In 1973 I was weenie Junior in HS... My Dad asked if I'd like to go to Santa Barbara INTERNATIONAL Airport as he had customer nearby(FMC whom tested their Armored Personal Carriers over berms, you could see them from the airfield, always had long 'antennie' w/flags on so they wouldn't land on one another..
Pops had made friends w/David Kohn(spelling). He'd been F-86 pilot in Korea, had hanger were his mechs worked on PA planes..he'd also bought a P-38 in Kansas City that had been used in mapping in South America. I believe he paid $2000.
Mr Kohn looked just like Frank Sinatra..same height(or close) but eyes not as blue. Had hired a couple ex-USAAC mechs with an eye to fixing up his 38...
I was polite, and those fine guys would tell tales...and I would listen.. how you could buy a brand-spanking new P-38 w/only transport miles for $2000 in 46-47...
One guy told about flying his over SF bay area in starboard eng caught fire, he shut it down, but it kept burning, so he rolled onto back, popped the canopy after releasing seat belt, and opened his chute, watched it plunge into water off Berkley..
Yes..maybe inflated tales..I ate them up. At one point I got to sit in cockpit while engines were running while mechanic hollered questions about RPM....took ladder to get to planes ladder at rear of cockpit...
The thing I've wondered about..that plane is at Oshkosh Museum now.. is there was a very long crate, wood, longer than a Cadd Limo, that they said was a left handed Merlin.....
Oh well..long ago and far away.
JGroth
