Re: P-38 crash in Drvar, Bosnia, in September 1944.
 

I ran across another unit in the 15th AF that was flying P-38s. The 154th Weather Squadron (originally called the 154th Observation Squadron) flew a variety of planes, including Mustangs, F-4s, F-5s and P-38s.


This next link is for MACR 10855, P-38 42-104018 (a P-38J-15-LO). The pilot was Carl Lee Martin, still listed MIA. He was lost 7 Jan, 1945. The plane had a 20mm cannon and all four machine guns.
He went missing on a test flight from Bari. I am not sure why they filed a MACR for this and not just an accident report.

https://www.fold3.com/image/28734060

Re: P-38 crash in Drvar, Bosnia, in September 1944.
 

The Report of Investigation about the case X-55 states that the crashed aircraft was identified as P-38 and the model of the engine as an Allison V 1710-91.

Those engines were only used in the subtypes P-38H & P-38J and turned left, to counter this the right turning equivalent V 1710-89 was fitted on the other side. The engines used in the earlier P-38G were V 1710-51/55 and in the later P-38L the V 1710-111/113.

The serial number A-047489 of the engine indicates that it must have been a late built P-38J after comparing them to serials of other known crashes. This is also confirmed by the serial numbers of the Savage Arms built M2 machine guns - all other aircraft equipped with M2 from Savage and similar serial numbers were found to be P-38J-15-LO.

Re: P-38 crash in Drvar, Bosnia, in September 1944.
 

Hello,
It is also known that 100 or so J-15's were converted to F-5E-2's.
Is it known if these F5's retained their armaments ?
If not then those serial numbers from the 43/44 range can be eliminated from the search.
Alex