Author Topic: Glacier Girl (Read 3152 times)

Bodhi · « **Reply #30 on:** October 16, 2007, 02:42:27 PM »

Tac only saw the Main center section of the P-38 which is quite small by itself.

The FW190 was an F8 and is well along in its restoration since the former shop I worked at closed its doors.

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #31 on:** October 16, 2007, 05:10:40 PM »

Was it the FW with the pilot that shot a flare in his leg?

Larry · « **Reply #32 on:** October 16, 2007, 06:33:49 PM »

I was at work last week when I heard a rumbling off in the distance. When I found what was making it my jaw almost hit the floor. It was a B24 flying a few 100 feet off the ground. I just stood there for a few minutes watching it fly out of site. Does anyone have any pics of the B24 I saw?

Bodhi · « **Reply #33 on:** October 16, 2007, 08:27:39 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SFRT - Frenchy
Was it the FW with the pilot that shot a flare in his leg?

Yes it was Frenchy. The pilot shot down a Mustang III in a HO off all things, and the other Mustang shot him down.

BigPlay · « **Reply #34 on:** October 17, 2007, 01:01:48 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Larry
I was at work last week when I heard a rumbling off in the distance. When I found what was making it my jaw almost hit the floor. It was a B24 flying a few 100 feet off the ground. I just stood there for a few minutes watching it fly out of site. Does anyone have any pics of the B24 I saw?

The B-24 is owned by the Collins Foundation, they generally fly it with their B-17 all over the country to sell rides in them. I personally know one of their pilots, Fred Lewis. You may want to visit their wedsite for photos. I know they sell a lot of other items as well. The plane on the ground lis much smaller then you would think, in fact a B-17 isn't that much bigger next to a P-47. The waist gunners can actually stand while manning their guns. The 24 has much more room inside than the 17. When inspecting the bomb bay you see all of the hydraulic lines running through the bomb compartment, it makes you think...... a few well placed shots to that area will disable the plane, B-17's were cable controlled so dont have that same problem. Like Adolf Galland said, " a few bursts and watch the plane burn"

By the way the Collins Foundation changes the paint schemes on the bombers every few years so they may have a few different photos of the same plane.

pengu146 · « **Reply #35 on:** October 18, 2007, 01:23:52 AM »

if you guys ever find yourselves in portland oregon go to the town micminville an hour away if that cool air meuseum with everything there:O

ColSuave · « **Reply #36 on:** October 19, 2007, 09:14:54 AM »

somewhere in kentucky i sat in the cockpit of the galacier girl. it was pretty cool... just thought i would throw that out there.

Golfer · « **Reply #37 on:** October 19, 2007, 01:17:52 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by ColSuave
somewhere in kentucky i sat in the cockpit of the galacier girl. it was pretty cool... just thought i would throw that out there.

RTO · « **Reply #38 on:** October 21, 2007, 07:12:58 PM »

I took trip to visit her a couple years ago in Middlesboro KY. Got her pic and a piece of her hanging on my son's bedroom wall.

ColSuave · « **Reply #39 on:** October 23, 2007, 10:30:17 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Golfer

DON'T LAUGH AT MY RANDOM COMMENTS!!!

Capt.Joe · « **Reply #40 on:** October 25, 2007, 11:11:03 PM »

These are a couple a took when she was at the Reno Air Races this year.

Widewing · « **Reply #41 on:** October 26, 2007, 07:28:50 AM »

The image below provided by Capt.Joe shows a stencil that states that this P-38 is a P-38E. However, the serial number is that of a P-38F-1-LO delivered on June 3, 1942. Indeed, no P-38Es were among those that flew trans-Atlantic ferry flight in operation Bolero.

You would think that the with millions of dollars and countless manhours invested, someone involved in the recovery and rebuild would have done some basic research into the aircraft's history and origin.

My regards,

Widewing

RATTFINK · « **Reply #42 on:** October 26, 2007, 10:38:07 AM »

<> =WW=

Yeah, I sent the people of the Lost Squadron website an e-mail regarding that already as I did research after I was told in a previous thread that this was not flown in battle.

RATTFINK · « **Reply #43 on:** October 26, 2007, 11:33:07 AM »

And here is their reply.

Quote

Actually GG was manufactured as a E model and converted to an F to go on operation Bolero.

When the conversion was made they never changed the stenciling on the side of the plane. That is why it says E and not F.

In the original logs for GG, which we have, the E was crossed out and the letter F was penciled in next to it.

Also, E canopies open from left to right and production F models open front to rear. GG s opens from left to right.

Thank you,
Bob Cardin

Widewing · « **Reply #44 on:** October 26, 2007, 12:37:54 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by RATTFINK
And here is their reply.

Actually GG was manufactured as a E model and converted to an F to go on operation Bolero.

This is incorrect. 41-7630 was manufactured as a P-38F-1-LO. That is indisputable.

When the conversion was made they never changed the stenciling on the side of the plane. That is why it says E and not F.

Incorrect again. See above.

In the original logs for GG, which we have, the E was crossed out and the letter F was penciled in next to it.

This was commonplace. Army printed log books for the P-40E were issued with P-40Ks. It absolutely does not establish the actual model. That is done via the serial number and the actual contract, which in this case still exists. In this instance, the contract number was AC-15546, which included 210 P-38Es and 277 of the P-38F-LO and P-38F-1-LO. All log books for these aircraft said "P-38E" as they were printed before the line switched over to the F model. Again, Mr, Cardin didn't do his research.

Also, E canopies open from left to right and production F models open front to rear. GG s opens from left to right.

This is incorrect. All P-38F-LO, P-38F-1-LO, P-38F-5-LO and some P-38G-1-LO had the side opening canopy. I have photos that establish this beyond doubt. Rear opening canopies were introduced early into the P-38F-15-LO lot.

Sorry rattfink, but Cardin didn't do enough research. Feel free to pass this on. Ask him if Bodie, Ethell or Jordan rings a bell, or if perhaps Ilfrey and Richardson seem familiar. Several historians established the lineage of his P-38 as soon as the serial number was determined. A simple call to Lockheed-Martin's historian would have been enough. Moreover, Bodie has photocopies of all original P-38 contracts, which he made personally when he worked for Kelly Johnson at the Skunk Works. There is no question as to which model P-38 Glacier Girl is. It's a P-38F-1-LO, Lockheed model 222-60-15.

My regards,

Widewing