P-38 wreckage found near WW2 bases at Lake Lessina and Foggia, Italy, February 2007; (and another in August 2004 near Venice)

(Translation of Newspaper Articles courtesy of Italian reader Marco Gazzaniga)

Da: Marco Gazzaniga [mailto:marco.gazzaniga@fastwebnet.it]

Inviato: sabato 10 febbraio 2007 21.55

WWII P38 found in Italy, Feb 2007

"P38 found in the Adriatic Sea. The WWII twin engine American fighter aircraft was found in the Adriatic Sea off Termoli (note: it's a city). The wreckage was spotted by a trawler's crew who quickly got in touch with the security authorities. In the fuselage were found some 4,000 cartridges (ammo) for the 12.7 mm (note: 0.50" cal) machine guns. The Army 10th explosive group "Cerimant" based in Naples was ordered to destroy the ammo. These operations will take place between today (note: Feb 8th) an the 9th. To help the ordnance disposal team and to secure the area, the prefect (note: it's a typical Italian or French authority, close to the British magistrate) of Campobasso (note: it's another city) Dr. Mario D'Ambrosi ordered to establish a no trespassing area within 200 meters from the aircraft site and the temporary closure of the Provincial Road No. 111"

>>This is it; if you would like some other info, perhaps I could try to find something with some folks I work with, since I am in the aerospace business.

GPS coordinates are: N42 04 24; E015 06 31 (WGS84). Original article in Italian

Cheers, /MG   

Note from WW2 1st Fighter Group pilot Jim Graham: "The area is very near our base at Lake Lesina. Maybe it was one of ours."

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WWII P38 found in Italy, Aug 2004 (Translation courtesy of Italian reader Marco Gazzaniga)

"Chioggia (VE, note: stands for Venice): Wreckage of an American fighter P-38 Lightning recovered (Aug 10th, 2004)

The Adriatic Sea waters have given back the wreckage of a WWII airplane. The discovery took place las Saturday. The fuselage got caught in a trawler's net in the sea area in front of Chioggia's harbour, few miles off the shoreline. Once the fishermen complete the net recovery they realized the were dealing with a war wreckage and they immediately got in touch with the Coast Guard. At that point a specialized subsurface recovery company was given the task to recover the wreckage. Then the aircraft was curbed and brought back to the surface. The safety and security procedures were activated thereafter. The wreckage was moved to a barge and moved to an area in the the Coast Guard Naval Station, where it is available for the Police investigation.

The first report was prepared and submitted to the Military Court (note: it's a sort of JAG) Attorney Sergio Dini. Based on that he will task in the following days the Italian Air Force to perform a technical appraisal (note: of the wreckage) The photographic dossier prepared by the Coast Guard on magistrate's order, gave preliminary results. The aircraft should be a P-38 Lightning, one of the USAF most widely used WWII warbirds.

The aircraft is reported to be in (almost) good conditions, notwithstanding 60 years following the shoot-down (note: this is a literal translation, I don't actually know how they decided that and not an accident etc etc). The wreckage is considerable rusty (note: what about aluminium?) but the graphics/insignia are still visible. From the sea bottom the recovery team got back the almost integral fuselage and part of the wings. The P-38 Lightning had on-board five machine-guns. Some unused ammo were recovered nearby. No human remains were found in the cockpit. (Source: Il Gazzettino - note: it's a newspaper)."

>>This is it; I have done an almost literal translation, because of the style used to write the Italian text, I guess with objective and subjective elements. Please note that I am going to write an e-mail to the Coast Guard Naval Station CO, as I already did for the other P-38 recovery, asking to get some more detailed info and possibly pictures.

GPS coordinates: N45 14 05; E012 18 55 (the area, see attached file)

Stand by for additional updates, T/C Marco