THE P-38 "California Cutie" fin?

[ClinA-78]

Hello,

Last week, a P-38 fin was auctioned in France. In fact, this nice piece (which I missed by inch...) was found near former A-78, so Florennes airfield in Belgium.
No background story about it but it may come from either a 429th FS (474th FG) or 485th FS (370th FG) crash-landed P-38 - with pilot unhurt - as a material loss. Both units were stationned at A-78.

The serial, albeit uncompleted, may be of interest as it could be "42-67916", aka the 'famous' "California Cutie" previously flown with 55th FS (20th FG) ?
Perhaps likely as 8th AF P-38 were shifted to 9th AF unit when converted to P-51 (mid'44).

It seems there is any entry of P-38 loss whose serial ends with "7916" so mystery remains.

Moreover I am wondering if "(My) California Cutie" is a common nickname ?

By such a pure coincidence, there is - at least - "My California Cutie" (7F*O) flown by Lt. Stan Ordway (485th FS) from A-78... Interestingly, this ship was damaged in December 1944. However pictures show it unpainted (no olive drab color) and without serial...

There are others yellow numbers on the fin I managed to picture before this relic flew away from its nest...It is a shame this piece was not displayed in our "Spitfire Museum" at Florennes airbase. Money wins over History.

Anyway, enjoy.

ClinA-78

[KM1957]

I believe "My California Cutie" of the 485th FS was a P-38J-20, 7F-O 44-23520.

Kent

[Revi16]

Hi-rez download 42-67916 http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2791

[Buckeye30]

ClinA---------must be 55FS / 20FG 42-67916 as it still has the 55th white triangle marking with a gap left for the serial typical in the 55th. This was a J-10-LO in OD / NG.
The 485 / 370 P-38J ( NMF) was "My California Cutie / Mary" co-incidentally their squadron marking was a triangle on the tail. Spinner was red-blue and had red-white checkered nose ( squadron colour was red). By the time the 370th. moved to Florennes ( 26 Sept.) the 20FG had been flying P-51s for 2 months. Their last P-38 mission was 21 July and first all-P-51 mission was 24 July. The only P-38 serial ending -7916 was 42-67916 , camouflaged; the first (known) unpainted P-38 was 42-68008 in this block.
Nick

[ClinA-78]

Thanks for watching.

So how this 55th FS ship ended near A-78? We may not rule out 429 or 485 FS.

Asked naively, is it possible to track down the military service of this particular s/n ?

Perhaps the clue may lay in the other number visible on the fin?

ClinA-78

[gilles collaveri]

ClinA78,

may I say that, unfortunately, your sentence "Money wins over History" is very good;

It is sad to see that money spoils ..

Gilles

[ClinA-78]

Opposite side, just for fun.

ClinA-78

[Buckeye30]

I think the "P" number on the tail is the batch number from the factory more common on P-51B/Cs rudders, eg. P32, P34, P40. These are the P-38Js transferred from the 20FG to Ninth AF when the Eighth groups changed to Mustangs.

From 55FS...........
42-67204 ( to 474FG)
42-67486 "
42-67649 "
42-67656 "
42-68153 "
43-28700 ( to 367FG)
42-67742 ( to 370FG)
From 77FS...........
42-67819 ( to 367FG)
From 79FS...........
42-104095 (to 474FG)
42-67206 "
42-67502 "
42-67511 "
42-67515 "
42-67672 "
43-28725 "
42-104086 ( to 370FG)
The ex. Eighth AF P-38Hs went to the Fighter Training Group and Twelfth AF; most of their Js went to Ninth and Fifteenth.
Nick

[ClinA-78]

Thanks Nick,

How and where ended "California Cutie" remain unanswered.

ClinA-78

[Revi16]

Not much info on the aircraft history card, only shows movements within the USA.