WIX Archives

The photo in the Registry is of 44-53242/N54796

Posted by Richard Allnutt on Mon Dec 02, 2002 01:30:02 PM

In reply top Re: It is N57496 posted by Steven M Dennis on Mon Dec 02, 2002 11:44:49 AM

Hi There... the photo in the registry is indeed of the center section of N54796, as it correlates directly to a photo I have seen of the wreck when it was auctioned at Santa Monica. The red paint is barely visible, but still discernable. The rest of the aircraft, when I saw it, was sort of bound together in a stack indoors, I have some photographs of it somewhere, but it was definitely painted bright red. There are also parts of another P-38 in the rear yard, and I remember seeing that restoration had started on a cockpit cupola, though I am unsure as to which aircraft this was from. N54796 was a very substantial wreck, with most parts evident, but in need of a 75% replacement from what I could see. The other wreck was not nearly so substantial, and, in my opinion, could only be considered as additional parts/pattern material for N54796 (unless there was something stored elsewhere at the time which I didn't see). Anyway, I hope she goes to a good home... precious too few P-38s flying these days.

Cheers,
Richard

: : If you are ever in,
: : or have been, to Reilly's facility in Kissimmee, you wil
: l
: : notice it as a large stack of red painted wreckage insid
: e
: : the main hangar... there are some parts from the other P
: -3
: : 8 in the storage yard to the rear.
:
: So Richard,
:
: Are you saying that the entry Scott has in the registry, s
: howing pictures of the "other" P-38 wreckage out back of h
: is shop is NOT 44-53242/N54796 as it is listed? Just curi
: ous, as I was trying to I.D. that airframe when I was in K
: issimmee early this year, and thought that Scott had naile
: d it down for me. Take a look under at the pictures under
: that serial number in the registry, and let me know what
: you think. Thanks.
:
: Steve
:

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