Temnac P-38G Lightning
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
Temnac P-38G Lightning is located in Alaska
Temnac P-38G Lightning
LocationJoint Base Elmendorf–Richardson
Coordinates61°14′54″N 149°48′7″W / 61.24833°N 149.80194°W / 61.24833; -149.80194
Arealess than one acre
Built1942 (1942)
Built byLockheed Aircraft Co.
NRHP reference No.79000406[1]
AHRS No.ATU-051
Added to NRHPJune 26, 1979

The Temnac P-38G Lightning is a historic military aircraft, now on display at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson. It is a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, military serial number 42-13400, which entered service in the United States Army Air Forces at what was then known as Elmendorf Field in 1942, during World War II, and was assigned to the 54th Fighter Squadron. In January 1945 it was taken out on a training mission over the western Aleutian Islands by 2d Lt. Robert Nesmith. While flying low over the Temnac River valley on Attu Island, Nesmith experienced fluctuations in one of the engines, and was forced to put the aircraft down. He crash-landed the aircraft in the valley without injury to himself.[2][3]

The aircraft was abandoned at the crash site, the Air Force stripping it of salvageable materials. The hulk remained in situ for many years, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The hulk was recovered in 1999 by Air Force veterans and brought to Elmendorf AFB, where it underwent restoration to correct the ravages of weather and damage done by the original salvage operation. It was placed on display at Elmendorf in 2000.[2][3]

See also

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Barnett, Robert (September 27, 2012). "JBER Home to Unique P38 Lightning". Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "P-38 LIGHTNING/42-13400". Warbirdregistry.com. Retrieved January 22, 2015.


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