LOCKHEED P-38 REBUILD PROJECTS IN AUSTRALIA

In recent times, several P-38 wrecks have been recovered from Pacific islands. This page attempts to list those aircraft that are either presently in Australia or aspiring to return to Australia after restoration. The compiler acknowledges with thanks the assistance of Geoff Goodall.

 

1417
P-38H
42-66905 "Japanese Sandman II / 26"
04DEC43
Forced landing in a swamp near Dobodura, PNG.
79/88
Listed in the collection of the National Museum, Port Moresby PNG but not recovered from crash site.
05
Acquired by Robert Greinert, Sydney, NSW (tail booms recovered and shipped to Sydney).
05/08
Acquired by Jerry Yagen / Training Services Inc / Fighter Factory, Virginia Beach VA. Tail booms and parts only stored at Wangaratta for composite restoration project by Precision Aerospace.

 

2822
P-38J
42-103988 "Jandina III"
07MAY44
Forced landing Yamai, Saidor PNG. Stripped hulk abandoned on fuel drums at Biliau, Morobe Province, PNG.
45/99
Acquired by Bruno Carnovale / 75 Squadron, Melbourne VIC.
DEC99
Shipped to Melbourne via Lae, PNG along with P-38 hulk 42-12652 and 3 P-47 hulks. Airframes stored Woodend VIC.
07FEB02
Trucked to Port Melbourne for shipping to USA.
02/05
To Flying Heritage Collection, Bellevue WA.
FEB02
Shipped to USA for restoration at Rialto CA, one to be returned to Australia on completion.
03/05
P-38J under restoration to fly.

 

7081
P-38F
42-12647 "Dottie from Brooklyn / 34"
JAN44
Forced landing in swap near Port Moresby, PNG.
14-16NOV78
Recovered from swamp.
NOV78/08
To National Museum, Port Moresby, PNG. Planned static restoration using parts recovered from PNG crash sites of 42-12857, 42-12847, 42-66868 and 42-60534. Placed in open storage in the museum yard at Aniua Street, Port Moresby.
05/08
Centre-section displayed at the museum. Parts removed by Robert Greinert, Sydney for static restoration and eventual return to National Museum PNG.

 

7086
P-38F
42-12652 "33"
44
Forced landing Saidor, PNG. Wreck buried at Finschafen.
98/02
Acquired by Bruno Carnovale / 75 Squadron, Melbourne VIC.
99
Wreck excavated.
DEC99
Shipped to Melbourne via Lae, PNG along with P-38 hulk 42-103988 and 3 P-47 hulks. Airframes stored Woodend VIC.
07FEB02
Trucked to Port Melbourne for shipping to USA.
FEB02
Shipped to USA for restoration at Rialto CA, one to be returned to Australia on completion.
02/05
To Flying Heritage Collection, Bellevue WA.

 

7281
P-38G
42-12847 "Dumbo! / 37"
02/05
Derelict hulk recovered ex Solomon Islands by Robert Greinert, Sydney NSW.
JUL02
Shipped to Bankstown, Australia via Papua New Guinea.
02/05
Stored at Bankstown, Sydney.
05/08
Acquired by Jerry Yagen / Training Services Inc / Fighter Factory, Virginia Beach VA.
22APR05
Trucked from Bankstown to Wangaratta, VIC. Hulk stored at Wangaratta pending composite restoration to fly by Precision Aerospace.

 

7518
P-38F
42-13084
NOV78
Recovered from the Waigani Swamp off the end of the runway at Port Moresby - Jacksons Strip by National Museum, Port Moresby PNG to provide parts for the restoration of 42-12647. Parts of an F-5A were also recovered.
01
Parts shipped to Robert Greinert, Sydney NSW.

 

Date Convention: 79/88 indicates from (at least) 1979 until (at least) 1988.

 

 

The data on this page was extracted from the Warbirds Directory 2008 CD with the kind permission of the publisher, Geoff Goodall.

 

Issue Date Remarks
1 25FEB09
Original issue.


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