P38 unearthed in Wales
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P38 unearthed in Wales
Last edited by Tiger_mate; 3rd Nov 2007 at 22:09.
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Interesting account but wrong in at least one item. Another P-38 was found in Poole Bay, Dorset back in the 70s. I got to dive on it while it was entangled in the fisherman's net and accidently went underneath the wing centre section - it was huge! The talk at the time was that it had tried to do the same low level attack on a floating target that Typhoons were using for practice and hit the water. Somebody wrote to the USAF Museum at the time (Royal D. Frey?) but they couldn't help unless a serial number was found. Also wasn't there more than one P-38 that crash-landed in Greenland?
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It was four P-38s in Greenland I think, plus a B-17? I believe a German team has been there recently to try and recover more.
it would be interesting to see some photos of this new discovery...
it would be interesting to see some photos of this new discovery...
Amazing! I suspected this P-38 was still there because the prop tips were visible in the 1970s. It is P-38F 41-7677 (same production batch as Glacier Girl) of the 14th Fighter Group, RAF Atcham. Lt Robert F Elliott force-landed in surf after fuel/engine probs near Llanbedr. Must investigate further!
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P 38
TV over here are reporting a P 38 in the sand on a beach somewhere in Wales just uncovered by weather. Apparently force landed in 1943. Looked in fair shape.
After an excellent landing you can use the airplane again.
After an excellent landing you can use the airplane again.
It's in the papers today. An overhead shot shows it missing the rear booms/tail section, but the rest is very recognisable and quite complete. No top engine cowls but you can see the engine blocks, wing/cockpit/ fuselage look pretty complete. Lots of seaweed though.
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Good story with photos: http://news.aol.com/story/_a/wwii-fi...00010000000001
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P-38
"Ric Gillespie, head of US-based non-profit group the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, learned of the plane's existence in September from a British air history enthusiast and sent a seven-member team to survey the site last month.
It plans to collaborate with British museum experts in recovering the nearly intact but fragile aircraft next spring."
Next spring?! I doubt the aircraft would survive a winter of storms, heavy seas etc. let alone scavengers..
Surely a recovery attempt could not be that difficult to organise ASAP?
Octane
It plans to collaborate with British museum experts in recovering the nearly intact but fragile aircraft next spring."
Next spring?! I doubt the aircraft would survive a winter of storms, heavy seas etc. let alone scavengers..
Surely a recovery attempt could not be that difficult to organise ASAP?
Octane
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It appears to be in only waist deep water at the moment. Whereas that could change and see her buried again. You would expect that pressure pumps and a half descent winch you get it above the water line and onto firmer sand for road recovery.
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Does anyone happen to know what colours/markings this aircraft carried when it ditched?
PS. And here's the man who was flying when it ditched! Fred Elliott!
http://www.tighar.org/Projects/P38/elliott.htm
PS. And here's the man who was flying when it ditched! Fred Elliott!
http://www.tighar.org/Projects/P38/elliott.htm
Last edited by forget; 9th Dec 2007 at 14:07.
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My apologies for the consecutive posts, but the reason I’m interested in colours and markings of the Taff P-38 is below. In between the day job I’ve been experimenting, with a ‘scheme', by coincidence just before the ‘Maid of Harlech’ was discovered.
Any ‘Maid of Harlech’ people out there? PM me. There could be some creative scope here for producing ‘recovery-readies’. Not sure about the ‘clouds’ though -
Any ‘Maid of Harlech’ people out there? PM me. There could be some creative scope here for producing ‘recovery-readies’. Not sure about the ‘clouds’ though -
