Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
It's a "J"? I was thinking Blumer's big day came in either August or September of 1944. Most units still in P-38's had gone to the P-38L-5-Lo by then.
The skin does look great though, I hope it makes the cut.
It was a J-25. What's amazing, having really done some reading on the 9th AF 38 guys as well as the MTO 38 groups again lately, how late in the game they got the L models.
82nf FG had an F model that was still flying combat in June of 44 along with numerous Gs alongside the early Js.
370th FG with the 9th had early Js well into 45 with no dive flaps etc. Their history is filled with images of those OD and Gray early Js still flying during the Battle of the Bulge.
1st FG twice sent pilots up to England to ferry down the 8th hand me down H and J models.
Replacement pilots were astounded to see Gs still being flown when they'd been flying the latest models during training in the States.
It really changes your perspective on those 38 drivers and what they accomplished with those early pre dive flap, pre power assist controls 38s.
From the Pacific 38 group histories it seems like they must have gotten the first deliveries of L models, at least in decent numbers. 475th in particular seems to have had lots of Ls
Dan/Slack
