The Classic Jets Fighter Museum (CJFM) has sold
its rare Lockheed P-38H Lightning, the only one
in Australia, to the UK. It was previously listed as
the star attraction and “most outstanding feature
of the Classic Jets Fighter Museum”. Museum Director Bob Jarrett told Flightpath “the Lightning
42-66841 has been shipped to Britain where it will
undergo a complete rebuild program to return
squadron number 153 to airworthy status. CJFM
recognises that this is the best possible outcome
for the long term preservation of this rare early
model P-38H Lightning”.
This P-38 flew with the 475th FG, 432 FS, of the
USAAF 5th Airforce in Papua and New Guinea until its pilot made a forced landing on 14 September
1943 at Fieta, breaking off its propellers and dislodging its two Allison Engines. The remains lay
abandoned in the kunai grass area near Brahmin,
forty miles (60 km) inland from Madang, until
1992 when initial unsuccessful attempts were
made to remove the aircraft. Following three further ye
