Warbird Information Exchange

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



Here they are in the P38


A really nice souvenier photo cover from a local nightclub


Autographs from all involved:


Having a beer courtesy of the pilots

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

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...

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

I tried playing around with the P-38 pic, may be 42-12271 or 12276.

Looking at a list of serial numbers those were used for Noorduyn AT-16-ND.

Mike

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

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.

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


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...

Awesome stuff. I'm going over to his house in a few minutes, I'll see what else I can pick up.

B

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

lol

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

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

That is some really cool info...Thanks!
B

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.