Info about shot down P-38 Lightning in Tunisia

[Faenor]

Hi,

I´m looking to more info about these shot downed P-38 Lightning - date, serial number, name of pilot ...etc.

http://www.warcolorphotos.com/photo/...tunis-1943.jpg

http://liberationtrilogy.com/wp-cont...12/army-27.jpg

Thanks Faenor

[Alex Smart]

Hello Faenor,

First picture very nice to see it in colour, yes a P-38 Lightning.

Second picture is not a p-38, but is a P-39/P-400 Airacobra.

Alex

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I'm pretty sure the first picture is a fake. Soldiers would certainly not have stayed like that near a burning aircraft.

For the second picture, maybe posting it on a Tunisian forum will trigger an answer of someone recognizing the mountain/hill in the back.

[Revi16]

I have some info on the P-39 at home. I'll post it later tonight.

[RSwank]

The second shot shows up with a label on this link:
Search for 3rd Zid on the page:

http://liberationtrilogy.com/books/a...tos/slideshow/

The label say: "The wreckage of an American P-38 fighter near Sidi bou Zid. In the distance looms Djebel Lessouda," So maybe right location and wrong plane?

I do have to say that because of the very narrow "fuselage" that goes towards where the tail would be, it looks like it could be the right side engine on a P-38. What is missing would be the Air Scoop(s) behind the engine on the fuselage.

[Revi16]

The P-39 photo is from the Army Signal Corps collection stored at the US National Archives (NARA).
In the close up of the airframe there appears to be an upside down tank turret in the back ground.

[kaki3152]

I think it's the left side of a P-38. If it was a P-39, we would be able to see the landing gear. It does look like the coolant radiators have been removed?

[Revi16]

Originally Posted by kaki3152

I think it's the left side of a P-38. If it was a P-39, we would be able to see the landing gear. It does look like the coolant radiators have been removed?

It's a P-39.

[kaki3152]

Ok, thanks for the clarification. I could not find a profile of the underside of a P-39 to compare with the photo

[RSwank]

Revi16 and Alex, good job on the identification. As to the first photo, it could be photoshopped or I think it may be some diorama. The figures are not in the correct proportion to the size of the "wreck". Also their "actions" or poses don't make sense if the wreck were actually burning as was mentioned before.

Here is a photo of a crashed P-38. Note the size of the figures standing around the nose of the crash.

http://www.456fis.org/THE%20P-38/xp38crash.jpg