Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank, California. Delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF), model and serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force. No known nose art or nickname.

Mission History
This P-38 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum Field) on Guadalcanal on a flight. After take off, suffered an engine fire and ditched into Iron Bottom Sound into shallow water. Possibly, this P-38 ditched during April 1943.

Fate of the Pilot
The pilot survived and was rescued.

Wreckage
This P-38 remained underwater at a depth of 40' / 12m. During 1972, salvaged by Reg Thomas. Afterwards, donated to the Vilu War Museum, where it is displayed atop 55 gallon drums. The nose section is missing and engine cowls are missing.

References
Thanks to Reg Thomas and Ewan Stevenson for additional information.

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 23, 2019