Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank, California. Constructors Number 7765. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38L-5-LO Lightning serial number 44-26761.

Postwar
On January 23, 1946 placed into storage at Kingman Field. During October 1947, sold by the War Assets Administration as surplus for $800 to Everett L. Moore of Tulsa, OK and registered as NL5054N.

Next to Clark Smith, Cumberland, PA during Feb. 1948 and operated from Luis Struck, Mexico, 1949-1951. Then to Kenting Aerial Surveys, Toronto, Ontario, 1951 and registered as CF-GKE. Afterwards to Spartan Air Services Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, August 1951-1956.

Afterwards, to Hycon Aerial Surveys, Pasadena, CA., May 1956. Registered as N6190C. Next to Cartwright Aerial Surveys, Sacramento, CA, 1958 and retired December 1959 then stored until 1961. Owned by Bruce & Gunn Inc, Fort Worth-Redbird, TX, Dec. 1960-1962. Then to Kucera & Associates Inc, Cleveland, OH, Nov. 1962-1968.

At some point in photo use, the nose section was removed for a photography compartment and the aircraft was painted overall white with red trim.

On January 1, 1965, this aircraft's left landing gear leg was accidently raised while parked on the ground at Presidente Stroessner / Silvio Pettirossi Airport at Ascuncion, Paraguay. Too expensive to repair, this aircraft was abandoned at the airport and languished for many years.

Afterwards, acquired by Ronald Bryant, Jacksonville, FL then I. N. "Junior" Burchinall, Paris, TX. Next to William E. Padden, Los Angeles, CA, 1971-1972.

Salvage
During 1972 it was salvaged and shipped to the United States. Both tail booms were cut off behind the engines, to facilitate movement.

Display
Owned by Dick Lambert, Plainfield, IL., February 1974-1981. During 1981, acquired by Kermit Weeks / Fantasy Of Flight (Weeks Air Museum). Registered as N2897S on March 3, 1982.

Damaged during Hurricane Andrew during 1992. Afterwards, transported to the Polk City location and placed into storage.

In 2011, the center section including the gondola and engines are displayed in the restoration hangar, which is open to tours. The booms and tails are stored off site.

References
WarbirdRegistry.org - Lockheed P-38 Lightning/44-26761
FAA - N2897S

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Last Updated
November 9, 2019