[ARC5] P-38 Photo

[Robert Eleazer]

Brian:

I've done research and  I'm satisfied that is a USAAF 80th Fighter Sdrn P-38J, based in Pt Moresby in late 1943.  The USAAF had no desert camo that color; it is clearly faded US OD.  It has code H on the nose and on the vertical tail.  I found a photo of an 80th P-38J at Port Moresby in Dec 19433, coded J in a similar paint scheme.

The lack of RAAF or RNZAF markings is to be expected.  Those air forces did not operate P-38's.   Without having any numbers handy I have little doubt that in general USAAF aircraft in that area outnumbered those other forces by at least a factor of 10, at least before the US invasion of the PI.  

In all probability that airplane was produced with SCR-274-N and then fitted with SCR-522 afterwards, based on the fact we have excellent photos showing 274-N in the 5000th P-38 produced, a J model that was built almost a year after that one and later went to the Pacific.   It must have SCR-522 because it has what must be an AN-104 antenna under the nose.  There is no room to put both SCR-522 and a complete 274-N in the aircraft and USAAF fighters did not carry ADF or manual DF equipment with the exception of some aircraft in the CBI.

73's

Wayne
WB5WSV

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