Amchitka P-38 Graveyard

Dan K · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 6:45 pm

gary1954 wrote:

Mark Allen M wrote:

If I'm not mistaken these P-47's were discarded in the Philippines shortly after the war.

Check out the Track vehicle upside down in the pit, an aircraft tug maybe?

Just a guess:

http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_ca1.php

maxum96 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 7:10 pm

Mark Allen M wrote:

If I'm not mistaken these P-47's were discarded in the Philippines shortly after the war.

Ok, neophyte question here. If this picture was taken in the Pacific, why do the Jugs have invasion stripes? I thought that was a Normandy D-Day only thing.

goaly · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2014 8:54 pm

gary1954 wrote:

Mark Allen M wrote:

If I'm not mistaken these P-47's were discarded in the Philippines shortly after the war.

Check out the Track vehicle upside down in the pit, an aircraft tug maybe?

And isn’t that a Sikorsky R4 helicopter just above and to the left of the tracked vehicle?

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7802

Yes tractor, yes helo, no D-Day invasion stripes. Yes I have a few more photos of those hole fillers.

P-51s and P-47s undergo maintenance at Lingayen airstrip in the Philippines in April 1945. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Downunder · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 1:01 pm

For what it's worth, the original "stripes" came from the Hawker Typhoon circa 1941 or 42. It was being mistaken for Fw-190's so black and white stripes were added under wing.
These stripes were narrower than the classic "D-Day" version but must have been effective.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 1:02 pm

goaly wrote:

And isn’t that a Sikorsky R4 helicopter just above and to the left of the tracked vehicle?

It sure is. Sans fabric covering.

steve dickey · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:18 am

I wanna know what happened to the tires! If the pit was lit on fire there's not much evidence as I would think more than the tires would burn!
Anybody have a clue as to why they would save just the tires/rims?

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

steve dickey wrote:

I wanna know what happened to the tires! If the pit was lit on fire there's not much evidence as I would think more than the tires would burn!
Anybody have a clue as to why they would save just the tires/rims?

A guess.....tires and rims maybe reused on other airframes.

goaly · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2014 1:21 pm

steve dickey wrote:

I wanna know what happened to the tires! If the pit was lit on fire there's not much evidence as I would think more than the tires would burn!
Anybody have a clue as to why they would save just the tires/rims?

I recall reading about the wheels being removed from aircraft about to be scrapped in order to keep the planes from being taken for 'joyrides'.

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