Pacific Wrecks - P-38J-15-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-104004

P-38J-15-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-104004

USAAF 1944

U.S. Army April 24, 1944

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 2838. At the factory, completed with an unpainted aluminum finish with olive drab on the upper nose and inner sides of the engine nacelles for anti-glare. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-15-LO Lightning serial number 42-104004. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled.

Wartime History
During early 1944 assigned to 5th Air Force (5th AF), 5th Fighter Command (V Fighter Command), Headquarters. Assigned to pilot Lt. Col. Thomas J. Lynch. The plane had a stripe at the tip of the tails.

On April 24, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by Brigadier General Paul B. Wurtsmith with P-38J "Marge" 42-104380 piloted by Col. Robert L. Morrissey and were the first American planes to land at newly captured and repaired Tadji Airfield.

Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-15-LO Lightning 42-104004
The Missions and P-38 Lightnings of Richard I. Bong: A Synopsis (2002) pages 36 (Morr)

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021

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