Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed as P-38E-2-LO Lightning constructors number 222-7086. Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 35th Fighter Group, 39th Fighter Squadron on September 17, 1942. Nose Number 33 painted on nose, assigned to pilot Kenneth Sparks.

Wartime History
On December 31, 1942 this aircraft along with 12 other P-38s escorted A-20s, B-25 and B-26 on a mission to Lae lead by Thomas Lynch. 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.

Served with the 475th FG , and was assigned to the 431st FS and 433rd FS. Later, assigned to the 8th FG, 36th FS from the fighter pool at Port Moresby in February / March 1943.

Written off at Finschafen when the nose wheel collapsed, stricken on June 6, 1944. Later, scrapped, abandoned or buried.

Wreckage
Remained 'in situ' until 1999.

Recovery
Recovered by Australian group known as '75 Squadron' (no association with the RAAF unit) from Finschafen where it was buried. The aircraft was containered at Lae on November 28, 1999 and shipped to Melbourne.

Later, during 2002, this and other wreckage was transported by road on city streets during Melbourne morning rush hour traffic and identified as P-38s and P-47s by many drivers. Containered along with other aircraft salvaged, including P-38J "Jandina III" 42-103988 and three Thunderbolts: P-47D 42-75284, P-47D 42-22521, P-47D 42-8074.

Shipped by boat to Westpac Restorations in Rialto, California. During 2003-2004, this wreckage was stored at their facility during 2003-2004. At the time, details on this aircraft were unknown due to non-disclosure agreement with the owner/client Paul Allen / Flying Heritage Collection.

This recovery was cited as an illegal recovery in the PNG Government Public Accounts Committee Report in 2006.

Today, likely part of Paul Allen / Flying Heritage Collection in Arlington, WA, in storage.

References
Bruce Hoy's article Flightpath Magazine, Volume 4 Number 2 mentions the December 31, 1942 this aircraft participated in.

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Last Updated
October 30, 2009