Lockheed P-38 Lightning: Fork-Tailed Devil

[Talyn]

Good article...but no photo of Marge, and Bong, the Ace of Aces, barely gets a photo and a footnote near the end.
Disappointing...

@PAOldGuy

I've been lucky to see two 38's, one at an airshow & one at the Bong Museum in Superior, WI. Pics from there.

Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center

Honor America's heroes at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center. Explore the story of WWII Ace of Aces, Richard Bong, & learn about our veterans.

bongcenter.org

The Search for Ace of Ace's P-38 | Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center

Follow the journey to find Major Richard Bong’s legendary P-38 aircraft. Learn about recovery efforts and the historical significance at the Bong Center.

bongcenter.org

 

[Brians356]

@warbirdlover, I hope you were able to attend the Reno Air Races before they were discontinued. Living in Reno, probably two dozen times for me. Sad.
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[warbirdlover]

Best we can do is the Oshkosh AirVenture air show every summer.

 

[warbirdlover]

My FIL said that at the end of the war the P-38 pilots were all offered a brand-new P-38 for $2000. That was a lot of money back then.

 

[Brians356]

My FIL said that at the end of the war the P-38 pilots were all offered a brand-new P-38 for $2000. That was a lot of money back then.

A friend (now deceased) bought a P-51 w/ a spare engine in the early 1960s for $8000. Then he essentially taught himself to fly it.
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[warbirdlover]

A friend (now deceased) bought a P-51 w/ a spare engine in the early 1960s for $8000. Then he essentially taught himself to fly it.
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That would be worth over a million dollars now.

 

[Brians356]

That would be worth over a million dollars now.

Yeah! Of course, $8000 invested in a S&P 500 index fund in 1964, dividends reinvested, would be worth over $2 million today.
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[3L120]

P

A friend (now deceased) bought a P-51 w/ a spare engine in the early 1960s for $8000. Then he essentially taught himself to fly it.
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In the mid-late 50s, Litchfield Naval Aur Station, was selling AT-6s for $200.

 

[Dialogike]

I used to design aircraft for Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator (CFS2) and a friend (one of the best designers) made a P38 series painted like my FIL's.

AW P-38L

AW P-38J VERSION 1.0 FEB 2025 Visual model: acwai Airfile: UncleTgt Texture file: painted by UncleTgt and acwai. Gauges : These gauges were designed by Alphasim, Mape, Aussie, or some unknown author. I have made some modifications...

sim-outhouse.org

I miss CFS2; that was a great simulator. I still have it, but it will not run.

 

[warbirdlover]

Yeah! Of course, $8000 invested in a S&P 500 index fund in 1964, dividends reinvested, would be worth over $2 million today.
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My investment beats yours

Ever Wanted to Own a P-51 Mustang? Now You Can (for $4 Million)

Here’s What You Need To Remember: The Mustang was one of the most widely produced, versatile aircraft of the 1940s and 1950s. Unfortunately, many were lost over Korea – though many more survived. For around $1.9 million you could buy a Cirrus Vision Jet, the world’s first single-engine private...

nationalinterest.org

 

[warbirdlover]

I miss CFS2; that was a great simulator. I still have it, but it will not run.

Mine runs and with all the enhancements over the years it's still a great sim. Try running with the last disk in.

 

[Brians356]

My investment beats yours

I'm not going to dispute that. But, to be fair, even if you just let it sit for 70 years (no operating expenses, annual inspections, overhauls, fuel, lubricants, coolants, tires, etc) there's still significant ongoing expenses: Insurance, hangar fees, etc. And if it really just sat with zero maintenance for 70 years it will be worth far less than one you can jump in and fly safely. Let's call it a $2 million project bird and a wash.
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[warbirdlover]

I'm not going to dispute that. But, to be fair, even if you just let it sit for 70 years (no operating expenses, annual inspections, overhauls, fuel, lubricants, coolants, tires, etc) there's still significant ongoing expenses: Insurance, hangar fees, etc. And if it really just sat with zero maintenance for 70 years it will be worth far less than one you can jump in and fly safely. Let's call it a $2 million project bird and a wash.
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Agree. The plane maintenance cost would be huge.

 

[HayesGreener]

As a boy I had a period of model aircraft building from kits. I knew nothing of its histiry or performance but the P38 was my favorite model to build. I just thought it looked cool and fast.