This list is compiled to the best of our ability. If you have updated info on these or any other P‑38s we’d appreciate hearing it!
Lockheed kept the model numbers in order before they modified special cases or photo-recons. Thus, the F‑5Gs were originally P‑38L models before they were modified. So, in the table below, they could have been modified for specialized use.
We owe a special thanks to Pat Carry for keeping us up to date on the surviving P‑38s listed here.
As of March, 2021, there are currently nine P-38s that are not only airworthy but are participating in air shows around the world. They are:
23 Skidoo (CA) | Glacier Girl (TX) | Allied Fighters (CA) | Red Bull (Austria) | Scat III (MN) | Tangerine (OR) | Thoughts of Midnite (CA) | White 33 (CO) | Collings (MA)
When you click on the thumbnail +, it will take you to a larger version of the photo. Just click the x at the top to close and come back here.
Name / Photos
Owner / Location
Model
Serial #
Civ. Reg. #
White 33
White 33 P-38
White 33 airborne again!
“White 33” circa 1943 Westpac Restorations
“White 33” rolling on its landing gear for the first time in over 70 years. Col. Frank Royal (Commanding officer of the 39FS where “White 33” was originally assigned) on hand to witness.
AIRWORTHY
Recovered from PNG (Papua New Guinea)
(10-17-2016)
Airworthy thanks to Westpac Restorations in Colorado.
Now located at the National Museum of WW 2 Aviation
Links of interest:
Westpac Restorations
WW Woods & Co.
Lizzie V
AIRWORTHY Static Display
2015 noseart: Lizzie V
AIRWORTHY & flying!
Fully restored to airworthiness at Ezell Aviation in Breckenridge Texas in June 2008.
Noseart: White Lightnin’
Read more about White Lightnin’
Crash landing in Greenwood, MS, June 25, 2001, it was restored to airworthiness and bought by the Red Bull company (the Flying Bulls).
Ezell used to have a great history of this restoration, but they have removed all the photos.
AIRWORTHY & Flying!
Purchased by The Collings Foundation in Aug 2015.
Restored and participating in air shows.
AIRWORTHY & Flying!
National Air and Space Museum
Photo by Dane Penland
Static Display
Acquired from Army Air Forces Museum.
Has been moved to the NASM’s new building at Dulles International Airport. Now on display.
National Museum of the USAF
Formerly Country Boy II, City Slicker (U.S. Air Force photo)
Static Display
Former Honduran AF
(Painted as P‑38J when purchased by AF Museum in 1961.)
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Static Display
Currently also being displayed with “Marge” nose art.
Bubble nose modification shown in B&W photo at left was made post-war by Spartan Air Services, Ltd. for aerial mapping duty (©Cartwright Aerial Services).
Fantasy of Flight
Partial body
Damaged during Hurricane Andrew 1992. Stored pending restoration.
Yanks Air Museum
Although there is no name on the plane, it has this great noseart!
Charles Nichols
Yanks Air Museum
Chino, CA
Originally built as a P‑38L, it was converted to F‑5G before entering service.
44-27183
NC62441
N62441
N501MH
N517PA
N718
AIRWORTHY Static Display
Static display
Served with the 54th FS, 343rd FG. Recovered from Aleutians. Restored
___
29 July 2017
We just received word that the Airmen from the Aircraft Structural Maintenance unit assigned to the 3rd Maintenance Squadron at Elmendorf are restoring this!
Relampago
Lockheed-P-38L-5-LO
AIRWORTHY Static Display
Pudgy
Pudgy being installed at McGuire AFB front gate (1981)
Pudgy being removed to relocate to hangar on base (2015)
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
P-38L-5
(F-5G)
44-53015
Also listed as 44‑27183
N9957F
Static Display
Read about P‑38 ace, Thomas McGuire.
Hill Aerospace Museum
Static Display
Crash landed on Buldir Island, AK, in 1944. Used as air-to-ground target practice for other P‑38s. Recovered in 1994 by Air Force Heritage Foundation and delivered to Hill AFB Museum for restoration.
Flying Heritage Collection
Photo by Jim Lux Pilot: Col. Sandy Sansing
Awaiting Restoration
Vintage Scatterbrain Kid
Damaged at Breckenridge Air Show 1994
We are trying to determine the status of this airframe and whether it is still in inis location.
Jack Croul
Allied Fighters
Chino, CA
More photos on the Allied Fighters website.
P-38L-5
(F-5G)
4-26981
NX53752 (1946)
NL53752 (1948)
CF-GCH (1951)
N5596V (1956)
N7723C (2005)
AIRWORTHY & Flying!
This P‑38 was known just as the “Allied Fighters” P‑38 until Jeff Harris, its then present‑day pilot, asked to put the “Honey Bunny” noseart on it.
We have heard mixed messages about whether the Honey Bunny nose art was removed after Jeff’s untimely death in 2013.
The last we heard, this P‑38 as up for sale. Anyone have a few million to spare? Wish we did!
Here is a great tribute video to Jeff Harris. It’s candid and it’s very “Jeff.”
Marge
Richard Bong with “Marge”
Superior, WI
P-38L-5
44-53286
42-103993
(Original “Marge”)
Static Display.
Restored by Minnesota National Guard.
The photo on the nose is his wife, Marge (nee) Vattendahl.
Read about P‑38 ace, Richard Ira “Dick” Bong.
Scat III
Present-day P-38 pilot Kevin Eldridge with Scat III
Formerly Ruff Stuff
At the P-38 Museum before she was “Ruff Stuff”
Glacier Girl
Aerial photo taken from a recon plane of one of the downed P-38s from the “Lost Squadron.” (Wonder if it’s Glacier Girl?)
San Antonio, TX
Formerly housed at the Lost Squadron Museum in Middlesboro, KY, which closed after the sale of “Glacier Girl.”
P-38F
41-7630
N5757
N17630
AIRWORTHY & Flying!
This twin-boom P‑38 Lightning lay buried under arctic ice for 50 years, and eluded recovery attempted by more than a dozen expeditions. Finally pulled piece by piece from under 268 feet of ice on the 13th effort to retrieve her, she was appropriately christened “Glacier Girl.”
See the entire Glacier Girl story.
Scarlet Scourge
Photo by Paul Hastings
Unknown
Previous owner:
Classic Jets Fighter Museum
Adelaide, South Australia
P‑38H‑5‑LO
42‑-66841
Also reported as: 42‑ 66851
According to Pat Carry, this plane was sold to someone in England and is currently undergoing restoration to flying status.
According to their website: Lockheed P-38H Lightning, now in private hands in the U.K. To be rebuilt to flying condition.
P-38L
(F-5G)
44-27083
(also reported as 44-53018)
NX75551
N75551
N502MH
N2114L
AIRWORTHY & Flying
