Photographer: Possibly Bo-Göran Lundkvist.

Nadine Ramsey flying her Lightning. Ramsey (1911-1997) was one of the first female mail pilots in the USA before WWII and as a WASP she flew P-38, P-39, P-47, P-51 and P-63 fighters. In 1945 she bought this F-5, 44-53193, for 1250 dollars. It later flew in Canada as a survey aircraft, CF-NMW. As N38PS it crashed in 1978. Photo by: Peter Stackpole / Life

Built as an F-5G-6-LO and formerly 44-53186 with the USAAF. Modified for aerial survey work in 1946 and here probably in the hands of Mike Hurd Mapping Co. After restoration by David Tallichet of Hollywood fame it was sold to UK collector Doug Arnold in 1988, reportedly with marks G-MURU reserved but never worn. Supposedly this is the Lightning on display at Evergreen Vintage Aircraft at McMinnville/OR, however a P-38L carrying a former N# of this one (N505MH) and an impossible c/n is registered to an owner at Stow/MA. After so much re-building and parts swapping - who knows?

Acquired by USAFM and loaned in 1974 to Pima County Museum, Tucson, AZ. Traded in May 1989 to Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget, Paris. Destroyed by fire in Hangar in May 17, 1990 while stored in Paris museum and wreck returned to USA.

The F-5G was the reconnaissance variant conversion of the P-38L with a different camera configuration than the F-5F. It was the lightest and fastest of all the P-38 variants, having no armour or armament. After WWII this P-38 flew for numerous aerial survey companies until acquired by the Yanks Air Museum in 1990 and restored to the authentic photo-recon configuration.

Ex USAAF P-38L Lightning 44-53247. Converted to F-5G standard postwar with glazed nose for survey work with Aero Service Corp. and has their titles on the nose. Seen here stored at the Pima County Museum. Restored and to the Musee de l'Air Paris in May 1989. Destroyed by fire there on 17 May 1990.