Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:20 pm
Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:36 pm
Sun Jan 20, 2019 6:22 pm
Sun Jan 20, 2019 6:41 pm
JohnTerrell wrote:The 4th photo down is P-38H "Japanese Sandman II" 42-66905. Photo is credited to the aircraft's original pilot, Lt. Richard E. Smith, taken in 1943. The aircraft was later reassigned to the 475th FG and operated until a forced landing brought it down in early December 1943 near Embi, in New Guinea, where it remained until being discovered in the mid 1990's. (Information from Pacific Wrecks)
The 5th photo down is P-38F 42-12652 (not "Japanese Sandman II"), which was assigned to 2nd Lt. Kenneth Sparks. That particular photo was taken immediately following the December 31, 1942 mission in which a Ki-43 collided with the aircraft's right wing during a dogfight. Sparks was able to safely return to 14-Mile Drome ("Schwimmer Drome") and the aircraft would be repaired and reassigned to the 475th FG in early 1943, eventually being damaged beyond repair at Finschafen Airfield in early 1944, where it remained until it was discovered in the late 90's and recovered. (Information from Pacific Wrecks)
Both had the tail/nose number of "White 33", though the style/design of the numbers/stenciling was different between the two. Both were assigned to the 35th FG, 39th FS at the different times the photos were taken.
Today, both airframes still partially survive - The P-38F 42-12652 (known as "White 33") of course has now been fully restored by Westpac and flies (almost entirely newly built to authentic WWII spec, with several parts incorporated from the original 42-12652), owned by Jim Slattery. The remains/sections of the P-38H "Japanese Sandman II" are reportedly both in New Guinea and Australia, with the sections recovered to Australia being attributed to Jerry Yagen ownership.
Sun Jan 20, 2019 7:03 pm
lucky52 wrote:I am no P-38 expert, but I thought P-38 canopys flipped back with the sides going down.On some of those pictures it looks like the top is flipped over to the right.Am I seeing that right?
Sun Jan 20, 2019 7:30 pm
Sun Jan 20, 2019 8:12 pm
Sun Jan 20, 2019 8:55 pm
Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:38 am
Mon Jan 21, 2019 1:29 pm
gemmer wrote:"Gassing up-30 mile" is a P-400.
Mon Jan 21, 2019 1:59 pm
Mon Jan 21, 2019 4:02 pm
JohnTerrell wrote:There are three deffinitive clues - the number of exhaust stubs (12 per side rather than 6), evidence of the RAF type camo pattern, and the Hispano 20-mm cannon rather than the 37-mm cannon, pointing to it as being a P-400.
(P-39D-1's also had a 20-mm cannon, but had 6 exhaust stubs per side and had standard OD/grey paint schemes. The P-39F had the 12 exhaust stubs per side, but had the 37-mm cannon.)
Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:32 pm
gemmer wrote:JohnTerrell wrote:There are three deffinitive clues - the number of exhaust stubs (12 per side rather than 6), evidence of the RAF type camo pattern, and the Hispano 20-mm cannon rather than the 37-mm cannon, pointing to it as being a P-400.
(P-39D-1's also had a 20-mm cannon, but had 6 exhaust stubs per side and had standard OD/grey paint schemes. The P-39F had the 12 exhaust stubs per side, but had the 37-mm cannon.)
100% correct.
Tue Jan 22, 2019 11:10 am
Tue Jan 22, 2019 11:50 am
Seems to be undergoing some additional restoration in Chino. It is outside getting the paint stripped for the past few months.Dan Jones wrote:Interesting wartime pic of the POF's P-39N, 42-19027.