Tag: P-38

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Lost Squadron P-38 “Echo” Discovered in Greenland, Recovery Planned for 2019

An ongoing effort led by Jim Salazar and Ken McBride of Arctic Hot Point Solutions and the Fallen American MIA Repatriation Foundation has resulted in the discovery of another P-38 Lightning of the “Lost Squadron.”

The flight, which took place on July 15, 1942, was part of the Allied buildup in Europe known as “Operation Bolero” and consisted of six P-38s and two B-17s. The route toward England would include stops in Labrador, Greenland and Iceland to refuel, however, along the way, the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions and were forced to land on a glacier on Greenland’s hazardous east coast. While the crews were rescued by the Coast Guard, the aircraft would remain, eventually being entombed by hundreds of feet of ice. Continue reading Lost Squadron P-38 “Echo” Discovered in Greenland, Recovery Planned for 2019

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Collings Foundation’s Newly Acquired P-38 to Make Airshow Debut

The Collings Foundation has reported that their newly acquired P-38 Lightning will make its first airshow appearance at the Los Angeles County Airshow at Gen. William Fox Field in Lancaster, California on March 24-25.

As previously reported, The aircraft (S/N 44-53186) was intended for use in photo reconnaissance but was stored in Arizona following the end of WW2. After being declared surplus, it was acquired by a succession of companies, including Kargl Aerial Surveys, Aero Exploration Co and Mark Hurd Aerial Mapping, before being parked in 1963. Over the following years the P-38 passed through the hands of several additional owners before being acquired by Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, which restored the machine to pristine condition and placed it on display in 1997.

In 2014 the aircraft was offered for sale and was soon acquired by the Stow, Massachusetts-based Foundation. It has since undergone maintenance, flight evaluation, and preparation at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino.

The machine will reportedly be on static and flying display during the event and will be the only Collings Foundation aircraft in attendance.

(via Collings Foundation Photo: Articseahorse via Wikimedia Commons)