P-38 A Personal Story

Comments · 1.4K

• DO

  @dougbrown6690 · 5 years ago

  This documentary is now 30 years old, and sadly, most of these incredible men are no longer with us. This is a treasure to have recorded for posterity. Grateful.

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• KO

  @kolsen6330 · 7 years ago (edited)

  My mother was a WASP and said the P38 was her favorite aircraft. She was one of the few WASPs that was certified for night flying. She told me of flying a 38 with the command radio set over Texas. Said the moon was so bright she could read her maps with out a flashlight. Tuned to dance music on the radio and munched on the apples she stashed in her pockets before takeoff. She also signed the stick or yolk of every plane she ferried. Has 3 Vmails from Europe from the pilots that got her plane. She is still going strong at 102. <br><br><br><br>Edit &nbsp; Mom Passed on July 22, 2019 in her sleep. She made it to 103.

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• JO

  @joevanseeters2873 · 2 years ago

  Tony LeVier was a legendary test pilot well known across the world in the aviation community. &nbsp; &nbsp;He was one of the primary test pilot&apos;s on the P-38 Lighting and bought a surplus Lightning after WWII for $1,250. &nbsp; He painted his P-38 bright red and flew it in air races for many years. &nbsp; &nbsp;LeVier was a primary test pilot in the fledgling jet era test piloting the P-80 Shooting Star which went on to become a primary fighter aircraft of the U.S. Forces. &nbsp; LeVier was highly respected in the worldwide aviation community and would go to other countries to assist in demonstrating various aircraft. &nbsp;He continued to be a test pilot and perform in air races well into his old age. &nbsp; LeVier is one of the few test pilots throughout the &quot;Golden Years of Aviation&quot; to be a civilian. &nbsp; Most test pilots then and now are ex-military pilots looking to continue their aviation career after leaving the military or they are in the military currently on assignment to test fly whatever aircraft they are testing. &nbsp; LeVier is one of the few, without a formal education, that worked his way up through hard work and determination. &nbsp;He worked odd jobs and as an aircraft mechanic, continuing to work hard and impress his superiors. &nbsp;His determination paid off and LeVier was finally promoted to the title of &quot;Engineer Aircraft Test Pilot&quot;, a title he had strived to achieve his entire life. &nbsp; Once he was promoted to test pilot, &nbsp;an opportunity came up at Lockheed for a test pilot position and LeVier took the opportunity. &nbsp; He relocated back to California and his career really took off test piloting some of the most important military aircraft in history including the U-2. &nbsp;LeVier was one of the first pilots to fly the U-2. &nbsp;He was also was of the first pilots to take the controls of an F-104 Starfighter, test piloting the aircraft on it&apos;s first flights. &nbsp; LeVier became one of the primary test pilots for Lockheed&apos;s famous &quot;Skunkworks&quot; for 30+ years and flew some of the most top secret aircraft ever created. &nbsp;LeVier survived eight aircraft crashes during his lifetime but had broken his back in a horrific crash, &nbsp;only to be so determined, and through sheer will, &nbsp;he was back flying aircraft within six months. &nbsp;That&apos;s the type of man Tony LeVier was. &nbsp;He was absolutely THE REAL DEAL when it came to God, Country, and helping his fellow man. &nbsp; Principles that have seemed to slip away over the years.

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• AV

  @av8tore71 · 4 years ago

  My dad and I are currently restoring a G model, it&apos;s been an experience of a life time. He&apos;s owned this since 1967 and wanted to see it flying before he passes away. 3 years now non stop as we should be ready by September

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• VI

  @Vito_Tuxedo · 7 years ago

  My dad fought in a U.S. infantry division in North Africa in WW2. He almost never talked about his combat experiences, but one day he noticed that I had built a P-38 model, and he said, “The P-38 flew ground support for us against Rommel’s Afrika Korps. I can’t count the number of times that plane saved my life.”

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• RY

  @ryansaving · 3 years ago

  But when you witnessed it first hand, and you know that we’re not the only ones here where the crazy ones

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• PI

  @pimplequeen2 · 7 years ago

  Holy shit… landing in an enemy field in the middle of battle to pick up a downed pilot!<br>That is mind-boggling!<br>His heart must be bigger than his balls!

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• RA

  @randalakley7674 · 5 years ago

  MY INSTRUCTOR &nbsp;IN &nbsp;ARMY AVIATION WAS A RESERVIST CALLED UP FOR THE KOREAN WAR. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO TEACH &nbsp;ARMY &nbsp;OFFICERS &nbsp;HOW TO FLY THE ARMY &nbsp;RECON PLANE. &nbsp;BUT HE HAD BEEN &nbsp;FIGHTER PILOT IN WW2 AND &nbsp;FLEW &nbsp;P-38S. &nbsp;HE SAID STATIONED IN &nbsp;NO AFRICA AND WOULD FLY ACROSS MEDITERRANEAN &nbsp;AND ATTACK. &nbsp;HE SAID NO MATTER WHAT MISTAKE YOU MADE IN IT IT HAD SO MUCH POWER &nbsp;YOU WOULD JUST PUSH THROTTLE &nbsp;FULL OPEN AND YOU&apos;D &nbsp;BE FINE. &nbsp;HE WAS SCARED SILLY OF OUR TINY PIPER CUB ARMY PLANE

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• BR

  @brucephelps6245 · 5 years ago

  America&apos;s greatest generation !!! They put<br>The world back right with their courage and bravely &amp; sticktoitness.....❤

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• RY

  @ryansaving · 3 years ago

  The sad thing is the people in this world just ain’t really ready for the truth so you can’t blame the governments for not wanting to tell

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• RP

  @rpm1796 · 4 years ago

  Freedom...can be lost, like sand through our hands.

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• DO

  @donnhughes7139 · 4 years ago

  I now better understand why we are a free country....American &nbsp;heroes were not in shortage....thank you gentlemen for your service and sacrifice, we are forever a grateful nation....God bless all of you !!!