Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS

Post
KAKI3152
Group Member
Can anyone identify this aircraft? Similar to "Dear John" but a comparison of photographs leads me to believe this is another airplane.

Attached Image(s)

Alex Smart
Division Member
Re:Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS
Hello,
This picture is from the Aircam Aviation Series No:10 Lockheed P-38 Lightning in USAAF-French-Italian-Chinese Nationalist Service.
Caption says 1st FG, 27th FS in Italy. 3 Swastikas, 89 escort missions and 45 Bombing missions.
From the Lockheed number on the nose which I beleive to be "7163" makes it AAF P-38G-1 42-12729.
Alex 
KAKI3152
Group Member
Re:Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS
Thanks Alex.
There is a similar photograph of another P-38F/G of the 27th FS in the 1st FG History called "Dear John" with a very similar listing of missions and also has three victories.
Alex Smart
Division Member
Re:Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS
Hello,
"Dear John" is shown on page 92 of "An Escort of P-38's".
Pilot's name on 41-7547 is seen to have been the then Capt.Edward  Newbury.Crew were: Brendon,Abbott Emery and Coute.
Perhaps it is one of his later a/c. As you say the format is very alike but no ship shown on second a/c. Maybe the artwork was from the same brush ?
Can any of the crew in the later photo be ID'd from the names in the earlier one, are they three of the same men ?
Alex 
KAKI3152
Group Member
Re:Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS
Alex, I'm away from my reference material, but I'll take a look later.
1stnDebt
Group Member
Re:Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS
41-7547 was lost in the states at Mines Field (LAX) 21 Aug 1942
 
Terence
Alex Smart
Division Member
Re:Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS
Hello Terrence,
Your reply is welcome.
And opens the conversation on "Dear John" again.
As you must be aware the details you have given on 41-7547 (above post) are not as far as I am aware available on line ( Joe Baughers site does not list deails on this a/c).
The book that I quoted "An Escort of P-38's" page 92.
shows: "Dear John"
 US Army P-38F
Air Corps Ser; 41-7547
With the names:
Newbury,Brendon,Abbott Emery and Coute. 
The book only gives the photo sorce as "Ilfrey".
Sadly does not give details of where the photo was taken.
The photo of the other P-38 with similar scoreboard shows the number which to me reads "7163" but I would accept that the 6 and 3 both may be another faded number. However the number 7163 would I think make it Air Force Serial number 42-12729, the a/c in this photo has caption that it is a 1st FG, 27th FS a/c. The Air Force Serial is visible and perhaps could be enlarged and confirmed by someone cleverer than me. Photo sorce is given as "USAF". 
Of note the Joe baugher site does give us "Dear John" as being 41-7544.
"41-7544 Lockheed P-38F-1-LO Lightning
1st FG  27th FS     "Dear John"  HV-X   lost 10 Feb 10, 1944.  Pilot was killed when he was caught in bomb
explosion during a dive bombing run near Rome.  MACR 2214
".
From MACR; Pilot 2Lt. Thomas I. Collier, KIA 10th February 1944, 71st FS.  
All for now
Alex
1stnDebt
Group Member
Re:Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS
41-7547  <- aircraft history card
US Army Order Rec 4/18/42;
Long BeachAAF(Ferry Cmd) March - 4/20/42;
Long BeachAAF  4/23/42;
March (1FG) 5/3/42;
Muroc 5/15/42;
Mines (82FG) 5/30/42;
Wrecked, 7/7/42, Los Angeles, fuel exhuastion (S/Sgt. Charles R. Langdon):
Condemned 8/21/42;
Sacramento Air Depot Survey voucher 8/27/42;
Voucher approved 12/4/42 for condemned
 
Terence
1stnDebt
Group Member
Re:Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS
RE:41-7544  from my P-38 database
 
41-7544 
P-38F-1-LO  
Sqd Code "LM" 
Collier, Thomas I., 2nd.Lt.(O-752105). /KIA 
71st Fighter Squadron 
1st Fighter Group 
15AF 
440210 
Bolero 
 
Summary of loss:Departed AAF Sta Foggia #3, Italy on a dive-bombing & strafing mission to Monteratondo. Hit by own bomb-blast which sheared off tail-boom, plane spun-in. ;
 
History card
Rec 4/27/42
March AAF, CA (1FG) 5/4/42
Mines Field, CA 5/15/42;
Bangor AAF, ME 5/27-29/42;
P-38E, redesignated P-38F-1 6/27/42
 
Terence
1stnDebt
Group Member
Re:Identity of P-38F/G 27th FS
41-7555 
P-38F-1-LO 
DEAR JOHN ( Maj. Ed S.E. Newbury)  
Newbury, Edward S.E., Maj.
 27th Fighter Squadron 
1st Fighter Group 12AF 
430201 MIA  
 
Terence