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Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank, California. 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 Lightning serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "Headhunters". Assigned to pilot Cornelius M. "Corky" Smith. Nicknamed it "Corky IV" in green with a black outline. Squadron letter "L" was painted in black on the nose and tail. The tail had green and white horizontal stripes on the rudder with the top tip of the tail painted green and bottom tip white. The propellers spinners were painted with green tips and a white stripe. On April 12, 1944 took off piloted by Captain Cornelius M. "Corky" Smith with P-38J "Down Beat" 42-104012 piloted by Captain Richard I. Bong on a mission over Hollandia and claimed an aerial victory. Bong claimed three victories and exceeded the 26 aerial victory claims of American World War I ace Edward "Eddie" Rickenbacker and Bong became America's highest scoring ace pilot and was promoted to the rank of Major by General George C. Kenney. Ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped. References Attack & Conquer page 191 (phoots), 175 (color photo), 291 (photos) Victory Over Tanamerah by Jack Fellows Contribute
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