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Confused by this story.. I was until...

Posted by Paul McMillan on Thu Apr 08, 2004 04:38:12 AM

In reply top Another report posted by bdk on Wed Apr 07, 2004 05:19:51 PM

I must admit I was confused by this story at first. When I read in in the Times this morning it says 'the breakthrough came this month with confirmation from the Smithsonian and Lockheed from an engine component identified the Lightning without doubt'. I know you can never guarantee an Id for a plane from an Engine. They get replaced/changed to often. Further investigation on the net revealed that the plane was Id's from "was a tail piece bearing a tiny serial number, 2734 L " Now I know enough about serials that this is not a tail number (the Saint-Ex P-38 serial number was 42-68223).

However, finally I found reference to a story which said the aircraft was identified from "2734 its Manufacturers Construction Number".

This made more sense '2734 L' (for I assume Lockheed). OK so now I need a reference for Lockheed Construction Numbers and UAASF Numbers. Over to Mr Baughter and Scotts Warbird Registry..

42-67402/68191 Lockheed P-38J-10-LO Lightning
42-68192/68301 Lockheed F-5B-1-LO Lightning

We are lucky in that P-38J-10-LO Ser No 42-67762 is still with us (at the Smithsonian as it happens - prehaps they did the same maths!). The warbird registry reveals that this is C/n 2273.

Simple Maths: 42-68223 - 42-67762 = 461

2273 + 461 = 2734

QED


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