[kaki3152]

The riddle of the third P-38 that landed in Italy and was captured by the Axis

The first was the P-38F/G armed version that was captured by the Italian A/F on June 12,1943 (s/n unknown) in Sardinia after a mistaken landing By Lt. Dwight C. Hartle (O-737779) after compass trouble. Lt. Hartle was a member of the 3rd Photo Recon Group and was flying a courier mission. This P-38 was used by the Italian AF in combat, downing a B-17 on August 11,1943. According to reports, this P-38 was eventually rendered unairworthy due to the Italian fuel used in the American Allison motors.

The third P-38 model was Lt. Martin Monti’s defection to the Axis on October 11,1944 after stealing an F-5G, 44-23725 from an air park. He landed at Milan-Linate A/F at 1500hrs. The F-5G was used extensively by Zirkus Rosarius and was captured after the war by US troops at Schwangau A/F in May 1945. Curiously, it had a different nose by then, obviously having suffered some damage to the previous one.


The identity of the third P-38 is the puzzler. We have all seen the glorious color picture of a P-38F/G depicted in full Luftwaffe colors, with a yellow underbelly and coded T9+XB. Its identity remains unknown. The Luftwaffe had an operational P-38 in flying condition for the Rechlin A/F demonstration in June 12-13,1944. The biggest clue comes from a posting in the LW Discussion Group dated 12-21-99 where a ex-Luftwaffe pilot Heinz Girnth [Ofwb-III/JG-53,member of 9/JG-53 since August 1942] reported that an Allied P-38 had landed at their base in Italy, date unknown, by total mistake. The P-38 was captured. Further went on to state that German fuel would corrode the American fuel tanks and they had to modify the wing tanks to accommodate German fuel before any extensive testing could be done. He was chosen to ferry the P-38 to Berlin. An 82nd FG P-38 pilot, who was captured on August 20,1943(Lt. Paul Van Ordt) was shown a picture of a captured P-38 and recognized the pilot as one of his classmates.

Anyhow, my guess is that this happened between September-December 1943. Any insights welcome