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White Lightning

PRB

PRB

Administrator
Staff member
Here's some pics I shot of the P-38 formerly known as "White Lightning", taken at the air show formerly known as "The Gathering of Warbirds" at Madera, CA. These were taken in the mid 1980s. I like the shot of "Lefty" Gardner sitting on the wing going over his flight plan. Also note the one shot of the take off. See how fast the nose gear retracts? It's fully retracted in about 1 second, wham, done. The mains take about half an hour to go all the way up. That's cool.

WL1.jpg


WL2.jpg


WL3.jpg


WL4.jpg


WL5.jpg


WL6.jpg
 
One of the 'good ol' boys'! ; )
Thank you for sharing these photos, Paul!

Athough Lefty passed away a few years ago, his son, Ladd Gardner, started an aviaition insurance company, which is known for specializing in providing insurance within the warbird industry: http://laddgardner.com/

Of course "White Lighting" was rebuilt into what is now the Red Bull P-38, based in Austria with the "Flying Bulls". This year marked its first year where it could be seen performing at a number of airshows, throughout Europe.
 
Seen her in the Red Bull outfit at Hahnweide, looked pretty cool, and the sounds were nice, pretty calm but powerful!
 
Great photos!
I had the pleasure of sitting in the cockpit of WL at a Vandenberg AFB airshow around the same time (80s) as well as it's accompanying T-bird painted P-51.Something I haven't forgotten to this day,climbing up that retracting ladder on to the 38's wing and stepping down into the cockpit.

Horus J
 
dont remember white lightning,,,but i was at the last "gathering of warbirds" at madera..what a show that was,,saw the casa he 2111...well the casa version of the HE111,,later crashed,saw my first bearcat,,we got to sit between the ramp and the runway ( what were they thinking???)but we sat on some nice green mowed grass between the taxiway ( not runway) and the ramp and the bearcat 102 was directly behind us,,she fired up and fire belched out and caught the grass on fire (ok so it wasnt so green)...we had a heck of a time putting out the fire and keeping our stuff from burning...LOL...then later the bearcat crew bought about 12 of us lunch for the inconviniance...lol....true story...
 
Daveroo said:
dont remember white lightning,,,but i was at the last "gathering of warbirds" at madera..what a show that was,,saw the casa he 2111...well the casa version of the HE111,,later crashed,saw my first bearcat,,we got to sit between the ramp and the runway ( what were they thinking???)but we sat on some nice green mowed grass between the taxiway ( not runway) and the ramp and the bearcat 102 was directly behind us,,she fired up and fire belched out and caught the grass on fire (ok so it wasnt so green)...we had a heck of a time putting out the fire and keeping our stuff from burning...LOL...then later the bearcat crew bought about 12 of us lunch for the inconviniance...lol....true story...
Click to expand...

That's what I remember about those Madera air shows: you could sit on the grass along side the taxiway as the planes went out and came back in. And we could stand right next to them on the ramp as they started up. What great fun that was! At air shows on military bases (Lemoore anyway), the planes that flew in the show were parked beyond site at the other end of the field.

Nice photos, Ferry!
 
Wulf, it was manufactured as a P-38L, though within only a year after the end of WWII, the aircraft was bought from surplus and modified and used for racing. One of the modifications at this time was the incorporation of the early-model intakes, and perhaps it was the entire early-model QEC's that were fitted, as the owner felt that their more sleek-design, compared to the late-model intakes, would result in faster speeds. At some point, the turbo-chargers were removed as well. This is essentially how the aircraft remained for the following decades to come. During the air races of the 40's and 50's, the aircraft was named "Sky Ranger", and finished in over-all glossy black. Lefty Gardner purchased the aircraft in 1964, after it had already passed through a number of owners, and it became known as White Lightning several years later. It was flown by the Gardner's up until 2001 when it was involved in an off-field forced landing, due to engine failure and fire. The aircraft was sold to the "Flying Bulls" in 2005, and the aircraft was restored to their specifications. As much as I can gather, these specifications, given the already early-look nature of the intakes, and the fact that the aircraft did not have the turbo-chargers, and was quite highly modified already from its original L-model configuration in other ways, was to first and foremost make the aircraft a beautiful work of art, finished in polished aluminum and early-war markings. In that sence, I am sure there was some intention of reproducing the look of the prototype YP-38, especially in the design of the upper-intakes, which are quite different than as originally installed on the aircraft before restoration.
 
One of the most over-looked P-38 survivors, is very much like a cousin to White Lightning, and had much the same post-war career. Currently owned and on display at the War Eagles Air Museum, in Texas, is P-38L, 44-27053, which like WL, entered into racing in 1946/47, with all of the similar modifications as incorporated into WL (when it was then known as Sky Ranger). The aircraft was also operated by the CAF in the 70's, and painted as "Double Trouble Too". The aircraft was involved in a landing incident, and was sold and then repaired and finished in over-all black. Although it could fly again, given an over-all systems-check, the aircraft hasn't flown much, if at all, in the past decade. Interestingly, it still retains its 'fighter nose', which is very rare to find these days.

5681681377_66b8ce1811_b.jpg


exhibit_19.jpg


exphoto_71.jpg
 
Thanks for those photos, gentlemen. I'm a big P-38 fan, but didn't know those details about the a/c in question.

JAMES
 
Speaking of P-38's, we all, as warbird enthusiasts, will be blessed with a number of P-38's becoming airworthy in the years soon to come!

One of these, and of which holds the most interest for me, is the restoration of the Pacific-theatre combat vet, P-38F "White 33". When finished, it will have authentic items and systems that even "Glacier Girl" doesn't have. At this point it is in quite an advanced state:

Most up-to-date restoration photos: http://www.westpacrestorations.com/index.php?page=p-38-f-lightning-white-33
More about the aircraft's history/recovery: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-38/42-12652.html

Another, also a Pacific-theatre combat vet, P-38J "Jandina III", is under restoration for the Flying Heritage Collection, and with their standards, will of course be a completely original example when complete, with all of the proper original finishes, hardware, and all original systems working (same goes for White 33).

Most up-to-date restoration photos: http://www.westpacrestorations.com/index.php?page=p-38-lightening
More about the aircraft's history/recovery: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-38/42-103988.html

Westpac Restorations, which are conducting the restorations on these aircraft, I believe have a few other P-38 wrecks as well.

The recovered Pacific-theatre vets, P-38G "Dumbo", and P-38H "Japanese Sandman II", owned by the Viriginia Beach-based Military Aviation Museum/Fighter Factory, owned by Gerald Yagen, are last to have been known to be awaiting restoration to flying condition, at Precision Aerospace in Australia (though information pertaining to the numerous and very interesting restorations taking place at Precision, are usually kept very secretive).

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-38/42-12847.html
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-38/42-66905.html
P-38H, 42-66534, is reported to be in the U.S., and awaiting restoration to flying condition. This may be one of the other airframes/wrecks currently at Westpac Restorations.

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-38/42-66534.html
 
Bomber_12th said:
One of the most over-looked P-38 survivors, is very much like a cousin to White Lightning, and had much the same post-war career. Currently owned and on display at the War Eagles Air Museum, in Texas, is P-38L, 44-27053, which like WL, entered into racing in 1946/47, with all of the similar modifications as incorporated into WL (when it was then known as Sky Ranger). The aircraft was also operated by the CAF in the 70's, and painted as "Double Trouble Too". The aircraft was involved in a landing incident, and was sold and then repaired and finished in over-all black. Although it could fly again, given an over-all systems-check, the aircraft hasn't flown much, if at all, in the past decade. Interestingly, it still retains its 'fighter nose', which is very rare to find these days.

5681681377_66b8ce1811_b.jpg
Click to expand...


John, I actually got to see this bird a few years back... It is a neat little museum a few miles North of El Paso I believe.... Sits up on a hill outside of hte town.... They had a rather interesting Russian twin sitting on the ramp, it's name fails me right now.... Would suggest it to any warbird fanatic if they are in the American Southwest!

-witt
 
You're absolutely correct Witt, they have a complete Tupolev Tu-2 on display. I recall reading it as either fact or a rumor, that the museum obtained up to 10 airframes, though I would have to track down that information in order to either confirm or deny it. The engines that were used to power them have been utlized in the stock Flugwerk FW 190 reproductions.

Very cool that you go to visit the museum! The bare P-51D-30-NA they have on display, is actually one of the most complete/authentically configured examples - it would be great to see it flying again. I know that they have continued to perform engine runs on the aircraft with the hope of possibly flying it again in the future.
 
Witt, these are the two Mustangs on display at the War Eagles museum, with the bare-metal example being the one I am referring to. They have a platform next to it so that you can lean over into the cockpit (which has led to a number of cockpit photos posted to sites like Flickr ; ) ).

Bare:
http://mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/p51survivors/?sid=95925690&serial=44-75024

"The Friendly Ghost"
http://mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/p51survivors/?sid=97752846&serial=44-84658

The San Antonio-based TF-51D, La Pistolera, owned by Rod Lewis, was formerly owned by Frank Borman and named Su Su II:

http://mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/p51survivors/?sid=121049085&serial=A68-187

Here are some rather rare photos, taken during one the aircraft's engine runs in recent years:

P-51D44-75024N96JM5T6Aug094.jpg


P-51D44-75024N96JM5T6Aug0910.jpg


P-51D44-75024N96JM5T6Aug091.jpg
 
Man, I wish I could remember seeing that now... I just don't recall it... I remember "Friendly Ghost" ... It was several years ago I guess.... they say the memory is the first thing to go right?
 
Re: Same

I like picture the picture with the lady cleaning the fueslage using Simple Green. and the bare metal P-38,
in #6
 
John and Witt, I got to see the War Eagles' P-38 up close and personal last November when I was out there to pick up TU-2 engines and parts, and bring them back to Delaware. She is one gorgeous 38....... as are the other "birds in their museum.

Hopefully I can get back out there next year to get better photos than I did the last time. LOL And reup my membership too. Besides, I need a new War Eagles hat. Mine is just about worn out.

John, the 'Limited' P-51 D gets out occasionaly I was told. "The Friendly Ghost" hasn't flown in a few years nor has the Corsair. But all three are in flying condition. I've never seen a privately owned museum as big as theirs is. There is even more that they can't get into the hangar for display. But those a/c are out in a hangar at the Ranch, in the desert east of El Paso.
 
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