|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 4th AF 329th FG 330th FS  USAAF 1943   CA Wreck Divers 1995 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Gaston M. Hensley (survived) Inglewood, CA Ditched May 28, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-10-LO Lightning serial number 42-13381. Wartime History Assigned to the 4th Air Force (4th AF), 329th Fighter Group (329th FG), 330th Fighter Squadron (330th FS). No known nose art or nickname. Wartime History On May 28, 1943 at 5:40am took off from NAS North Island near San Diego piloted by 1st Lt. Gaston M. Hensley as the last of three P-38s on a training mission. During the flight, the planes flew a low altitude patrol, practiced formation flying and low level strafing runs. While flying at sea level, this P-38's propeller touched the sea and was damaging it and immediately ditched roughly a half mile off Torrey Pines. Rescue Hensley suffered minor injuries in the landing. He was later rescued by a U.S. Navy (USN) launch and returned to duty. Wreckage During 1994, a Cesna airplane was lost in the same area and SCUBA diver Dave Miller was hired to search for the lost plane. Searching from a boat with side scan sonar, he located two other aircraft, this P-38 Lightning and an F-4 Phantom nearby. A dataplate recovered from the engine matched the number of this P-38 on the accident report and confirmed the plane's identity. Since 1995, the P-38 has been a dive side for SCUBA divers. This P-38 is on the sea floor at a depth of 130' / 39.6m on the sea floor. The tail booms, propellers, most of the nose, cockpit instrument panel and all control surfaces have corroded away due to the salt water and scouring sand on the bottom. The aluminum on the upper wings also has corrosion. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38G-10-LO Lightning 42-13381 CalWreckDivers.org - P-38 (photos) AviationArchaeology.com - May 1934 USAAF Stateside Accident Reports Lists location as "one mile west of Camp Callan, CA" FindAGrave - Gaston Means Hensley (photos) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 28, 2025 |
 P-38  Photo Archive  Dataplate  130' / 39m |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
