Tangerine

[CJE]

"Tangerine" was the first P-38F (41-7654) flown by Irvin C. Ethell (48th FS, 14th FG).
A German PK photograph shows its wreck somewhere in Tunisia.
It has often been written it was shot down with Lt. Carl F. Skinner at the controls.
However, this is NOT possible as Ethell said he was flying "Tangerine II" the very day Skinner was shot down by II./JG 53 (28 November 1942), which means that the original "Tangerine" had already been lost.
Any clue about who was flying it?

Thanks in advance,

Chris

[jednastka]

A replica of Tangerine flown by Lt. E. C. Ethell as a P-38L-5-LO, serial 44-27083 is stationed at the Tillamook Air Museum.

Vic

[Alex Smart]

Hello Chris,

It is possible that "Tangerine" had been re-assigned to Skinner and that Ethell was also flying a re-assigned aircraft. So in effect the two "Tangerine's" would have been in the air together. Unless you know a loss date of "Tangerine" that was earlier than 28th Nov 42 ?

As you will know there was a lot of swapping and changeing of a/c between Groups in the ME at the end of 42.

All the best
Alex

[CJE]

Hi Alex!

Nice suggestion.
However, about the mission that saw Skinner disappear (28 November), Ethell wrote: I was flying Tangerine II (I had loaned my first Tangerine to a pilot who did not return).
That leaves little doubt about the fact that Tangerine "I" was lost earlier. As Skinner was a close friend to him, he couldn't have not mentionned that Skinner was killed flying his own personal mount.
The strangest thing is that 14th FG recorded no operational losses before 28 November.

Cheers,
Chris