Pilot  Lt. Edward.G. Dickey
Crew Chief  Sgt. Manuel Malandrakis
Force Landed  September 20, 1943

Pilot History
Former pilot Edward Dickey was killed shortly after he returned home from his South Pacific tour of duty. He lost his life rescuing a woman in a car that was carried away in a flood during a tornado, and was electrocuted before he could get clear of the vehicle.

Wartime History
The aircraft originally served with the 8th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group and was written off after it made a belly landing at Faita Airfield. The aircraft had number 53 (white and was outlined in yellow) on the tail fins and nose. It rested on on fuel drums and was stripped for parts and abandoned until 1992.

Recovery
In 1992, it was recovered from Faita by Gary Larsen on behalf of client Ericson. After being salvaged by helicopter, Gary Larsen left the country, prior to the aircraft being shipped. Instead, its export was haulted by the PNG Museum and abandoned it on the dock at Lae.

Storage
Pilot and Lae resident Richard Leahy was authorized to stored the aircraft at his hanger at Nadzab Airport. 

In 1997, Robert Jarrett / Classic Jets Museum exported the aircraft from Lae, but had to pay for the storage fees it incurred over the years.

Restoration
Jarret aquired the aircraft and exported it in May 1999. Shipped in a container to Adelaide it arrived on May 17, 1999. Then moved to Parafield Airport to the Classic Jets Museum. Thirty volunteers worked on the aircraft. The completed restoration was finished in 2004 to static condition.

References
Thanks to Robert Jarret for additional information

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