History of P-38J-15-LO, 42-104088

[Eagle0025]

Hello all,

I am seeking to find the WWII history of the subject P-38. I do know it's history after the war. It carried the civil registrations N5260N and N38LL. It flew as "The Scatterbrain Kid II" until it crashed on May 28, 1994. The aircraft remains are awaiting restoration at The Flying Heritage Collection in Everett, WA.

According to a museum volunteer, this particular P-38 flew with the 9th AF from April until July 1944, but they do not know which group. I told him to obtain an Aircraft History Card from the Smithsonian which should have that information.

I just wanted to put a feeler out to see if any of you knew the particular history of this P-38. Thanks in advance.

Cheers, Gary Koch (474th FG Association Historian)

[brewerjerry]

Hi
very little on the site :-

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1942_5.html

has it as salvaged/scrapped Jan 8, 1944,
( so unlikely it was 9th from apr to jul 44).
before the civil history you mention.
cheers
Jerry

[Alex Smart]

hello Gary and Jerry,

This link may be of interest to you .

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...1/ai_n9204510/

From what I understood the a/c was originally "Scatterbrain Kid" serial number 43-50281, ex NX33638, ex N138X that was involved in a fatal crash on 19th Oct 1974.
Rebuilt as "Scatterbrain Kid II" and crashed in Texas on 18th May 1994.
Since rebuilt as 42-104088 N38LL, which was the original Civil number of 43-50281.
Then again I could be wrong.

But what of the real 42-104088 ? Nothing in Footnote, No MACR or Acident Report listed in Craig Fullers AAIR lists or in Accident Report.Com lists either.

All for now
Alex

[Eagle0025]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for the link. From what I can ascertain, Scatterbrain Kid and Scatterbrain Kid II were definitely two different airframes and not the same ones reincarnated. I just got the Aircraft Data Card for 42-104088 and it shows that it served with the 9th AF from 19 Apr 44 until 25 Jun 44. Baugher's information that it was scrapped 8 Jan 44 is incorrect. The IARC entry was obviously misread as it clearly shows 42-104088 was consigned to salvage on 1 Aug 44. How this airframe ended up back stateside is anybody's guess. I am checking Combined Loss Lists for April thru August 1944 to see if this serial number shows up. Will keep you posted on any new updates.

Cheers, Gary

[Alex Smart]

Hello Gary,
re: Baugher's information that it was scrapped 8 Jan 44 is incorrect

I think that you will find that is the American way of Month first day second.
So is August 1st 1944, instead of 1st August 1944.

Do not know if this helps
42-104070 = 14th FG
42-104071 = 14th FG
42-104072 = 1st FG
42-104073 = 1st FG
42-104074 = 1st FG
42-104075 = Droop Snoot 8th AAF
42-104076 = 14th FG
42=104077 = 370th FG
42-104078 = ?
42-104079 = 367th FG
42-104080 = 1st FG
42-104081 = 35th PRS (China)
42-104082 = ?
42-104083 = ?
42-104084 = 14th FG
42-104085 = 14th FG
42-104-86 = 370th FG
42-104087 = 370th FG
42-104088 = ?
42-104089 = 1st FG
42-104090 = 14th FG

Alex

[Eagle0025]

Hi Alex,

Just received a new bit of information. A good Belgian friend and WWII researcher just located 42-104088 on a Combined Loss Listing on AFHRA microfilm roll A5686. It has an entry showing this ship belonging to the 370th FG and being salvaged due to battle damage on 1 August 44.

Cheers, Gary