Early proposed French P-38 Lightning a/c

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Can anyone help to clear up the following -

The P-38 Lightnings destined for the RAF were originally meant for France. What were the serial numbers of these French P-38 a/c ?

These ex-French Lightnings were given RAF serial numbers from AE978 to AF744 a total of some 667 a/c.

In the event only three of these actualy came to Britain and were AF105,106 and 108, all were later to be transfered to the USAAF in the UK(?).The others were held and taken up in the USAAF.

The Manufacturers serial numbers for all 667 a/c was said to be from 3001 to 3668.

However, I find that these manufacturers serial numbers are for the much later 1942 P-38J-15-LO models.
Were the "rejected" Lightnings rebuilt to this later" J " model ?

Did any early P-38's ever reach France or get off loaded on the way as were other US aircraft types destined for France?

Alex

[Amrit1]

Alex,

according to this article the breakdown was Fs and Gs:

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p38_7.html

A

[Alex Smart]

Hello Amrit,

Yes, I have seen that but Air Brit Commission and Lend lease has the Manufacturers serial numbers as I have noted above which are for the later J model.

Alex

[brewerjerry]

Hi Alex,

P-38's at boscombe down
AE978 & AE 979 arrived Dec'41

(although air brit serials say they were diverted before delivery
MJF Bowyer fighting colours lists them as having been seen there )

AF108 Jan 42 to USAAF 2 dec 42
AF106 April 42 to USAAF 10th July 42
AF105 July 42 to USAAF 1st July 43

All the articles/books I have read, show no P-38's produced before france fell. The first YP-38 flew in sep '40.

Cheers
Jerry

[Alex Smart]

Thanks jerry,

The manufacturers serial numbers were apparently 3001 to 3500 and 3502 to 3668 which places them as P-38J-15-LO's which cannot be right ?

Alex

[vzlion]

Maybe this is the answer. P38 c/n were prefixed with the model number. The P-38J were model number 422 and the numbers you quote were indeed P-38Js. The RAF aircraft were model P322 and were so designated when taken over by the US. There were 143 of them. Now here's the
intersting part:
P-38F-13 c/n 322-3144-3172
P-38F-15 c/n 322-3173-3293
P-38G-15 c/n 322-3294-3667
From this you can reach your own conclusions. The above info comes from the "P-38 Lightning At War" by Joe Christy and Jeff Ethell. Hope this helps.
Walt

[Alex Smart]

Hello Walt,

Yes, many thanks for the info.

Alex