P-38 Lightning Washed Up On Beach

[JDK]

"He said: "It still has a lot of high octane fuel onboard, so it's important that the public doesn't go near it.""

I think it's feasable that undamaged tanks could have fuel, oil,
coolant or oxygen and struts may still holding pressure.

Indeed possible Jack. However my money's on someone's decided they're in charge and they just need an excuse to keep the general public away. How often have we heard this as a requirement before? Never?

So if i reading this right. Then we're talking about a Lightning that bellied in on a beach and over time was consumed by it. And after years of beach errosion is being unburried?

Is possible that this aircraft potentialy might well preserved? since not sitting for 60 years directly in the water?

Also since the discovery is weeks old i wonder why pictures haven't surfaced on the net by now.

Shay, no pics so far indicates what we probably have is a load of heavily corroded metal and junk, nothing to 'look at'. If it was buried in beech sand it's effectively the same as salt water, I'd expect, again based on previous examples.

Let's hope I'm wrong.

[n5151ts]

----in your ferguson tractor anyway....




"Yeah. Because a few dozen / hundred gallons of AVgas isn't dangerous or anything."

[Russ Matthews]

The plane in question is believed to be a P-38F-1 (USAAF #41-7677) that was assigned to the 49th FS, 14th FG, 8th AF which lost power during an aerial gunnery exercise and came down in the shallow surf off a Gwynedd County beach on September 27, 1942. The pilot, 2nd Lt Robert F Elliott, survived the crash unharmed (though he would be reported as KIA in North Africa just over two months later). As for 41-7677, its armament was removed and the airframe left to the elements.

The lost Lightning was quickly forgotten and covered over with sand. It was discovered (or more like "rediscovered") 65 years later and then thoroughly surveyed just last month (October 2007). The team reports that the plane is surprisingly intact and sound, given its long exposure to the sea. Considering its condition and historic significance (quite possibly the oldest surviving 8th Air Force combat veteran of any type), 41-7677 will make an excellent addition to a major aviation museum in the Uinted Kingdom.

The lack of news and photos until now was indeed intentional. It was deemed necessary to prevent casual looters and vandals from disturbing the site while a responsible recovery plan was drafted and implemented. That work is ongoing and the plane should be on its way to a proper home after the weather improves in late Spring of 2008. The recent BBC item was unexpected and certainly spoiled my anticipation of breaking this story on WIX personally -- however, now that its out there anyway, I'm happy to share what information I can with a group who I know can truly appreciate and respect its importance.

Last edited by Russ Matthews on Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

Somehow i DONT think that gona be a flyer in same league as GG, maybe a semi restored job IF they can get her out ASAP

[Nathan]

Does anyone know what model it is?

[Firebird]

Does anyone know what model it is?

Err......see TBDude's post just above.....

[harvard_1]

The Mustang was 44-63476 Uruguayian Airforce 252. Now N 63476 " City of Winnipeg. Parts that were buried in mud were still chromated and had ink part numbers visable. While the lake was fresh it had flow as it was a hydro electric reservoir so there was constant oxidation. .A lot of it had holes blown thru right beside a section that looked new. The magnesium parts were disolved or mush... It needed a lot of polishing...

[Hal B]

Parts that were buried in mud were still chromated and had ink part numbers visable. While the lake was fresh it had flow as it was a hydro electric reservoir so there was constant oxidation. .A lot of it had holes blown thru right beside a section that looked new. The magnesium parts were disolved or mush... It needed a lot of polishing...

That was the same experience as I had with a Corsair that came out of a lake. Some parts were lilke new and others were just dissolved. One steel fastener would be in perfect condition and it's next-door neighbor would be just a rusticle... Makes for a long restoration!

[John Beyl]

The Mustang was 44-63476 Uruguayian Airforce 252. Now N 63476 " City of Winnipeg. Parts that were buried in mud were still chromated and had ink part numbers visable. While the lake was fresh it had flow as it was a hydro electric reservoir so there was constant oxidation. .A lot of it had holes blown thru right beside a section that looked new. The magnesium parts were disolved or mush... It needed a lot of polishing...

You, Gerry and Mark were just the right guys to get her all tuned up. Cheers...hope you are feeling well. Enough slacking now...How is the Harvard coming?

John

[Ztex]

Says...the only one of it's type in the UK...

I'll bet there is one of these somewhere over there....and just think it doesn't use that nasty high octane fuel

[Russ Matthews]

Does anyone know what model it is?

Research shows that 41-7677 was accepted into the USAAF on May 27, 1942 as a P-38F. Exactly one month later, that designation was changed to P-38F-1. My understanding is that the "dash one" variant was assigned to P-38Fs that had been modified to carry a pair of drop tanks or a pair of 1000 lb bombs under the inboard wing sections.

The survey team that visited the wreck in October was unable (for obvious reasons) to get a look beneath the airplane and confirm whether or not the aditional attach points are present. The did however, observe that the filler caps on the main tanks are still intact and sealed -- though fuel and oil could be seen (and smelled) seeping from somewhere.

At first glance it would appear odd to find full tanks on the airplane when the official cause of the crash was listed as "fuel starvation." The explanation is that the pilot, following standard procedure of the time, had taken off using his reserve tanks, but then neglected to swicth over to the mains after 15 minutes. Dealing with what he at first misinterpretted as a problem with the left propellor, Lt . Elliott drained the last of his reserve gas and lost his remaining starboard engine at low altitude while trying to return to base. Without power, he set down in the best spot available and the rest is history...

Reproduced below is an effective (though decidedly "un-PC") cartoon from the P-38 flight manual reminding Lightning pilots to use their main tanks.

Last edited by Russ Matthews on Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Canso42]

Glacier Girl was at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas last weekend at the airshow. If I can figure out how to send pix, I'll send a couple.
Including wreckage like this one on the beech, how many total P-38 airframes are there?

Canso42

[Hal B]

The explanation is that the pilot, following standard procedure of the time, had taken off using his reserve tanks, but then neglected to swicth over to the mains after 15 minutes. ]

Unfortunately, I believe a similiar scenario contributed to the loss of a P-38 and pilot just a few years ago...

Says...the only one of it's type in the UK...

I'll bet there is one of these somewhere over there....and just think it doesn't use that nasty high octane fuel

Hey - that P-38's fully armed!

[Obergrafeter]

I love P-38s in the natural metal finish. I have one just like the last picture. I would like to have a German made P-38 also to go with my American manufactured one.