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  P-38F-5-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-12627  
USAAF
5th AF
35th FG
39th FS

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 222-7061. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38F-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-12627. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled.

Wartime History
On September 17, 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Likely, this plane had a two digit squadron number on the nose and tail.

On January 7, 1943 took off piloted by 2nd Lt. Kenneth C. Sparks on a mission over Lae and claimed his fifth aerial victory and became an "ace".

Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38F-5-LO Lightning 42-12627
Combat Report - 39th Fighter Squadron, Kenneth C. Sparks, January 7, 1943
Stars & Bars (1995) page 568 (Sparks, 01/07/43 P-38F 42-12627)

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Last Updated
March 9, 2024

 

Tech Info
P-38
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