Warbird Information Exchange

Hi Stuart

I've not seen the photo you speak of so I would love to if you or anybody else has access to it - I just assumed this was how it was done from the "Bulldozer rash" on the aircraft and from what I was told by the locals - I can't believe anybody photographed it - that is great!

Regards
John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

John,

The main reason I remember the photo is I bought this magazine in an airport to while away the hours of boredome as I was flying back to Hong Kong from Europe, and thinking to myself "I wonder where in the Phils this was".
It was quite a long article, maybe a page or more I think about the merits of not returning a/c back to USA at wars end, also was some facts and figures about the prohibitive costs of recovering the alloy etc.

It was the photo of a crane lifting a P38 by the tail, and in the background was a bunch of other airframes, sorry can't remember what they were, can't remember the name of the mag, apart from this article nothing else in it was of much interest, so I think I ditched it a long time ago.

I do remember it looked like an offical photo, the sort of thing the base commander would authorise, even if just to be able to prove the disposal was effected, and was probably part of a series done for that purpose.

Anyway, I can't wait to hear the results I wish the people involved all the luck in the world.

Stuart

Have it at home somewhere too.

Pretty sure it's either Warbirds International or Air classic.

Laurent

Bearing in mind the potential value of such as dump its not surprising that the people involved have tried to keep the profile of the operation as low as possible. Be great if they can salvage some examples that could be returned to airworthy status but if not it will still be very good news that there may be some more P-38s around. Looks like 2005 may be a very good year for recoveries

deleted

There is a book out called "P-Screamers" by Kevin A. Grantham that provides a complete history for every P-38 surviving today and a few that are no longer with us.

He also gives dispositions for most of the Lightnings that have been on the US registry at some point in time regardless of whether they are still on it or not.

He does not have complete listings for all of the wrecks because many of them had either not been discovered yet or the ability to get close to the airframes was not there.

It is a very good book though and he posted something about the Hoof Proudfoot video on the old board because he was revising his book and wanted to get the details of the crash right.

Ryan

Laurent,

Please do me/us a favour and find the article and post the pic, two reasons, one I would like to know if my memory is correct, and two if it is part of a series of pics, then I'm sure somebody here can track down the rest if they exist.

It would be great after the excavtion is complete to see some before and after shots.

Stuart

HI THE PHOTOS WERE IN WARBIRDS MAGAZINE ABOUT 1987-88?MANY OF THE P-38S WERE NEW THEY STILL HAD THE FACTORY BLOCK NUMBERS PAINTED ON THE NOSE.THE PHOTOS ALSO SHOW SEVERAL P-38S ALL READY IN THE PIT.THIS COULD REALLY TURN OUT TO BE A INCREADABLE FIND,IT BEATS DIGGING THROUGH THE ICE!! THANKS MIKE

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

Mike,

Looks like my memory has not failed, yes the mag probably was Warbirds Magazine and the timing would be right 87/88 I was traveling a lot during both those years, freezing in winter and missing the sun in summer and glad to get back to Hong Kong after the trips.

John,
your comment about bulldozer rash, begs me to aske the question, have you seen the a/c? or photos ?

Not that I'm asking you to divulge anything confidential, but living so close to the Phils this really has got my interest in more ways than one.

Stuart

Hi Stuart

The aircraft - touched, washed down and cleaned - alas thats all - no free samples.

My erstwhile Collegue from New Zealand - the fountain of knowledge from the east Dave M has just provided the following illustration - WOW I wish I knew these existed 6 months ago!!!

Regards
John P

_________________
Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Shoudn't we add the "Japanese Sandman II" to the list of unrecoevered survivors from PNG ?

Laurent

http://www.airpirates.com/images/NewGuinea/n.jpg

John,

Thks the info, at least I tried, can't wait to hear the results of the dig.

sorry but the image didn't download, so I have no idea what it is.

Stuart

Hi Stuart

The images are of the P38s being shoved in the hole.

Try going to
http://community.webshots.com/user/setter125
then scroll down to "dump1" and you will find the image there.

The aircraft i saw pulled out had the horizontal stabilizer more damaged but was otherwise very similar to this pic and there are a few more trees there now and obviously most of this part of the gully is filled in now - that is why it is being dug up!!

Kindest regards
John P

_________________
Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

That's a lot P-38's, John. Maybe, someone could tell the guy getting them to put them up in Aero Trader?

Hi Chris

I don't think it will be sold that way, but I can't say more as I don't know.

The numbers actually extracted will be interesting - I have again no real idea but it looks encouraging from this shot doesn't it - we'll see in the fullness of time.

Regards
John P

_________________
Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce