Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Sun Dec 07, 2025 11:06 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:12 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:32 pm
Posts: 446
Location: NC
According to my father in law (source of these photos), he (P47 Crew Chief) and Eddie Engle (P38 Crew chief) and two pilots and an engineer were dispatched from Wright Field to Miami to test fuel mixtures for the fighters prior to the D-Day invasion.

Here's a pic of my father in law (in plane) and Eddie Engle next to the P47

Image

Here they are in the P38
Image

A really nice souvenier photo cover from a local nightclub
Image

Autographs from all involved:
Image

Having a beer courtesy of the pilots

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:17 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am
Posts: 659
Can you read the serial and text in the data block on that silver P38?

It's a small intake bird that's NMF so it's an early model, yet the other photo of the guys show them in the same clothing so it's taken at the same time. That's a latewar P47N. I'm wondering what 38 it is? Any more photos of it?

First view made it look like it say YP-38


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:04 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:14 am
Posts: 854
Excellent stuff here, guy! Thanks a bunch for sharing these photos.

The P-38 may be the lone XF-5D (converted from F-5A-10-LO, serial number 42-12975)... the designation and serial are somewhat difficult to read, but after puzzling over the vague evidence and the possibilities, I think it possible.

I'm sure that a close-up scan of the data block will clear things up.

As to the P-47, it conflicts with your father in law's recollection of the time frame. As Dan has said, it's a P-47N. More specifically, it's a P-47N-1-RE... these did not appear until September of 1944. So the first two photos, if indeed taken at the same time which appears to be the case, cannot have been taken before June 6th, 1944.

Regardless, these are fine shots. And one may show a rare bird... again, thanks much for sharing them!


Fade to Black...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:16 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:32 pm
Posts: 446
Location: NC
the scanner did a pretty good job of blowing up the pics, the originals are actually only about 2" x 3" and they are the first color photos of his collection.

He is getting a bit fuzzy on some of his stories, but I'll see what I can do to clarify. There is a "citation to accompany the commendation" letter in his scrapbook somewhere outlining what the mission was about in his scrapbook, and I know that it is dated.

I'll get a magnifying glass and try and see the serial number of the P38. I believe it is on the orders for the trip also.

B


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 6:37 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club

Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm
Posts: 2667
I tried playing around with the P-38 pic, may be 42-12271 or 12276.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:50 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:11 pm
Posts: 360
Location: Ohio
Looking at a list of serial numbers those were used for Noorduyn AT-16-ND.

Mike


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:33 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:32 pm
Posts: 446
Location: NC
I found a pretty good magnifying glass, and It is indeed 42-12975. Tell me more about this one, I'm sure my FIL would love to know more.

B


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:25 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:32 pm
Posts: 446
Location: NC
I just got off the phone with my Father in Law, he said they were testing some new fuel (so strong that if you got it on your clothes, you had to burn them, and it would melt asphalt). Apparently this was nothing to do w/ D-Day. They were trying the gas on anything with the R38 engines. I'll try and get some more photos this weekend from the stash he still has at home.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:26 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:14 am
Posts: 854
banndit wrote:
I found a pretty good magnifying glass, and It is indeed 42-12975.

Groovy! I'm not going nuts after all... (at least no more nuts than I've been all these years)

Quote:
Tell me more about this one, I'm sure my FIL would love to know more.

I personally don't know anything more than what's on THIS webpage. (fourth paragraph down) It's not much, but it's a decent description.

Perhaps Mr. Bates can offer something more...


Fade to Black...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:47 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:32 pm
Posts: 446
Location: NC
Awesome stuff. I'm going over to his house in a few minutes, I'll see what else I can pick up.

B


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:57 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:32 pm
Posts: 446
Location: NC
Image

looks like they typo'd the s/n on the P38.

lol


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:27 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:32 pm
Posts: 446
Location: NC
I'm reviewing a TON of stuff in boxes....quick update, from my FIL's flight diary. The P47, s/n 44-87842 crashed on 5/20/1945 in Dillsborough (?) Oh in a grove of trees...the pilot "rode it down" "both wings were sheared" the "tail had broken off" and the rest smashed against a tree. The pilot had a cut on his hand, but walked away. Apparently the engine had failed at high altitude.

B


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:48 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:11 pm
Posts: 360
Location: Ohio
I don't think that was a typo. I found this on the serial number at bottom of the page. That paper is just not talking about the same plane in the picture you have.

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/p-38/p-38.html

There's not much more info on 42-12975 other than what is on that web site. She was a one off and was tested at Wright Field but other than I really don't know much more. If someone has an aircraft history card for 42-12975 that should give a bit more info.

Mike


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:58 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:32 pm
Posts: 446
Location: NC
That is some really cool info...Thanks!
B


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:49 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am
Posts: 659
Mike Bates wrote:
I don't think that was a typo. I found this on the serial number at bottom of the page. That paper is just not talking about the same plane in the picture you have.

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/p-38/p-38.html

There's not much more info on 42-12975 other than what is on that web site. She was a one off and was tested at Wright Field but other than I really don't know much more. If someone has an aircraft history card for 42-12975 that should give a bit more info.

Mike


Photo of it in WarbirdTech Series "Lockheed P38 Lightning.

The bird is OD/Gray in the photo. I'd love to see it in the stripped down NMF look.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 98 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group