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P-38F "White 33" Restoration

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For those of you who don't use Facebook, I thought I would post these photos here, which were shared by Westpac Restorations today. They show the current state of one of their main restoration projects, a P-38F, which was recovered from PNG in 1999.

From PacificWrecks.com:

"On September 17, 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force, 35th Fighter Group, 39th Fighter Squadron. Nose Number 33. Assigned to pilot Kenneth Sparks. On December 31, 1942 this aircraft along with 12 other P-38s lead by Thomas J. Lynch escorted A-20s, B-25 and B-26 on a mission over Lae. Over the target Sparks fired at a Zero and witnessed it crash, and had another Zero brush up against his Lightning's aileron, damaging it and tearing off part of the Zero's wing. Next, assigned to the 475th Fighter Group, 431st Fighter Squadron and later 433rd Fighter Squadron. Afterwards, assigned to the 8th Fighter Group, 36th Fighter Squadron from the fighter pool at Port Moresby in February / March 1943. Written off at Finschafen Airfield when the nose wheel collapsed, stricken on June 6, 1944. Later, scrapped, abandoned or buried."

Being one of the older Lightnings, it is believed that several well known 475th FG P-38 aces may have flown this aircraft at some point, as a transitional aircraft. The aircraft was discovered buried in a pit, along with three combat-vet razorback P-47's, and a combat vet P-38J (which are also at Westpac, under restoration to fly). This aircraft will be more complete than "Glacier Girl" when finished, and is slated to be flying in the next 2-years.

The aircraft is being restored for Jim Slattery, who owns an amazing collection of warbirds and classic aircraft which are either currently flying, or are under restoration to fly, located in California (including two Tigercats, a Helldiver, a Brewster-built Corsair, a Dauntless, a PBY, an F3F, a Skyraider, and more). His aircraft have been regular participants at the latest Planes of Fame air shows. More photos of the restoration can be seen here: http://www.westpacrestorations.com/index.php?page=p-38-f-lightning-white-33

Here's the photos posted today, showing both outer wings fitted (note, none of the metal is intentionally polished, its just that it is covered in new skins):



 
Wow! This is huge. They found the actual plane that Sparks flew, White 33? That's amazing. There is a paint for that aircraft for dcc's FS9 P-38F. Still have it. Interesting side note: When I made this paint (White 30, "Regina I"), from the same Group, I was contacted by relatives of the pilot of that plane, who wanted to know how I came to make such a paint. I just wanted to make a paint with the shark teeth, and found photos of it. I decided on "White 30" rather than 33, because my understanding at the time was that "White 33" had the red color between the teeth, and I liked how "White 30" looked better. And besides, somebody already had made a White 33 paint.


 
Also, this "White 33" should not to be confused with another "White 33"...

The aircraft shown above at Westpac is P-38F 42-12652, which was coded, as shown in the original wartime photo of it, "White 33". There is also P-38H 42-66905, which too was coded "White 33", but also named "Japanese Sandman II". This other "White 33", which was also recovered (in the 90's, in Australia), is owned by Jerry Yagen, and is in storage for eventual airworthy restoration at Precision Aerospace. An original wartime photo of that "White 33" can be viewed here: http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums...38FLightningJapaneseSandmanII_zps9057407d.jpg

To add more confusion to it, as can be seen, both had shark mouths as well.
 
Although it is all "hush, hush" (the way the Flying Heritage Collection keeps their restoration projects), the other combat-vet P-38J that was recovered with the P-38F 42-12652 is also under restoration to airworthy at Westpac at this time, for the Flying Heritage Collection. It is 42-103988, named "Jandina III", and was flown by Capt. Jay T. Robbins (8th FG, 80th FS). No recent photos of this restoration are available, and although if you take a tour of the Westpac facilities you will be able to see it, you are not allowed to photograph it (as per the conditions of the client). It too is a very storied aircraft. http://www.westpacrestorations.com/index.php?page=p-38-lightening

There are quite a number of P-38 wrecks in storage at both Westpac and Precision Aerospace (both wartime and post-war wrecks), so the chances are good that we will continue to see more P-38's flying again in the future. There was even a rumor that one of Richard Bong's Lightnings was recovered a few years back, though I haven't heard anything about it since. Currently there are even two P-38's on the market/available for sale - the one owned/flown by Allied Fighters, named "Honey Bunny", as well as the Evergreen Aviation Museum's example, which was restored to airworthy in the 90's and likely could be flown again with a minimal amount of work.

There is also a P-38L to be restored to airworthy in the immediate coming years for the Texas Flying Legends Museum, which will be done by Aircorps Aviation here in Minnesota http://www.aircorpsaviation.com/.
 
Roger said:
Yeah...what ever became of DCC?
Click to expand...

Received an e-mail from dcc yesterday, after inquiring about the tornadoes that hit near where he lives earlier this year. I sent him a link to this thread in reply. He said to say hello to all his FS shipmates here. Maybe he'll drop by and say hi.
 
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