Warbird Information Exchange

The NASM has a whole sign about him flying it infront of the aircraft.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

From the NASM site.


Lockheed P-38J-10-LO Lightning


In the P-38, Lockheed engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson and his team of designers created one of the most successful twin-engine fighters ever flown by any nation. From 1942 to 1945, U. S. Army Air Forces pilots flew P-38s over Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific, and from the frozen Aleutian Islands to the sun-baked deserts of North Africa. Lightning pilots in the Pacific theater downed more Japanese aircraft than pilots flying any other Allied warplane.

Maj. Richard I. Bong, America's leading fighter ace, flew this P-38J-10-LO on April 16, 1945, at Wright Field, Ohio, to evaluate an experimental method of interconnecting the movement of the throttle and propeller control levers. However, his right engine exploded in flight before he could conduct the experiment.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Too bad it wasn't actually one of the P-38's he used in combat and used to down a Japanese fighter with.

As far as famous P-38's, I love reading the stories of Lindbergh flying the P-38's in the Pacific. I thought it was awesome that he actually flew combat mission as a civilian in a P-38 and shot down a Japanese Sonia. I wonder if any of those P-38's he flew survive today?


Thomas Mcguire and Charles Lindbergh

Interesting reading reference Lindbergh's participation in WWII.

http://www.charleslindbergh.com/wwii/

Yeah, I always thought that was an interesting story as well.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager