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Glacier girl flies again!

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Doug Walker

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The P-38 warbird known as the "Glacier Girl" participated in a small airshow yesterday (and today) at it's base location in Middlesboro Kentucky. A few other warbirds were in attendence - another P-38 known as "Pokr II", a Corsair, Hellcat, P40 Warhawk and AT6. Lots of high speed low passes over the center of the runway gave quite a thrill. It was a dreary,hazy day and the sky was a light gray making it difficult to get long distance shots. It's a small airport which made it somewhat difficult to get shots in the staging area with the large crowd in attendence.
http://www.digerati-imaging.com/GGairshow/090603/

The Glacier Girl was featured on the History channel back in March. It was one of the "Lost Squadron" ditched in Iceland during WWII. Recovered in 1992 and restored at an extimated $6 million, it represents one of most accurate P-38 restorations in existence. All the original plans were retrieved from archives and the P-38 was completely rebuilt to specifications (hence the large cost).

--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
 
"Pokr II" should be "Porky II".
Doug Walker said:
The P-38 warbird known as the "Glacier Girl" participated in a
small airshow yesterday (and today) at it's base location in
Middlesboro Kentucky. A few other warbirds were in attendence -
another P-38 known as "Pokr II", a Corsair, Hellcat, P40 Warhawk
and AT6. Lots of high speed low passes over the center of the
runway gave quite a thrill. It was a dreary,hazy day and the sky
was a light gray making it difficult to get long distance shots.
It's a small airport which made it somewhat difficult to get shots
in the staging area with the large crowd in attendence.
http://www.digerati-imaging.com/GGairshow/090603/
The Glacier Girl was featured on the History channel back in March.
It was one of the "Lost Squadron" ditched in Iceland during WWII.
Recovered in 1992 and restored at an extimated $6 million, it
represents one of most accurate P-38 restorations in existence. All
the original plans were retrieved from archives and the P-38 was
completely rebuilt to specifications (hence the large cost).

--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
Click to expand...
--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
 
Didn't they quit using that plane because parachuting pilots were chopped by the tail?
 
Juli Valley said:
Didn't they quit using that plane because parachuting pilots were
chopped by the tail?
Click to expand...
No Juli, as mentioned, they used them through the end of the war. I think they just changed their exit strategy.

The US's top scoring ace in WWII, Richard Bong flew one of these.

I saw the Glacier Girl show on The History channel also, For the most part is was ok. Seemed to be mostly about the personality conflicts of the recoverers in Greenland. The video at the end of it flying was great, however I was very disappointed in the "dramatic" music while she was flying. They should have used some long range mikes so we could hear all 4000 Hp roaring.

I had the pleasure of seeing Porky II fly in Lancaster Co., PA a couple weeks ago. It was great, all too short of a flight. First time I ever saw a Lightning fly. Week before that, I drove a couple hours down to Maryland just to see it fly. A thunderstorm hit at 3:00 PM and that was the end of the show for the day :-(

Here is Porky II

 
Doug,

Great shots! I would have LOVED to been there for that lil show. Amazing !Those photo's someday will be EXTREMELY valuable(They already are IMO)

KevinM's photos from an earlier post are really impressive as well. As mentioned in that post of KevinM's, there is another P38 of Lefty Gardners that is still being repaired(last I heard). KevinM covered a lil bit about why its being repaired. Lefty's son had a charger fanblade break and which caused an engine fire. He was then forced to belly land the P38 into a field causing extensive and very expensive damage ; ( Doug,you are very fortunate to get those photo's : )THANKS for sharing

GREAT shots, GREAT planes : )
Doug Walker said:
The P-38 warbird known as the "Glacier Girl" participated in a
small airshow yesterday (and today) at it's base location in
Middlesboro Kentucky. A few other warbirds were in attendence -
another P-38 known as "Pokr II", a Corsair, Hellcat, P40 Warhawk
and AT6. Lots of high speed low passes over the center of the
runway gave quite a thrill. It was a dreary,hazy day and the sky
was a light gray making it difficult to get long distance shots.
It's a small airport which made it somewhat difficult to get shots
in the staging area with the large crowd in attendence.
http://www.digerati-imaging.com/GGairshow/090603/
The Glacier Girl was featured on the History channel back in March.
It was one of the "Lost Squadron" ditched in Iceland during WWII.
Recovered in 1992 and restored at an extimated $6 million, it
represents one of most accurate P-38 restorations in existence. All
the original plans were retrieved from archives and the P-38 was
completely rebuilt to specifications (hence the large cost).

--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
Click to expand...
--
ALASKA 43
http://www.pbase.com/alaska_43
 
Stupid question, or maybe not. Why are flying P38s so rare these days? Seems like they made a lot of them.
Doug Walker said:
The P-38 warbird known as the "Glacier Girl" participated in a
small airshow yesterday (and today) at it's base location in
Middlesboro Kentucky. A few other warbirds were in attendence -
another P-38 known as "Pokr II", a Corsair, Hellcat, P40 Warhawk
and AT6. Lots of high speed low passes over the center of the
runway gave quite a thrill. It was a dreary,hazy day and the sky
was a light gray making it difficult to get long distance shots.
It's a small airport which made it somewhat difficult to get shots
in the staging area with the large crowd in attendence.
http://www.digerati-imaging.com/GGairshow/090603/
The Glacier Girl was featured on the History channel back in March.
It was one of the "Lost Squadron" ditched in Iceland during WWII.
Recovered in 1992 and restored at an extimated $6 million, it
represents one of most accurate P-38 restorations in existence. All
the original plans were retrieved from archives and the P-38 was
completely rebuilt to specifications (hence the large cost).

--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
Click to expand...
 
The high degree of complexity resulting from the twin water cooled engines I believe is the major reason. The cost of restoring those engines and finding a crew that can maintain and fly the aircraft, I think, is the primary reason many of the P-38s were not restored and left to rot. With $6 miillion invested in the Glacier Girl, it's not hard to see why more of them are not fling. When the P-51 came out, it was easier and cheaper to maintain and took over center spotlight from the P-38. Consequently, fewer P-38s were made to the end of the war resulting in fewer P-38s left at the end of the war. It's almost impossible to find anyone who can tune and fly one of these beasts not to mention the cost of maintenance compared to the other warbirds. Without the Glacier Girl's current sponsor, Roy Shoffner, who was willing to spend a gazzillion $$, it would still be 200 ft. under the ice.
Tom O'Neil said:
Doug Walker said:
The P-38 warbird known as the "Glacier Girl" participated in a
small airshow yesterday (and today) at it's base location in
Middlesboro Kentucky. A few other warbirds were in attendence -
another P-38 known as "Pokr II", a Corsair, Hellcat, P40 Warhawk
and AT6. Lots of high speed low passes over the center of the
runway gave quite a thrill. It was a dreary,hazy day and the sky
was a light gray making it difficult to get long distance shots.
It's a small airport which made it somewhat difficult to get shots
in the staging area with the large crowd in attendence.
http://www.digerati-imaging.com/GGairshow/090603/
The Glacier Girl was featured on the History channel back in March.
It was one of the "Lost Squadron" ditched in Iceland during WWII.
Recovered in 1992 and restored at an extimated $6 million, it
represents one of most accurate P-38 restorations in existence. All
the original plans were retrieved from archives and the P-38 was
completely rebuilt to specifications (hence the large cost).

--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
 
It almost looks like it was it taken from a chase plane! If from a chase plane, how did you rate to get access to a chase plane???
KevinM said:
Juli Valley said:
Didn't they quit using that plane because parachuting pilots were
chopped by the tail?
Click to expand...
No Juli, as mentioned, they used them through the end of the war. I
think they just changed their exit strategy.

The US's top scoring ace in WWII, Richard Bong flew one of these.

I saw the Glacier Girl show on The History channel also, For the
most part is was ok. Seemed to be mostly about the personality
conflicts of the recoverers in Greenland. The video at the end of
it flying was great, however I was very disappointed in the
"dramatic" music while she was flying. They should have used some
long range mikes so we could hear all 4000 Hp roaring.

I had the pleasure of seeing Porky II fly in Lancaster Co., PA a
couple weeks ago. It was great, all too short of a flight. First
time I ever saw a Lightning fly. Week before that, I drove a couple
hours down to Maryland just to see it fly. A thunderstorm hit at
3:00 PM and that was the end of the show for the day :-(

Here is Porky II

Click to expand...
--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
 
Juli Valley said:
Didn't they quit using that plane because parachuting pilots were
chopped by the tail?
Click to expand...
Juli, at one time or another almost all US WW II fighters (and almost everyone elses also) got the name of being a pilot killer on exit.

The favored technique for exiting the Lightning was to roll inverted and drop out. But, the manual said to trim the aircraft for level flight (as if most airplanes that you are about to leave in a hurry will trim), open the door (look at the cockpit, there is a small "door" in the side of the early models), climb out on the port wing, and dive over the port nacelle towards the rear. Sounds a little far fetched to me, but that is what it said.

Darrell
 
Porky II was painted in replica of My Great-Uncle's Airplane after whom I'm
named (Edward S. Cragg).

(in case anyone is interested, Porky I was Major Cragg's P-39 Aircobra, and My Grandfather (and younger brother of Major Cragg) flew Porky Jr.)

The Owners of that plane actually allowed my father and I to sit in the cockpit when the plane was in Frederick Md. a month ago, but unfortunately She didn't fly.

I do have a full set of interior shots I've been meaning to get online.

Those are Two of three currently flying P-38's in the world, you're very lucky to have seen them both. I envy you.

Such beautiful Machines.

-Scott
Doug Walker said:
Doug Walker said:
The P-38 warbird known as the "Glacier Girl" participated in a
small airshow yesterday (and today) at it's base location in
Middlesboro Kentucky. A few other warbirds were in attendence -
another P-38 known as "Pokr II", a Corsair, Hellcat, P40 Warhawk
and AT6. Lots of high speed low passes over the center of the
runway gave quite a thrill. It was a dreary,hazy day and the sky
was a light gray making it difficult to get long distance shots.
It's a small airport which made it somewhat difficult to get shots
in the staging area with the large crowd in attendence.
http://www.digerati-imaging.com/GGairshow/090603/
The Glacier Girl was featured on the History channel back in March.
It was one of the "Lost Squadron" ditched in Iceland during WWII.
Recovered in 1992 and restored at an extimated $6 million, it
represents one of most accurate P-38 restorations in existence. All
the original plans were retrieved from archives and the P-38 was
completely rebuilt to specifications (hence the large cost).

--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
Click to expand...
--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
Click to expand...
--
C-2100 UZI - On its way out
Canon 10D - Shipped, ETA Friday

http://www.pbase.com/eridanman
 
Doug Walker said:
KevinM said:
Juli Valley said:
Didn't they quit using that plane because parachuting pilots were
chopped by the tail?
Click to expand...
No Juli, as mentioned, they used them through the end of the war. I
think they just changed their exit strategy.

The US's top scoring ace in WWII, Richard Bong flew one of these.

I saw the Glacier Girl show on The History channel also, For the
most part is was ok. Seemed to be mostly about the personality
conflicts of the recoverers in Greenland. The video at the end of
it flying was great, however I was very disappointed in the
"dramatic" music while she was flying. They should have used some
long range mikes so we could hear all 4000 Hp roaring.

I had the pleasure of seeing Porky II fly in Lancaster Co., PA a
couple weeks ago. It was great, all too short of a flight. First
time I ever saw a Lightning fly. Week before that, I drove a couple
hours down to Maryland just to see it fly. A thunderstorm hit at
3:00 PM and that was the end of the show for the day :-(

Here is Porky II

Click to expand...
--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
Click to expand...
--
C-2100 UZI - On its way out
Canon 10D - Shipped, ETA Friday

http://www.pbase.com/eridanman
 
I wasn't aware that only 3 flying P-38s were in existence. Thanks for your very informative post!!

Middlesboro is only an hour and half drive from my location. I was there for the maiden voyage back in Oct. of 2002 and got this shot:


E Scott Cragg said:
(in case anyone is interested, Porky I was Major Cragg's P-39
Aircobra, and My Grandfather (and younger brother of Major Cragg)
flew Porky Jr.)

The Owners of that plane actually allowed my father and I to sit in
the cockpit when the plane was in Frederick Md. a month ago, but
unfortunately She didn't fly.

I do have a full set of interior shots I've been meaning to get
online.

Those are Two of three currently flying P-38's in the world, you're
very lucky to have seen them both. I envy you.

Such beautiful Machines.

-Scott
Doug Walker said:
Doug Walker said:
The P-38 warbird known as the "Glacier Girl" participated in a
small airshow yesterday (and today) at it's base location in
Middlesboro Kentucky. A few other warbirds were in attendence -
another P-38 known as "Pokr II", a Corsair, Hellcat, P40 Warhawk
and AT6. Lots of high speed low passes over the center of the
runway gave quite a thrill. It was a dreary,hazy day and the sky
was a light gray making it difficult to get long distance shots.
It's a small airport which made it somewhat difficult to get shots
in the staging area with the large crowd in attendence.
http://www.digerati-imaging.com/GGairshow/090603/
The Glacier Girl was featured on the History channel back in March.
It was one of the "Lost Squadron" ditched in Iceland during WWII.
Recovered in 1992 and restored at an extimated $6 million, it
represents one of most accurate P-38 restorations in existence. All
the original plans were retrieved from archives and the P-38 was
completely rebuilt to specifications (hence the large cost).

--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
Click to expand...
--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
Click to expand...
--
C-2100 UZI - On its way out
Canon 10D - Shipped, ETA Friday

http://www.pbase.com/eridanman
Click to expand...
--
Doug Walker
Check my profile for equipment list.
 
Tom O'Neil said:
Stupid question, or maybe not. Why are flying P38s so rare these
days? Seems like they made a lot of them.
Click to expand...
In addition to the very well put explanation from Doug, there are other factors.

There were MANY P-38s made during WW II, 10's of thousands, but the P-38 was not a favored prop airplane at the end of the war. By the time the war ended it had been decided what airplanes the US armed forces would support / use after the war. Remember that jets were on the way, and everyone knew it, prop planes were only needed to fill the gap until jets had the maturity they needed. For the Navy it was the Corsair (F4U) and for the Air Force it was the P-51. For bombers it was the B-29. All other airplanes started going into the smelters the very day the war ended in the Pacific theater. In the case of the P-38, and several other types, the last few planes made went straight from the assembly line after acceptance by the US Gov, to the wreckers. It was easier to melt them down, and they were worth more as scrap aluminum than as surplus planes. The smelters were actually errected at the end of the assembly line in a couple of cases.

There are cases were surplus B-17 bombers were purchased for the fuel in their tanks, as it had more value than the airframe.

Since the military saved several hundreds, even thousands of the P-51 for use after the war, and continued to support them for several years, they are the most likely high performance warbirds to be seen today. The P-51 was used by several air forces around the world up until the early 70's. There were even some "new" P-51's built for the US Air Force in the 1960's, in the form of the Convair remanufactured aircraft.

Add to that the complexity and cost of keeping a multi engine high performance aircraft in the air, and you find that very few of them are around. Single engined fighters of the period, made in fewer numbers, are much more common. Witness the F8F Bearcat, fractional production numbers when compared to the P-38, yet very similar numbers still flying today.

Now, want to see some VERY rare aircraft from WW II? Look at the aircraft of any of the Axis forces. Even when there were 10's of thousands of a model made, there are likely to be zero flying today.

It was not until many years later, in the 1960's, that more than a very few people started thinking that maybe they should start saving some of the old Warbirds for historical reasons.

Darrell
 
Hi Scott,

I'm the guy with the Bigma 50-500, we were talking down @ Frederick. I was extremely disappointed that the storm some through that Saturday afternoon.

However, I did see Porky II fly the following week in Lancaster, PA. Look further down and you will see a previous post with the pic in it.

KevinM
 
no chase plane. Just standing on the ground trying not whack too many people in the head with the Bigma.

KevinM
 
Ahh, ok, I was wondering if that was you...

I ended up setting up at the far end of the flight line... had a great deal of fun until that D*mn storm hit...

I sent you an email about your shot of Porky II in flight, please let me know.

-Scott
KevinM said:
Hi Scott,

I'm the guy with the Bigma 50-500, we were talking down @
Frederick. I was extremely disappointed that the storm some through
that Saturday afternoon.

However, I did see Porky II fly the following week in Lancaster,
PA. Look further down and you will see a previous post with the pic
in it.

KevinM
Click to expand...
--
C-2100 UZI - On its way out
Canon 10D - Shipped, ETA Friday

http://www.pbase.com/eridanman
 
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