html

As far as I know, a restoration hasn't ever been started on P-38H 42-66905 "Japanese Sandman II/White 33" - some parts were recovered, and stored at Precision in Australia (and tied to Jerry Yagen), but last I heard, as of last year the main section of the aircraft still remains on the island where it was discovered. http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p ... 66905.html

this^

P-38F White 33 being restored by Westpac Restoration shop(Pacific vet)
P-38H White 33 "Japanese Sandman II" parts have been recovered from the Pacific and stored in Australia.

Two different airplanes, both happen to be numbered "33".

[JohnTerrell]

For further clarification, the P-38F "White 33" under restoration at Westpac is owned by Jim Slattery. The wreck of the P-38H "White 33/Japanese Sandman II" has been tied to Jerry Yagen, but the main center section of the aircraft has never been brought out of the island where it was recovered, only the tail/booms and some other parts (possibly only to aid in the restoration of other P-38's, such as at HARS).

There are potentially two P-38J's tied to FHC at Westpac, but only one for sure. The one that is known to be owned by FHC/under restoration is the former CAF P-38J 42-104088 (which served during WWII in the 370th FG of the 9th AF (same Fighter Group as the P-51's "Sierra Sue II" and "The Brat III") - which may lead to its eventual paint scheme when completed (I know they have, or were, looking for absolute specifics on its wartime paint scheme)). Another that has sometimes been tied to FHC, but never confirmed, is the Pacific combat-vet P-38J "Jandina III" (likely one of the several large P-38 sections/wrecks that is in store at Westpac - used for patterns, usable parts, and/or eventual restoration).

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Mon Mar 28, 2016 9:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnTerrell]

I made the airfix kit back in '72 or so. How did they ever pick that exact one to make the model of? It's almost as if they knew it would be found and restored, eh? I think it was the sharkmouths that drew me in....

Yeah, it wasn't until 1999 that the P-38F "White 33" 42-12652 was found, buried in a pit together with the remains of the P-38J "Jandina III" and three razorback P-47D's (I still remember reading the magazine articles when the discovery/recovery was made). There are a few great photos of the P-38F 42-12652 from the war (from which the decals/artwork for that kit were drawn from), due to the action of Kenneth Sparks in late 1942, who was able to return to base, safely, despite having collided mid-air, in this very aircraft, with a Japanese Zero. It sent the Zero down crashing, but Sparks was able to return to base with just a damaged right wingtip and aileron. The aircraft was repaired and continued to fly until the summer of '44.