Commemorative Air Force Acquires P-38

MIDLAND, Texas (October 12, 2002) - The Commemorative Air Force has finalized an agreement to trade its P-82 Twin Mustang, N12102, along with wreckage of its P-38 for the completely restored and airworthy Lockheed P-38L, N5596V, previously owned by David Price of Santa Monica, Calif.

The company responsible for arranging the trade is NPA Holdings, LLC. The new owner of the P-82 has asked not to be identified.

The P-38 is currently located at the CAF's Southern California Wing in Camarillo, Calif., where it will remain until a CAF unit receives assignment of the airplane. The P-38 will be made available to CAF units for a period of at least 90 days. The wreckage of the P-38 and P-82 have been transported to locations unknown to the CAF.

According to CAF officials the trade of the P-82 was made as a means to acquire a flyable World War II era airplane. North American produced 250 P-82s for the Air Force, but they were ordered too late for World War II. The airplanes were used in service in Korea as night fighters.

The P-82 has not flown since it crash landed at Harlingen, Texas, on October 10, 1987. Many efforts by CAF members have been made to raise the necessary funds for the restoration of the rare airplane, however, sufficient funding levels were not reached.

"This beautifully restored and airworthy P-38 Lightning fills a significant void in our fleet ~ we couldn't be more pleased," Bob Rice, executive director of the CAF said.

The CAF has previously owned two P-38s ~ the Scatter Brain Kid and the Scatter Brain Kid II. The original Scatter Brain Kid experienced an engine failure and crashed on Oct. 10, 1974. Scatter Brain Kid II last flew at an airshow at Breckenridge, Texas on May 28, 1994 and was forced to crash land.

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