Fate of the original P-38 "Ruff Stuff"

[Mike Bates]

From my collection. Still looking for information on date and location.



Mike

[JohnTerrell]

Very interesting photo! I see that there are four more kill markings than the just finished example owned by Ron Fagen...I'd imagine this might be a good photo to pass on to him and Warhawks Inc. if they have not seen this photo already...might be a detail they'd want to incorporate.

[Shay]

Anyone else noticed.......

... that while the aircraft at this point doesn't appear to be stripped......She doesn't have any armorment. No .50s or 20mm cannon that I can see.

Anybody have a possible explanation for this?

Also look like she bellied-in on one engine as well.


Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[usaf ssgt]

Also, from the looks of the lower cowling, this one is an earlier model Lightening, maybe an E or F?

Leon

[JohnTerrell]

That's absolutely correct, and to be specific "Ruff Stuff" was a G model. As another added detail it appears that a cowling panel is off of the good engine. It may have been used/being used for spares.

[JohnTerrell]

Now I'm thinking that most likely this accident resulted with another pilot at the controls and the kills were atributed to antoher pilot, perhaps added on, after Norb Ruff completed his tour of duty with the airplane. All of the information I've gathered about Norb Ruff, the original pilot of Ruff Stuff, is that he completed 50 missions in the airplane and rotated back to the states, which would certainly make it seem like the aircraft was intact the entire time, and his total amount of kills with the P-38 was indeed four like what is shown on Ron Fagen's P-38.

[Oscar Duck]

Left engine feathered too....

that probably explains something.

[Dan Johnson II]

My understanding is Paul Murphey took over X when Ruff went home. Not sure what the story is behind the photo though.

[ehokuf]

Cool photo! I'll ask Norb about it.

If you didn't get to hear it Oshkosh here is preview of what a P-38 with working turbos sounds like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wHblArFfA

[JohnTerrell]

That is just too cool Erik! Thanks for the video.

[mark ruff]

To Mike Bates, after reviewing your photo with my father Norbert Ruff, he commented that an Al Hayley was the pilot of his plane RUFF-STUFF after he had come back state side. He had heard that Al had lost an engine on take off however in looking at photo left engine is feathered, which wouldn't have had time todo on take off. Al broke his back in putting the plane down, can see from photo its off runway, which was procedure not to tie up air field.

Mike as you may have known, my father passed away November 28th, 2007, I'd like to get in otuch with you regarding this photo, regards, Mark Ruff

[Dan K]

Hi Mark--and from a fellow cheesehead, welcome to the WIX. Do you hail from the Bloomer area?

I only got acquainted with your dad for one day at OSH '07, but it was still a treat. I definitely got a kick out of his stories about how "fun" it was to release the door off a P-39/P-400 while in flight.

Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

[51fixer]

Left engine feathered too....

that probably explains something.

L/H engine had the hyd pump and generator. R/H did not.
If he lost the L/H on TO then he would not have been able to clean up the airframe by retracting gear or be able to lower the flaps to improve lift.
Rich

[Mike Bates]

Mark,

I left you a pm with my email addy.

Mike

[MattP38]

Cool photo! I'll ask Norb about it.

If you didn't get to hear it Oshkosh here is preview of what a P-38 with working turbos sounds like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wHblArFfA

That's amazing! I have always wondered what that sounds like. Thanks!