Culver City movie backlot Warbirds

[Chris Brame]

I heard that story once too, and I think the Mustang eventually became "Man o' War", but I think it was in reference to the movie, not the tv show.

This is the future Man o' War; it was on Universal's back lot in June 1965 during the filming of McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force:

[JohnB]

Probably also used in the Dean Hess biography Battle Hymn, filmed at Universal circa 1957.
Universal also had a cockpit for studio shots, used in that film and the Wings of Fire TV movie, and probably anytime they needed a P-51 like on Airwolf.

Fox also had/has a P-51 cockpit, used in 12 O'clock High TV series. Despite being used o represent several aircraft in various episodes, it was always the same cockpit, you could tell by a crack in the bubble.

[george]

Back to the thread subject, anyone know where the P-38 ended up, saved or scrapped?

I would have thought Air Classics would have covered the auction, but haven't found anything yet.

[p51]

Yes, that's the one.
I enjoyed the book a great deal. I do wish they'd had more information on he vehicles and aircraft though.
Neat maps, lots of photos and even an index of which film used which streets/lots.

Thanks for the opinion and the link, loved it!

[Warbirdnerd]

Back to the thread subject, anyone know where the P-38 ended up, saved or scrapped?

I would have thought Air Classics would have covered the auction, but haven't found anything yet.

Nothing about an MGM P-38 in Geoff Goodall's WD#6:
http://www.goodall.com.au/warbirds-dire ... ckheed.pdf

[george]

Bryan, here's the link to the P-38. Scroll down to October '63, pictures 19 and 21. Between the pictures are the comments.
The episode of Combat is on youtube.

http://www.steveandmarta.com/graveyards ... at1963.htm

When I submit the post, some of the link goes away. After graveyards, it should be /california_trip/combat1963.htm

[Jesse C.]

Wasn't it an episode where they had to get some recon film out of the nose?

[george]

You're right, Jesse. I watched it last night, it was a good show.

Don't know why its not on Goodall's list.

[JohnB]

If that's a replica, was it the one destroyed in Von Ryan's Express?

[Chris Brame]

If that's a replica, was it the one destroyed in Von Ryan's Express?

That was a mockup for sure. Right, Frank?

OK, well, he's not a WIXer. The one in Combat! was real, IMHO.

[JohnB]

Not only is it a replica, it has pre-war red/white tail stripes.
I bet the film studio used the Aurora P-38 kit as a guide (recall...those of you who are old enough...that it had similar rudder stripes but postwar stars & bars, and USAF on the wings). :0

[Chris Brame]

Bryan, here's the link to the P-38. Scroll down to October '63, pictures 19 and 21. Between the pictures are the comments.
The episode of Combat is on youtube.

http://www.steveandmarta.com/graveyards ... at1963.htm

Yikes! Skip ahead to November 1965:
http://www.steveandmarta.com/graveyards ... at1965.htm


Any guesses to the ID of this poor Hellcat?

[george]

Connecting the dots, it looks like this Lightning was one of two E-models used in the movie A Guy Named Joe. This one was also then used in the Combat episode. According to Goodall, a P-38E nose was purchased from MGM studios in the early 70's and fitted on P-38 44-53087, now at EAA. What happened to the rest of the plane seems a mystery at this time.

[george]

Nice find, Chris. This Hellcat is just one more reason a list of all the aircraft auctioned would be so interesting.

[Chappie]

Whoa I love the front end of the Buck Rogers fighter!! Too bad somebody didn't snag that PB4Y-2 nose for the Privateer that is currently flying.

Chappie