And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
I wonder how many, if any at all, of these are still airworthy?
When Jack Erickson was asked what planes he added to his collection, his reply was "Only ones I like to fly". He was speaking specifically of his P-38L, 'Tangerine'. https://www.ericksoncollection.com/aircraft#/p-38-lightning/
And thanks to all for the list of survivors. I hadn't thought of researching that before.
There is a most outstanding WW2 Air Museum near the Colorado Springs airport. All of the planes that they have on display are working aircraft. They have a program where they isolate one aircraft, put on a didactic presentation and then fly the plane for the audience to marvel at. One of their planes is a P-38.
In 2016, there were six airworthy. A seventh nearly so. I know this because I helped marshall at the Planes of Fame airshow which featured the Lightning that year.
Since then there are a small handful being brought along.
In the war, General Kenney (MacArthur's air commander) got wind that Hap Arnold was going to end production of the P-38. Pilots in Europe preferred other designs like P-51 and P-47. Kenney pushed back hard: he needed the long range of the P-38. Also, with Richard Bong and other aces flying under his command, he knew it was an effective dog fighter. ~ Doctor Weasel
I have a picture of me sitting in Lefty Gardner's P-38. I was admiring it at an air show and he told me to get in. He was quite a gentleman. Sadly, both Lefty and White Lightnin' are silent. The plane is back in the air, but she's sporting a new name and a new look. https://p38assn.org/white-lightnin/
More than I thought.
ReplyDeleteGlacier Girl is a great story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Lockheed_P-38_Lightnings
Wikipedia says 26 surviving, 22 in the U.S., of which 10 are airworthy.
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteWiki knows all - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Lockheed_P-38_Lightnings
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Is that Ottawa Kansas or Canada?
DeleteRight engine is feathered.
ReplyDeleteLooks like he knows: Never turn into a feathered engine.
DeleteWhy, what would happen? Spin?
DeleteYou will usually see a couple at the EAA Airventure airshow in Oshkosh WI. Coming up in a couple weeks!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Flying on one engine with starboard prop feathered.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing one of these over my grandmother's house back in the 40's. It had to be before '48. Could have even been during the war.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jack Erickson was asked what planes he added to his collection, his reply was "Only ones I like to fly". He was speaking specifically of his P-38L, 'Tangerine'.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ericksoncollection.com/aircraft#/p-38-lightning/
And thanks to all for the list of survivors. I hadn't thought of researching that before.
There is a most outstanding WW2 Air Museum near the Colorado Springs airport. All of the planes that they have on display are working aircraft. They have a program where they isolate one aircraft, put on a didactic presentation and then fly the plane for the audience to marvel at. One of their planes is a P-38.
ReplyDeleteWhich is scheduled to fly July 13th. It's a combat veteran.
DeleteIn 2016, there were six airworthy. A seventh nearly so. I know this because I helped marshall at the Planes of Fame airshow which featured the Lightning that year.
ReplyDeleteSince then there are a small handful being brought along.
In the war, General Kenney (MacArthur's air commander) got wind that Hap Arnold was going to end production of the P-38. Pilots in Europe preferred other designs like P-51 and P-47. Kenney pushed back hard: he needed the long range of the P-38. Also, with Richard Bong and other aces flying under his command, he knew it was an effective dog fighter.
ReplyDelete~ Doctor Weasel
I have a picture of me sitting in Lefty Gardner's P-38. I was admiring it at an air show and he told me to get in. He was quite a gentleman. Sadly, both Lefty and White Lightnin' are silent. The plane is back in the air, but she's sporting a new name and a new look. https://p38assn.org/white-lightnin/
ReplyDeleteThe Richard I. Bong museum is great. Tragic end to a P 38 ACE. I donated an artifact to the museum on behalf of my father. USAAF.
ReplyDelete"It's a P-38, the Cadillac of the skies!", from one of the BEST war movies ever made, "EMPIRE OF THE SUN".
ReplyDelete