The Lockheed-P38 Lightning found on beach. - Aircraft of World War II

v2 · 11-04-2007, 06:13 AM

The wreck of a rare American fighter plane which is thought to have crashed during World War II has appeared on a north Wales beach.

BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | North West Wales | US fighter plane found on beach

Micdrow · 11-04-2007, 07:23 AM

It will be very cool if they can restore it to flying condition.

evangilder · 11-04-2007, 08:27 AM

Indeed

Haztoys · 11-04-2007, 10:52 AM

I'm allways shocked when they find thing like this after all this time ...Man alot of aircraft fell from the skys I can see...And it says this is the only example of a p-38 in Europe ..Now this cant be right is it..???

ccheese · 11-04-2007, 10:59 AM

I hope they can salvage and restore it.....

Charles

ToughOmbre · 11-04-2007, 11:02 AM

It's good news whenever a piece of history can be reclaimed, especially one so rare as the P-38.

TO

v2 · 11-10-2007, 12:32 PM

Press release from the organisation "TIGHAR":

http://www.hmvf.co.uk/pdf/pressrelease2.pdf

Lucky13 · 11-10-2007, 08:40 PM

I really hope that they can and will restore it to flying status.....

evangilder · 11-10-2007, 09:55 PM

Considering it's age and the fact that it has been soaking in salt water for 60 years, that's a tall order. It would be neat, but it would take years.

Wayne Little · 11-11-2007, 05:15 AM

Fingers crossed they can do something with it!

v2 · 11-15-2007, 02:52 PM

Shifting sands: The fighter was exposed during unusual coastal conditions

comiso90 · 11-15-2007, 02:55 PM

Now, thats a shallow dive!

ToughOmbre · 11-15-2007, 02:58 PM

Very cool photo

TO

Micdrow · 11-16-2007, 04:58 PM

A really cool photo. Looks at least from above to be in pretty good shape. Will be very interesting to see if once all the sand is removed.

AL Schlageter · 11-16-2007, 05:03 PM

posted by MadBadVlad on another board

As someone who is directly involved with this project (I am one of the regional archaeological curators in Wales) I thought it would be worth squashing some of the early rumours now before they get out of control.

The plane is in remarkably good condition. There is very little concretion due to the fact that it has been preserved in a rather muddy sand for 65 years and has only recently been washed out and revealed. The marine growth you can see in the aerial photo is about 3-4 months worth. On small areas of the wings where it has been tested the concretion rubs off to reveal a perfectly preserved metal skin with only some very minor corrosion holes along the edge of the control surfaces.

The plane is in a nose up attitude so the tail is still buried. Where you can feel back along the booms the metal skin feels intact and is not pitted by corrosion. Of course we have no way of knowing what the buried portion of the plane is like, but if anything that will be even better preserved than the exposed parts.

The engine covers and gun compartment covers were probably removed just after the crash and may be lying buried in the surrounding mud. The guns were removed at the time of the crash. The cockpit cover was damaged post crash, possibly to lower the planes profile in the water so that it was not a hazard, or seen by passers by. The upper half of the tail fins may similarly have been sawn off to reduce the aircrafts profile in the water. The cockpit interior feels substantially intact. I could feel switches, knobs and buttons in the right places and in a non-corroded state.

One prop is in-situ although a collector/looter in the 1980's sawed off one of the prop blades Roll Eyes The other prop is missing, may have been sheared off in the crash and could be preserved nearby.

There is no intention to restore this plane to flying condition. It will be preserved as it is either at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford or the RAF Museum, Hendon.

The recovery is likely to take place next Spring, but much specialist advice and funding is still being sought for this.

The precise location of the plane on the beach is being held back to prevent looters from stripping the plane. We would all very much appreciate your co-operation and understanding in not revealing the precise location. Everyone will be welcome to attend the recovery and private visits may be arranged with project members closer to the recovery date. The wreck site is in constant surveillance by local authority staff, police and project members.

11-04-2007, 06:13 AM	#1
v2 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cracow Posts: 4,207	The Lockheed-P38 Lightning found on beach. The wreck of a rare American fighter plane which is thought to have crashed during World War II has appeared on a north Wales beach. BBC NEWS \| UK \| Wales \| North West Wales \| US fighter plane found on beach __________________ "A good fighter pilot, like a good boxer, should have a knockout punch..... You will find one attack you prefer to all others. Work on it till you can do it to perfection... then use it whenever possible." - Captain Reade Tilley, USAAF 7 Victories, WW-II -

11-04-2007, 07:23 AM	#2
Micdrow “Archive” Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,852	It will be very cool if they can restore it to flying condition. __________________ "Valor does not mean Hero."

11-04-2007, 08:27 AM	#3
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,809	Indeed __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

11-04-2007, 10:59 AM	#5
ccheese Older Than Dirt Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Posts: 7,309	I hope they can salvage and restore it..... Charles __________________ I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either....

11-04-2007, 11:02 AM	#6
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,233	It's good news whenever a piece of history can be reclaimed, especially one so rare as the P-38. TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

11-04-2007, 10:52 AM	#4
Haztoys Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Prescott Arizona USA Posts: 507	I'm allways shocked when they find thing like this after all this time ...Man alot of aircraft fell from the skys I can see...And it says this is the only example of a p-38 in Europe ..Now this cant be right is it..???

11-10-2007, 12:32 PM	#7
v2 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cracow Posts: 4,207	Press release from the organisation "TIGHAR": http://www.hmvf.co.uk/pdf/pressrelease2.pdf __________________ "A good fighter pilot, like a good boxer, should have a knockout punch..... You will find one attack you prefer to all others. Work on it till you can do it to perfection... then use it whenever possible." - Captain Reade Tilley, USAAF 7 Victories, WW-II -

11-10-2007, 08:40 PM	#8
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 15,144	I really hope that they can and will restore it to flying status..... __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

11-10-2007, 09:55 PM	#9
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,809	Considering it's age and the fact that it has been soaking in salt water for 60 years, that's a tall order. It would be neat, but it would take years. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

11-11-2007, 05:15 AM	#10
Wayne Little Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust. Posts: 12,511	Fingers crossed they can do something with it!

11-15-2007, 02:55 PM	#12
comiso90 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL Posts: 3,294	Now, thats a shallow dive! __________________ http://www.BOOKSonWAR.com/ .

11-15-2007, 02:58 PM	#13
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,233	Very cool photo TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

11-16-2007, 04:58 PM	#14
Micdrow “Archive” Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,852	A really cool photo. Looks at least from above to be in pretty good shape. Will be very interesting to see if once all the sand is removed. __________________ "Valor does not mean Hero."

11-16-2007, 05:03 PM	#15
AL Schlageter Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 220	posted by MadBadVlad on another board As someone who is directly involved with this project (I am one of the regional archaeological curators in Wales) I thought it would be worth squashing some of the early rumours now before they get out of control. The plane is in remarkably good condition. There is very little concretion due to the fact that it has been preserved in a rather muddy sand for 65 years and has only recently been washed out and revealed. The marine growth you can see in the aerial photo is about 3-4 months worth. On small areas of the wings where it has been tested the concretion rubs off to reveal a perfectly preserved metal skin with only some very minor corrosion holes along the edge of the control surfaces. The plane is in a nose up attitude so the tail is still buried. Where you can feel back along the booms the metal skin feels intact and is not pitted by corrosion. Of course we have no way of knowing what the buried portion of the plane is like, but if anything that will be even better preserved than the exposed parts. The engine covers and gun compartment covers were probably removed just after the crash and may be lying buried in the surrounding mud. The guns were removed at the time of the crash. The cockpit cover was damaged post crash, possibly to lower the planes profile in the water so that it was not a hazard, or seen by passers by. The upper half of the tail fins may similarly have been sawn off to reduce the aircrafts profile in the water. The cockpit interior feels substantially intact. I could feel switches, knobs and buttons in the right places and in a non-corroded state. One prop is in-situ although a collector/looter in the 1980's sawed off one of the prop blades Roll Eyes The other prop is missing, may have been sheared off in the crash and could be preserved nearby. There is no intention to restore this plane to flying condition. It will be preserved as it is either at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford or the RAF Museum, Hendon. The recovery is likely to take place next Spring, but much specialist advice and funding is still being sought for this. The precise location of the plane on the beach is being held back to prevent looters from stripping the plane. We would all very much appreciate your co-operation and understanding in not revealing the precise location. Everyone will be welcome to attend the recovery and private visits may be arranged with project members closer to the recovery date. The wreck site is in constant surveillance by local authority staff, police and project members.

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