Planes of Fame P-38J on a flyby at the 2023 Apple Valley Airshow. Some details on the plane from the Planes of Fame website:
The Museum’s P-38J, built in Burbank, California and delivered into service in May 1944, has the distinction of being the 5,018th P-38 built – halfway to the total number of “Lightnings” produced. It was assigned to the 483rd Air Base Squadron in Santa Maria, California – a Replacement Training Unit providing combat crew training for P-38s during WWII. In September 1945, the aircraft transferred to the Hancock College of Aeronautics where it was used to instruct maintenance personnel. The Museum acquired the aircraft in 1959. In 1988, it was restored to flight thanks to a generous donation from Bob and Josie Pond. The museum’s P-38 was used in the filming of Iron Eagle III.
Joseph Jenkins 