From its serial number and other records it was learned the Lightning was built in 1941 and reached Britain in 1942 before flying combat missions along the Dutch – Belgian coast.

It was flown by Second Lieutenant Robert F. “Fred” Elliott from North Carolina, who, on September 27, 1942, was forced by a fuel problem to make an emergency landing on the beach.

KNOX NEWS
(Not the oldest P-38 in existence according to our good friend Bob Cardin, Director of War Bird Operations for Rod Lewis in San Antonio, the wealthy oilman who purchased Glacier Girl after former owner J. Roy Shoffner's death.)

There are tons more articles on this story. Just go to your favorite search engine are look for "P-38 Wales"

The photo recon units that flew Lockheed F-4/F-5 Lightnings have received less than their due – I admit personal culpability – in the past. With a view to addressing this omission I would like to submit a survey of “Photo Joe” P-38 squadron in thumbnail sketches from representative theaters of operations over the next few months, beginning with the 9th Photo Recon Squadron from China-Burma-India based 10th Air Force.

The 9th Photographic Squadron (Recon) was activated at Mitchel Field, New York on Feb 1, 1942. After it had worked up on early F-4 (P-38E) aircraft, the squadron boarded the S. S. Mariposa to land at Karachi, India (now Pakistan) in July. The British were seasoned veterans in the area, and took good care of the 9th with rations and tropical equipment to suffice until the 9th’s own F-4s and other supplies arrived in September.

Scattered missions began in November with Chennault’s China Air Task Force (later to become the 14th Air Force). Detachments served with a grateful Chennault in China and with Stilwell in Burma until full-scale squadron operations began in February 1943. By May 1943 the range of mission types was creating quite a demand on the capabilities of the F-4s and early model F-5s, so the 9th acquired several battle-weary B-25s to increase the capacity of individual sorties in range and altitude as well as more sophisticated bulky photo equipment.

It was certainly dangerous flying these missions and losses inevitably occurred. During the course of flying in later 1943 missions Captain Don Webster and First Lieutenant Frank Tilcock were shot down over Rangoon by veterans of the famed Oscar equipped 64th Sentai. Other 9th pilots were lost on operations or in flying accidents.

However, missions continued successfully throughout 1944 and into 1945 until British forces linked up from the north with Operation Dracula Invasion forces at Rangoon in May 1945. Training and less frequent operational missions continued until mid-summer, and the squadron was returned to the continental United States to be deactivated in December 1945.

Beginning operations in April 1942 with a shoestring flight of four Lockheed F-4 Lightnings (the photo-recon version of the famed P-38), the 8th Photo Squadron gave the American Army Air Forces its only aerial reconnaissance coverage of the Southwest Pacific during the first part of the war.

This book is comprised of over 500 photos (most of which have never been published before) many from the archives of squadron veterans. Many new facts are added to the annotated squadron diary that was kept when the 8th operated almost singlehandedly during 1942 and 1943., over 510 b/w and color photographs, 8 1/2" x 11"

The Eight Ballers: Eyes
of the Fifth
Air Force

PLANT BEFORE CAMO
PLANT AFTER CAMO