"The Lost Squadron" - photos

[Dennis]

I'm glad to see that they are trying to save these aircraft and still flying some of them. Hearing the sounds of those engines is pretty amazing. Now if only they had some photos of the one on the beach..
Dennis

 

[TR6oldtimer]

Speaking of airplanes, I remember when one of these guys flew over our house after taking off from Miramar NAS in San Diego. It filled the sky and literally made the ground shake.

 

[anthony7777]

rick Ingram, there was an older guy in Greenwich ct. years ago that was trying to contact me about working on his p-38, i was too busy at the time, always been sorry to have missed the opportunity.

 

[Bugeye58]

And to think I had a chance to buy a "J" model, with the original fighter nose, for 10 grand in 1970. Been kicking myself ever since!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif
Jeff

 

[anthony7777]

tony, ya sure that's not just a static display, seems if it was airworthy they would push it into a hanger at night or during bad weather, looks as if its got permanent static display lifts/morings under the landing gear?

 

[PAUL161]

Ok, Ok, I know she's no warbird, but a heck of a lot of the fellows who flew those warbirds learned how in on of these. Here's a couple of photos of my old Navy N2-S Stearman. Army version was the PT-17. She was built in 1941. Just think, she's 66 years old. Sorry but, I just had to do it! I always wanted to trace her back to see where she was originally stationed. Oh well, someday, maybe.

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]tony, ya sure that's not just a static display[/QUOTE]
Only know what I read on the timeline covering its restoration...they said it was airworthy & that they'd flown it - don't know how often...those things mounted to the landing gear are, as I remember, bolted through the mounting points for the wheel assembly & hold the wheels about 6" or so off the ground....but, I'm not an airplane guy

 

[anthony7777]

paul161, you lucky sunminagung, ya have one of my favs. in a hanger where i ones worked they had a huge blow up picture of a field that had a line up of those planes maybe 100 or so, that the government was trying to sell one of the old timers that also worked with us bought three of them for $100.00 each, they had all been reconditioned and airworthy, the field turned into Newark intl. airport.

 

[PAUL161]

paul161, you lucky sunminagung, ya have one of my favs. in a hanger where i ones worked they had a huge blow up picture of a field that had a line up of those planes maybe 100 or so, that the government was trying to sell one of the old timers that also worked with us bought three of them for $100.00 each, they had all been reconditioned and airworthy, the field turned into Newark intl. airport.

A re manufactured one today will bring between 80 to 100 grand. Modified with a PW 450 and fairings a little more. If we knew that 40 years ago, I would have went into hock big time and bought a bunch of them. You can still find one around in the 50s that needs a compleat overhaul. Engine and fabric. Probably another 35 grand, I'm not sure. I don't remember them being $100 each, I do remember them being being sold as Army surplus for $700.00 each, but they had to be bought in lots of ten. A lot of money back then.

 

[Baz]

Well now, they have pictures.....
I'm not sure this thing is restorable or not...
My mum said that there was a lot of activity there this past weekend, no cranes or whatnot just yet, just lots of people.
News Story Here

 

[DrEntropy]

Oh my. I read of it a few days back, hope it can be brought out in one piece.. but brine soaking for 60 years would say otherwise.

 

[Steve]

Interesting! I hope that they can recover it.

 

[jackq]

When I read the P-38 article in the local paper about an hour ago...I about fell over. I went to a squadron reunion for the 48th. FIS just last month in Tuscon and was fortunate enough to spend a few days with a man named Frank Mullinax. He too was a P-38 pilot and was also shot down in Tunis...but inlike the unfortunate soul that bellied this particular aircraft onto the beach in Wales...Frank survived but was a POW..but escaped after almost two years in captivity. I'm going to try to call him today and wish him happy birthday, he just turned 90...great, great guy.

 

[PAUL161]

If it was deep in fresh cold water, it might have a chance of being resurrected. Not a chance in salt water. Aircraft in salt water for a couple of months, not 66 years, are pretty much junk. The cost to save what's there would be astronomical. It would have to be thoroughly flushed and rinsed in fresh water and then placed in a chemical bath just to halt the corrosion process. In my opinion, the cost would be tremendous.

 

[jackq]

Being there are only a few...maybe ten partial and complete P-38s left world wide...I really don't think cost would be a factor. I toured the Puma air museum last month in Tuscon and they would do anything to have one. Talking to guys that have flown them, you can still see the thrill in their eyes.

 

[PAUL161]

Being there are only a few...maybe ten partial and complete P-38s left world wide...I really don't think cost would be a factor. I toured the Puma air museum last month in Tuscon and they would do anything to have one. Talking to guys that have flown them, you can still see the thrill in their eyes.

Yeah, I guess your right Jack. Cost of a resurrection would not be a deciding factor. There would be money coming from somewhere. Regardless of how much is needed.
But the AC in mention would only be a candidate for a museum relic. Salt water and aluminum do not mix well. I had a friend who over ran the runway in Atlantic City, N.J. His AC was in the water for only three days. It had to be totally dismantled, washed and chemically treated before it could be worked on and put back in an airworthy state. Notice I said it was only in the brackish water for 3 days, not years.

 

[jackq]

I overran one runway....a small airport here in New Mexico was being chip sealed and wasn't NOTAM'd out. Never saw the pile of debris till I was to slow to jerk the whole plane back up. Got the nose and the left wheel off....shredded the right main...rolled the ailerons and lifted the shredded tire up and used the rudder to hold it semi straight. Plopped the nose down just as I came to weeds. Airport paid for the new tire and tube...but didn't offer to remove the seat cushion that I partially inhaled. I agree though, it would be a museum static display....but worth ever penny of it.

 

[Bugeye58]

Jack, you shoulda dropped the hook and taken the approach end barrier. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Jeff

 

[PAUL161]

I overran one runway....a small airport here in New Mexico was being chip sealed and wasn't NOTAM'd out. Never saw the pile of debris till I was to slow to jerk the whole plane back up. Got the nose and the left wheel off....shredded the right main...rolled the ailerons and lifted the shredded tire up and used the rudder to hold it semi straight. Plopped the nose down just as I came to weeds. Airport paid for the new tire and tube...but didn't offer to remove the seat cushion that I partially inhaled. I agree though, it would be a museum static display....but worth ever penny of it.

Just be thankful, (which I'm sure you are), that it was just a tire. As all of us aircraft drivers know, it could have been a lot worse. And, we've all inhaled a few seat cushions over the years.

 

[aeronca65t]

Here's our local airport (Andover-Aeroflex) below.

Lakes at both ends. About 1800' (optimistically, I think)

Great place if your ship is good at short fields. Watching some of the faster twins come in is interesting...especially if they are doing it for the first time.

Some of the guys joke that we should put a wire out and fit all the faster planes with a hook.

Naturally, tailwheel planes (like me) land on the grass to the right of the paved Runway 3.

<span style='font-size: 8pt'> Photo credit to Andover Flight Academy, Andover, NJ</span>