A Lockheed P-38 Returns to Burbank!
World War II WASP Fulfills Life Long Dream, Lockheed P-38
Lightning To Make Return to Bob Hope Airport.
Burbank, CA, April, 20 2004 1pm-4pm at Mercury Air Center 10750 Sherman Way
Burbank, CA 91505 ----- A Lockheed built WWII P-38 Fighter will be making a
triumphant return with P-38 pilots to its place of origin Tuesday to celebrate
the 60th anniversary of the delivery of the 5000th P-38 built in 1944 at
Lockheed Burbank. The appearance of the P-38 is also to promote the P-38
National Convention being held this May in Southern California. The return of
the P-38 takes on a story that could be taken directly from a Hollywood script.
Over 60 years ago a young woman by the name of Flora Belle looked to the skies
with admiration and decided that one day she would be a pilot. The daughter of
a preacher she was born in Sayre, Oklahoma and grew up on a farm. With her
strong determination she soon began taking flying lessons before she even
learned to drive. As time went on Flora Belle became quite skilled and after
high school decided to enlist in the Women's Air Force Service Pilots or more
commonly know as the WASPS. In WWII she was trained to fly in various military
aircraft from the Bi-wing Stearman to the Martin B-26 performing military
missions stateside, helping to release male pilots for combat overseas.
One day while on duty in Texas a P-38 touched down on the field. The plane
taxied up to the hardstand and out stepped the nation's highest scoring ace
fighter pilot Richard (Dick) Bong who was in Texas on a war bonds tour. Flora
Belle, admiring the P-38, got into a discussion with the crew chief and before
long was sitting at the controls of the P-38 dreaming of the day she would be
able to take to the skies in this astounding aircraft. In December of 1944 the
WASPS disbanded and Flora Belles dream of flight in the P-38 was never
realized. After her service in WWII Flora Belle married her high school
sweetheart and became Mrs. Flora Belle Reece. In her years after the service
she became a mother of three and was also an active member of the community.
Serving as a school teacher as well as a missionary overseas she has
accomplished much throughout her life, but she never forgot the one dream that
was never fulfilled. Her dream will become a reality on April 20, 2004 when she
accompanies the Air Museums Planes of Fame pilot Steve Hinton in the P-38
Lightning into Bob Hope Airport. "We could not be more pleased to help
fulfill a veteran pilots dream" says Bob Alvis a representative of the
P-38 National Association. "Many things had to come together to help make
this possible, and without the help of the Planes of Fame staff and many others
this dream would not become a reality".
The return of the P-38 Lightning to Burbank brings the planes history full
circle. For the local citizens of the San Fernando Valley, who during WWII
built this airplane and sent it off to war, it has been a long journey from the
production line to its appearance here this month. It will truly be an exciting
event for all to see. For more information about this event contact the P-38
National Association at 1-888-for-p380 or 1-888-367-7380 or
email to keepem.flyin@verizon.net.
The plane’s pilot was Ray Dieckman, a pilot for American Airlines. He is also a member of the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, Ca.