Dates

Event

Constructed as a P-38L-5-LO by Lockheed at Burbank, California, USA.

Circa 1944

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-26961.

Converted to a F-5G-6-LO.

From November 1948 to 1949

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Fuerza Aerea Costarricense with s/n G.C.R-01.

From December 1949 to 1951

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca.

Assigned to La Aurora AB for storage.
Not flown by the FAG.

From 1953 to 1960

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Fuerza Aerea Hondurena with s/n 504.

31 March 1960

To Bob Bean Aircraft, Blythe, CA with new c/r N74883.

From 1965 to 1967

Placed on display with Planes of Fame Air Museum/Ed Maloney, Ontario Airport, Ontario, CA.
Placed on static display in FAH markings.
View the Location Dossier

Circa 1968

Photographer: Unknown

1968

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com
Notes: Scrappy Major Laurence Elroy Blumers personally owned P-38 Bardahl Lightning 1968

August 1968

Photographer: Laurence Blumer
Notes: Scrappy Major Laurence Elroy Blumer standing in front of his P-38 Lightning originally painted as the Bardahl Lightning August 1968.

To G. E. (Larry) Blumer/Air Maintenance Inc, Puyallup, WA keeping c/r N74883.
Markings added: SCRAPIRON IV
Mr. Blumer was a World War II ace, and he decorated thie P-38 like his famed war-time mount.

August 1969

Photographer: Laurence Blumer
Notes: August 1969-Doug Kyes painting Scrappy Major Laurence Elroy Blumers meticulously restored P-38 Lightning in the colors of his wartime mount Scrapiron 4, though not an identical representation. Scrappy flew 156 heroic missions in the European Theater of Operations World War 2 and they are not all reflected on the fuselage of his aircraft.

Circa April 1970

May 1970

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com
Notes: Americas Fastest Ace Scrappy Major Laurence E. Blumer next to his personally owned P-38 Lightning painted to Honor his wartime mount Scrapiron 4

May 1970

Photographer: L.E. Blumer
Notes: Major Laurence Scrappy Blumer next to his P-38 Lightning. After his Heroic Service and Tremendous Sacrifices in the European Theater of Operations World War 2 Scrappy built a successful construction and air maintenance company with projects across the West Coast.

4 June 1970

Circa 1971

Photographer: Ron Mcleod
Notes: Reno Air Races. Vivitar 300MM F/3.5 Pentax Spotmatic Kodak TRI-X

1971

Photographer: Scrappy Blumer
Notes: Bill Lear Jr flying Scrappy Major Laurence Elroy Blumers beloved P-38 Lightning in the skies above Reno/Lake Tahoe 1971

From 21 September 1971 to 26 September 1971

Raced as #59, named SCRAP IRON IV.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Ward Clemmo. Qualified in 15th place with an average speed of 292.30 mph. Raced in the Make-Up race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 276.49 mph.

Circa 21 September 1971

Photographer: William Kerchenfaut Collection
Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

Circa 21 September 1971

Photographer: Charlene Aro
Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

Circa 1972

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com

May 1972

Photographer: L.E. Blumer
Notes: Major Laurence Scrappy Blumer stands proudly in front of his personally owned and meticulously restored P-38 Lightning, painted in tribute to his wartime mount, Scrapiron IV. This photograph appeared in the May 1972 Pierce County Herald and Valley Tribune article, P-38 Pilots Fly the Friendly Skies of Puyallup, by Lori Price.

August 1972

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com
Notes: The 367th Fighter Group Reunion hosted by Scrappy Major Laurence Elroy Blumer at Thun Field in Puyallup Washington August 1972. Here the Dynamite Gang is standing in front of Laurence Blumers personally owned replica of his wartime mount Scrapiron 4

August 1972

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com

12 August 1972

Photographer: Ron Olsen

Circa 12 September 1972

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

March 1973

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com

Circa 1974

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com

1975

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com

1976

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com
Notes: Larry Blumer and his only child, BuckShot are negotiating with Don Hull, to whom Larry sold his P-38 Lightning Scrapiron 4, at Thun Field in Puyallup, Washington in 1976.

8 December 1976

Certificate of airworthiness for N6961 (P-38L-5, 44-26961) issued.

1976

To Don Hull, Houston TX with new c/r N38DH.

1976

Photographer: Usafastestace@gmail.com Usafastestace@gmail.com
Notes: BuckShot Blumer and Don Hull on the wing of Laurence Blumers personally owned P-38 Lightning Scrapiron 4. Mr. Blumer sold his beloved P-38 to Don Hull in 1976

1977

To Friends of Harbor Island Inc, San Diego, CA keeping c/r N38DH.

26 July 1977

To John G. Deahl, Denver, CO with new c/r N6961.

9 April 1981

Crashed.
Summarized NTSB narrative from report number DEN81FTM15: There was one fatality. Incident occurred at 12:08 hours. The airframe was destroyed. Incident occurred at the Salt Lake City Airport, Salt Lake City, UT. This was a local flight from Salt Lake City, UT. The engine failed or malfunctioned during the initial climb. Experienced an uncontrolled collision with terrain during the initial climb. There was a partial power loss with the failure of one engine...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

1988

To Lester Friend, Palomar, CA.
Obtained as a wreck.

Placed on display with Planes of Fame, Chino, CA.
Obtained as a wreck.

1 January 2008

Certificate of airworthiness for NL6961 (P-38L-5, 44-26961) issued.

5 June 2013

Civil registration, N6961, cancelled.