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Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 422-2273. This aircraft was the 577th model J built. At the factory, painted with olive drab upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces. On November 6, 1943 accepted by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-10-LO Lightning serial number 42-67762. Wartime History A few days after acceptance, the Engineering Division at Wright Field instructed Lockheed to convert this plane into a two seat trainer adding a seat behind the pilot for an instructor. Assigned to Colonel Benjamin S. Kelsey for special tests between March 2, 1944 until April 10, 1944. On April 10, 1944 Engineering Division at Wright Field asked for tis P-38 to be prepared for delivery "in standard configuration" and over several weeks was upgraded to the the specifications of the latest P-38J-25-LO Lightning and removed the second seat. Afterwards, flown by Colonel Benjamin S. Kelsey from Burbank Airfield cross country to Wright Field. On June 9, 1944 the Flight Test Section at Wright Field released the plane for flight trials to collect comments from pilots about how the P-38 handled. On April 16, 1945 took off from Wright Field piloted by Major Richard I. Bong on a test flight to evaluate an experimental method of interconnecting the movement of the throttle and propeller control levers. Twenty-five minutes into the flight, "the right engine blew up before I had a chance [to conduct the test]" but managed to land safely and the engine later replaced. Next, assigned to the Aeromedical Laboratory at Wright Field. On July 26, 1945 a kit was installed to measured the force required to move the control wheel left and right to actuate the power-boosted ailerons. Between August 12-16, 1945 the Power Plant Laboratory carried out tests to measure the hydraulic pump temperatures. On September 16, 1945 assigned to Bombing Branch, Armament Laboratory to test type R-3 fragmentation bomb racks for ten days. Storage On June 20, 1945 AAF Aircraft Distribution Office asked that the Air Technical Service Command transfer the Lightning from Wright Field to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma as a temporary holding area for planes to be preserved as museum aircraft. On June 27, 1945 arrived at Oklahoma City Air Depot and prepared for storage. On October 5, 1945 flown to Garden City Army Air Field where the armament was removed and ballast added to the nose. Three days later flown to Adams Field, AR and the next day to Nashville, TN. By May 28, 1946 at Freeman Field. On July 31, 1946 flown to Orchard Place then moved to Park Ridge for storage. Soon afterwards, the USAAF transferred custody of the Lightning and more than sixty other airplanes to the Smithsonian National Air Museum. In the early 1950s, the Air Force moved these airplanes from Park Ridge to the Smithsonian storage site at Suitland, Maryland. In the early 1950s, the moved to the Smithsonian storage site at Suitland, Maryland. In 1960, moved to NASM Paul Garber Facility where it was placed in storage. Restoration During the spring and summer of 2001, this P-38 was restored and cleaned at NASM Paul Garber Facility in Building 10. The original paint scheme was maintained as it survived. During 2006, moved to NASM Udvar-Hazy Center for public display. Display Since 2006, this P-38 is displayed at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center. NASM Inventory Number A19600295000. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-10-LO Lightning 42-67762 "67762 (MSN 2273) reported Aug 18, 1946 at Air Force Collection, Park Ridge, IL. In 1960 was in storage at the Paul Garber Restoration Facility. Originally acquired from Army Air Forces Museum. Now displayed at Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Virginia" National Air and Space Museum - Lockheed P-38J-10-LO Lightning Profile Herb Brownstein research at NASM and NARA Airplane Flight Reports for P-38J Lightning 42-67762 "6-21-45 Wright Field, Ohio, 5.15 hours of flying. 6-22-45 Wright Field, Ohio, .35 minutes of flying by Lt. Col. Wendel [?] J. Kelley and P. Shannon. 6-25-45 Altus, Oklahoma, .55 hours flown, pilot P. Shannon. 6-27-45 Altus, Oklahoma, #2 engine changed, 1.05 hours flown by Air Corps F/O Ralph F. Coady. 10-5-45 OCATSC-GCAAF (Garden City Army Air Field, Garden City, Kansas), guns removed and ballast added. 10-8-45 Adams Field, Little Rock, Arkansas. 10-9-45 Nashville, Tennessee, 5-28-46 Freeman Field, Indiana, maintenance check by Air Corps Capt. H. M. Chadhowere [sp]? 7-24-46 Freeman Field, Indiana, 1 hour local flight by 1st Lt. Charles C. Heckel. 7-31-46 Freeman Field, Indiana, 4120th AAF Base Unit, ferry flight to Orchard Place [Illinois] by 1st Lt. Charles C. Heckel." Contribute
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