Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2012 19:15:52 GMT -5
Sunday we went to the Warhawk Museum in nearby Nampa, Idaho for its annual airshow that is the museum’s major fund raiser. The star of this year’s show was one of only five operational P-38 Lightnings in the world. It’s interesting that the P-38, with two Allison V12 engines, is much quieter than the single-engined P40 or P-51. The P-38 had a top speed of 400 plus mph.
An aside: The P-38 was the airplane used to shoot down a plane carrying Japanese Admiral Yamamoto, the architect of the Pearl Harbor attack. For years a American pilot, Thomas Lamphier was credited with shooting down Yamamoto's plane. After the war Lamphier moved to Boise, Idaho, a few miles from Nampa and was the managing editor of the daily newspaper. He also was the commander of the local Air National Guard squadron that was flying P-51s in those days. Lamphier enjoyed hunting and fishing in the Idaho back country. His "buddies" on those trips were ofter Ernest Hemingway and Ernie's close friend, actor Gary Cooper! I sure would have liked to sit around that campfire.
(Later pilot Rex Barber was given credit for Yamamoto's plane).
One of only 5 operational P-38s left in the world. Based in Chino, California.
Fred Arnold, a 90-year-old who flew P-38s in WWII in Italy. He’s sharper mentally than most of us.
Getting ready for takeoff. There is a rather large man wedged into a small space behind the pilot. That spot cost him $1,000.
P-38 overhead. It packed four machineguns and a cannon in the nose.
A P-40 Warhawk based at the Nampa museum. It has appeared in several WWII movies
The P-38 breaks off from flying formation with two P-40s.
A Grumman TBM torpedo place fires up.
The TBM wings unfold surprisingly fast.
TBM in flight.
A P-51C takes off.
P-40 taxiing.
An aside: The P-38 was the airplane used to shoot down a plane carrying Japanese Admiral Yamamoto, the architect of the Pearl Harbor attack. For years a American pilot, Thomas Lamphier was credited with shooting down Yamamoto's plane. After the war Lamphier moved to Boise, Idaho, a few miles from Nampa and was the managing editor of the daily newspaper. He also was the commander of the local Air National Guard squadron that was flying P-51s in those days. Lamphier enjoyed hunting and fishing in the Idaho back country. His "buddies" on those trips were ofter Ernest Hemingway and Ernie's close friend, actor Gary Cooper! I sure would have liked to sit around that campfire.
(Later pilot Rex Barber was given credit for Yamamoto's plane).
One of only 5 operational P-38s left in the world. Based in Chino, California.
Fred Arnold, a 90-year-old who flew P-38s in WWII in Italy. He’s sharper mentally than most of us.
Getting ready for takeoff. There is a rather large man wedged into a small space behind the pilot. That spot cost him $1,000.
P-38 overhead. It packed four machineguns and a cannon in the nose.
A P-40 Warhawk based at the Nampa museum. It has appeared in several WWII movies
The P-38 breaks off from flying formation with two P-40s.
A Grumman TBM torpedo place fires up.
The TBM wings unfold surprisingly fast.
TBM in flight.
A P-51C takes off.
P-40 taxiing.