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Re: 1st FG P-38J model S/N & boom numbers
I'm pretty sure no.6 was 545, the best photo I've seen is in the old "Aircam" B-17 book.
The first unpainted (at the factory) P-38 was almost certainly 42-68008 (to the 479FG) part-way through the J-10 block; flown by Lt. Col. Herren in mid-1944. She seems to have had black anti-glare not Olive Drab.
The previous P-38J, 007 went to the 82FG. The subsequent J-10s (42-68009 to 191) and J-15s from 42-103979 were unpainted. 42-68010 was 20FG and silver.
I think the tail serials may have been deleted when the exhaust stains were cleaned off. The yellow number on 214 may have been waiting for the black border as on some of the 94th's booms.
You can't always rely on camouflage finish as 42-68177 (20FG) had Dark Green applied in service. From J-15 the fuselage insignia was reduced in size, 25" to 20". The designators on the nose painted at the factory can help, the last 3 (or 4) of the serial in large numbers over the Lockheed constructior's serial and batch number eg. 43-28477 was marked "8477 / 3492 / 70.
Nick
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