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P-38 Hardstand
By
John Stanaway
Greatest Lightnings of them all
I have heard it said that there were about one in a thousand P-38s that were
made just right, perfect enough to be exactly what Lockheed had intended. That
means that only about nine or ten were paradigms of the breed. Two of those
P-38s were identifiable, and they were coveted mounts in their respective
squadrons.
One of these was P-38F-15, serial 43-2112, named SAD SACK. This P-38 was
assigned to the 82nd Fighter Group, and in fact scored the first 82nd victory in
North Africa when 12-victory ace Lieutenant William “Dixie” Sloan shot down a
Messerschmitt 109 on January 7, 1943. SAD SACK was assigned to the 95th Fighter
Squadron, and was responsible for most if not all of 95th commander Major Ernest Osher’s five confirmed victories. Others who claimed victories were Major Bob
Kirtley of the 95th, who claimed a Ju 88 bomber and an AR 196 floatplane in the
air, and Joe Solko who flew SAD SACK during the remarkable strafing attack of
August 25, 1943 during which he was credited with damaging no fewer than nine Ju
88s.
It is sobering to reflect on the fact that P-38s were in such short supply in
the Mediterranean that many early examples of the P-38 were kept in service well
into 1944. Fortunately, SAD SACK was up to the task, serving at least into April
1944. Eventually it received flak damage that finally ended its service life,
but it was credited with at least sixteen air victories before it ended its
combat days.
 The other identifiable P-38 was P-38G-5, serial 42-12806, named G. I. ANNIE. A
particular favorite of mine because the model used for the majorette decoration
on the side was film star Frances Rafferty (see left), who was my first crush when I fell
head over heels at her portrayal of Ruth Henshaw on television’s "December Bride."
Anyway, this P-38 was assigned to John Jones of the 80th Fighter Squadron in New
Guinea, and was also involved in a number of aerial claims by various pilots,
including Jones who claimed at least half of his eight confirmed victories in
ANNIE. Other pilots who claimed victories were Cy Homer with two of his fifteen,
and Ken Ladd with at least one of his twelve. Sadly, Annie was lost with F/O
Robert Gentile on November 7, 1943.
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