Originally posted by Guppy35
Didn't it have someting to do with some of those early Fs being ordered initially as Es and changed in mid run?
Seems to me I recall reading that they found on the Data plate that it was listed as an E, even though it had been upgraded to an F model.
AAF Contract AC-15646 was initially issued for approximately 450 P-38Es. However, the P-38F, F-4-1-LO, F-4A-1-LO and P-38F-1-LO aircraft were all built on this contract.
100 brand new P-38F-1-LOs were towed over to building 304 at the Lockheed terminal for modification. These aircraft were fitted with under-wing pylons and plumbed for drop tanks. Each aircraft was fitted with a new radio suite. In addition, 25 P-38Es of the 54th PS were flown in and modified in the same manner. These fighters later went to Alaska (remember your photo of those P-38Es with drop tanks?).
Once upgraded, the P-38F-1-LOs were issued to the squadrons scheduled to participate in Operation Bolero (flying trans-Atlantic guided by B-17Es).
I suppose that because data plates issued by the USAAF upon issue of a contract and are never to be modified, Lockheed simply pop-riveted them in place and said, "what the hell."
The fact remains that these were P-38F-1-LOs and for accuracy, Glacier Girl should be marked accordingly. Another error is the national insignia, which should not include the red dot on the star.
1942 Insignia My regards,
Widewing
