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MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:06 pm

:?
Last edited by Jack Cook on Fri Nov 14, 2014 3:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:48 pm

Great job Jack
The condition of the airframe is amazing. Any other photos ? I know, asking Jack cook for photos...

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 8:05 pm

Welcome Home, Major Mathis, and thank you for your sacrifice.

And wow, that plane looks amazing! Hope they can bring it home as well!

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 8:48 pm

Jack,
Congrats on making this happen!

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 9:12 pm

Jack, of all the things you've been involved in (that I know of anyways), this has to rate right near the absolute top in terms of importance. You not only brought a famed pilot home after 70 years, you provided closure to his family, AND you managed to unearth a combat veteran P-38 in utterly remarkable condition in the process.

I don't know how you can improve on that, my friend. :drink3:

Welcome home Major.

Lynn

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 9:15 pm

:?
Last edited by Jack Cook on Fri Nov 14, 2014 3:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 9:45 pm

Nice job Jack. Great work.

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 10:27 pm

OUTSTANDING!

Having been involved in a JPAC mission (as a card-carrying civilian) I can say that it is one of the top five things I have accomplished in my life. Yours better that you found him!

Congratulations!

Dave Berry
Historian
WW2 Pathfinder Group (Prov)

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 10:55 pm

how cool is that!....good job!....whats the plan for the plane jack?

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Thu Nov 06, 2014 11:16 pm

Nice work, Jack. Looks like you hit the trifecta: found the location, recovered the airframe and bringing the MIA pilot home after 70 years. It really doesn't get any better than that.

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Fri Nov 07, 2014 12:27 am

Thank You Sir. I salute you.

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Fri Nov 07, 2014 12:33 am

Joining the chorus - Really hope the Lightning comes home as well. It would be a star attraction for any museum. Just a shame that with such an intact plane that Major Mathis didn't survive the crash landing. Did this P-38 have a name or nose art?

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:49 am

Way to go Jack! Hard to believe the pilot didn't survive and it would be interesting to know how the aircraft came to grief in the bog. The P-38 is in such good shape, he definitely gave it his best up to the end, trying to survive.

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:46 am

Well done Jack.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Bringing home a veteran, is as high an honour, any of us could hope for.

The condition of the airframe is astounding.
The survivors list for P-38's will need to make room.

Andy Scott

Re: MIA WWII P-38 Lightning Pilot Coming Home

Fri Nov 07, 2014 10:20 am

Well Jack ya done good!
Take Care
Robbie 8)
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