P38

[unknown]

We have just found a P38 lightning in perfect condition in 17m of water
in Milne Bay, PNG. Just wondering if any of you out there might know
who/where we can get any info on this plane and how it came to be there.
The radio call sign on it is 2-12649.

Any help would be most appreciated.

TIA,

telita at halsteaddiving dot com

[viz]

Post by unknown
We have just found a P38 lightning in perfect condition in 17m of water
in Milne Bay, PNG. Just wondering if any of you out there might know
who/where we can get any info on this plane and how it came to be there.
The radio call sign on it is 2-12649.
Any help would be most appreciated.
TIA,
telita at halsteaddiving dot com

Which nationality? If US, they would be very interested in the wreck -
expecially if there are missing servicemen involved and should be able
to give information.

I dialled in the number in

http://www.armyairforces.com/dbmacr.asp

but did not come up with any positive result. My suggestion is to
contact their forum (though is off line at the moment).

I would also make enquiries at

aus.aviation
rec.aviation

or another maybe military ng.

Another place you could look at

http://www.bentprop.org/
http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/

I would be very interested to know if you are successful with this
search - could you possibly keep me in theloop? I have taken the liberty
of copying this post in aus.aviation.

Very interesting, this! :)

/viz

[viz]

Post by unknown
We have just found a P38 lightning in perfect condition in 17m of water
in Milne Bay, PNG. Just wondering if any of you out there might know
who/where we can get any info on this plane and how it came to be there.
The radio call sign on it is 2-12649.
Any help would be most appreciated.
TIA,
telita at halsteaddiving dot com

Got this back from aus.aviation

"Getting there ...


http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/usafSearch.pl?target=42-12649&content=P-38


USAF Serial Number Search Results
Serial Number Criteria: 42-12649
Description Criteria: P-38
Data last updated: Sun Aug 8 21:24:26 2004

42-12567 ... 42-12649 (EXACT MATCH)
Lockheed P-38F-5-LO Lightning
c/n 222-7001/7083
12589 lost between Goose Bay, Labrador and BW-1 Aug 1, 1942.
12647 under water in Milne Bay, New Guinea

Cheers

Dave Kearton"

But I am more confused than ever about this. All other USAF search
engines produce a blank.

Another source of information would be the US embassy.

/viz

[unknown]

Post by viz
Got this back from aus.aviation
"Getting there ...
http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/usafSearch.pl?target=42-12649&content=P-38
USAF Serial Number Search Results
Serial Number Criteria: 42-12649
Description Criteria: P-38
Data last updated: Sun Aug 8 21:24:26 2004
42-12567 ... 42-12649 (EXACT MATCH)
Lockheed P-38F-5-LO Lightning
c/n 222-7001/7083
12589 lost between Goose Bay, Labrador and BW-1 Aug 1, 1942.
12647 under water in Milne Bay, New Guinea
Cheers
Dave Kearton"
But I am more confused than ever about this. All other USAF search
engines produce a blank.
Another source of information would be the US embassy.
/viz

Thanks for that. This is what I have so far:

17JUN42 Ordered as a P-38E
27JUN42 Re-designated P-38F-2
16JUL42 Accepted by the USAAF and flown to the Sacramento Air Depot
21JUL42 Assigned to the 5th Air Force in Australia
25JUL42 Shipped ex San Francisco
12AUG42 Re-designated P-38F-5
29AUG42 From this date no longer under the control of the 5AF
04NOV42 Condemned by the 5AF at Brisbane as a result of a non combat
related accident

The nature of the accident is unknown at this stage. The last entry is
not necessarily the place or date of the accident. It merely indicates
that the paperwork was attended to on this date and that said paperwork
was held at 5AF HQ at Eagle Farm in Brisbane. The accident probably
happened closer to 29AUG42 when the aircraft ceased to be under the
control of the 5AF. Either way it was clearly short-lived. (Shipping
usually took about one month to reach Australia from west coast USA).

Waiting for more info from other sources.

T©

[viz]

Post by unknown

Post by viz
Got this back from aus.aviation
"Getting there ...
http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/usafSearch.pl?target=42-12649&content=P-38
USAF Serial Number Search Results
Serial Number Criteria: 42-12649
Description Criteria: P-38
Data last updated: Sun Aug 8 21:24:26 2004
42-12567 ... 42-12649 (EXACT MATCH)
Lockheed P-38F-5-LO Lightning
c/n 222-7001/7083
12589 lost between Goose Bay, Labrador and BW-1 Aug 1, 1942.
12647 under water in Milne Bay, New Guinea
Cheers
Dave Kearton"
But I am more confused than ever about this. All other USAF search
engines produce a blank.
Another source of information would be the US embassy.
/viz

17JUN42 Ordered as a P-38E
27JUN42 Re-designated P-38F-2
16JUL42 Accepted by the USAAF and flown to the Sacramento Air Depot
21JUL42 Assigned to the 5th Air Force in Australia
25JUL42 Shipped ex San Francisco
12AUG42 Re-designated P-38F-5
29AUG42 From this date no longer under the control of the 5AF
04NOV42 Condemned by the 5AF at Brisbane as a result of a non combat
related accident
The nature of the accident is unknown at this stage. The last entry is
not necessarily the place or date of the accident. It merely indicates
that the paperwork was attended to on this date and that said paperwork
was held at 5AF HQ at Eagle Farm in Brisbane. The accident probably
happened closer to 29AUG42 when the aircraft ceased to be under the
control of the 5AF. Either way it was clearly short-lived. (Shipping
usually took about one month to reach Australia from west coast USA).
Waiting for more info from other sources.
T©

Keep us informed! :)

Th mystery then is how did it get underwater in Milne Bay?

/viz