The Lockheed-P38 Lightning found on beach.

[v2]

The wreck of a rare American fighter plane which is thought to have crashed during World War II has appeared on a north Wales beach.

BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | North West Wales | US fighter plane found on beach

 

[Micdrow]

It will be very cool if they can restore it to flying condition.

 

[evangilder]

Indeed

 

[Haztoys]

I'm allways shocked when they find thing like this after all this time ...Man alot of aircraft fell from the skys I can see...And it says this is the only example of a p-38 in Europe ..Now this cant be right is it..???

 

[ccheese]

I hope they can salvage and restore it.....

Charles

 

[ToughOmbre]

It's good news whenever a piece of history can be reclaimed, especially one so rare as the P-38.

TO

 

[v2]

Press release from the organisation "TIGHAR":

http://www.hmvf.co.uk/pdf/pressrelease2.pdf

 

[Lucky13]

I really hope that they can and will restore it to flying status.....

 

[evangilder]

Considering it's age and the fact that it has been soaking in salt water for 60 years, that's a tall order. It would be neat, but it would take years.

 

[Wayne Little]

Fingers crossed they can do something with it!

 

[v2]

Shifting sands: The fighter was exposed during unusual coastal conditions

 

[comiso90]

Now, thats a shallow dive!

 

[ToughOmbre]

Very cool photo 8)

TO

 

[Micdrow]

A really cool photo. Looks at least from above to be in pretty good shape. Will be very interesting to see if once all the sand is removed.

 

[AL Schlageter]

posted by MadBadVlad on another board

As someone who is directly involved with this project (I am one of the regional archaeological curators in Wales) I thought it would be worth squashing some of the early rumours now before they get out of control.

The plane is in remarkably good condition. There is very little concretion due to the fact that it has been preserved in a rather muddy sand for 65 years and has only recently been washed out and revealed. The marine growth you can see in the aerial photo is about 3-4 months worth. On small areas of the wings where it has been tested the concretion rubs off to reveal a perfectly preserved metal skin with only some very minor corrosion holes along the edge of the control surfaces.

The plane is in a nose up attitude so the tail is still buried. Where you can feel back along the booms the metal skin feels intact and is not pitted by corrosion. Of course we have no way of knowing what the buried portion of the plane is like, but if anything that will be even better preserved than the exposed parts.

The engine covers and gun compartment covers were probably removed just after the crash and may be lying buried in the surrounding mud. The guns were removed at the time of the crash. The cockpit cover was damaged post crash, possibly to lower the planes profile in the water so that it was not a hazard, or seen by passers by. The upper half of the tail fins may similarly have been sawn off to reduce the aircrafts profile in the water. The cockpit interior feels substantially intact. I could feel switches, knobs and buttons in the right places and in a non-corroded state.

One prop is in-situ although a collector/looter in the 1980's sawed off one of the prop blades Roll Eyes The other prop is missing, may have been sheared off in the crash and could be preserved nearby.

There is no intention to restore this plane to flying condition. It will be preserved as it is either at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford or the RAF Museum, Hendon.

The recovery is likely to take place next Spring, but much specialist advice and funding is still being sought for this.

The precise location of the plane on the beach is being held back to prevent looters from stripping the plane. We would all very much appreciate your co-operation and understanding in not revealing the precise location. Everyone will be welcome to attend the recovery and private visits may be arranged with project members closer to the recovery date. The wreck site is in constant surveillance by local authority staff, police and project members.