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P-38 Identity
In the book "The German Fighter Units over Russia", there a picture of Maj. Frank, Kommandeur of II/SG-2 examining a shot down P-38J. The serial number of the P-38 is vaguely discernible and I have always wondered if I could identify the unit.
Finally, after some digging in my reference books, I think I've identified the P-38J unit. First, the number can be discerned as 267. After looking the P-38 serial number listing, it is obvious that this is an early P38J 5/10.
The serial number falls within the 42-67102/42-67999 serial number block
Since this has to be a 15th AF P-38,I ran a search through a MACR listing .There were few early P-38Js assigned to the 15th AF. Based on that, there were two possible candidates; one from the 1st FG and one from the 14th FG (There were others from the 82nd FG, but a quick look at Adorimini;82nd FG HIstory ruled these out).
The 1st FG P-38 J loss can be ruled out since it was lost in a mid-air collision and this P-38 is in good condition, having belly landed. The 14th FG loss is the only possible candidate. This is 42-67201 of the 14th FG,MACR 7014, which was lost on July 22,1944. On this date P38s and P-51s of the 15th AF attacked airfields at Zilistea and Buzau. The 14th AG lost two P-38s on this date.
Unfortunately I can't figure on how to post the picture,though I have it in my computer.
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9th January 2005, 01:21
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