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 44-26996.

Converted to a F-5G.

Transferred to War Assets Admin, Kingman, AZ.

22 March 1946

To Aero Exploration Co, Tulsa, OK.

From 9 May 1946 to By 1948

To Aero Exploration Co Inc, Tulsa, OK with new c/r N53752.

Converted for survey work.

16 April 1947

Certificate of airworthiness for NX53752 (P-38L, 7985) issued.

From 1948 to By 1951

To Aero Exploration Co Inc, Tulsa, OK keeping c/r N53752.

From June 1949 to By 1951

Withdrawn from use at Tulsa, OK.

From 6 December 1951 to By 1956

To Spartan Air Services Ltd, Ottawa, ON with new c/r CF-GCH.

December 1951

Ferry flight.
Flown from Tulsa to Ottawa.

May 1952

Ferry flight.
Flown to Toronto.

9 June 1952

To unknown owner with c/r CF-GCH.

April 1953

Ferry flight.
Flown from Duluth to Ottawa.

2 May 1953

Crashed.
Damaged with the gear collapsed on landing at Duluth, MN.

Repaired.

From 27 May 1956 to By 1962

To Hycon Aerial Surveys/Hycon Manufacturing Co, Ontario, CA with new c/r N5596V.

From December 1959 to By 1962

Withdrawn from use and placed in open storage at Las Vegas, NV.

From 24 June 1962 to By 1963

To Don E. May, Phoenix, AZ keeping c/r N5596V.

18 June 1963

To Desert Aviation Inc/Ben W. Widtfeldt, Phoenix, AZ keeping c/r N5596V.

8 September 1963

To Aero Enterprises, La Porte, IN keeping c/r N5596V.

11 November 1963

To Laurel Walsh, Birmingham, MI keeping c/r N5596V.

Annual inspection carried out.

From 6 December 1963 to By 1964

To J. W. Bohmier, New London Airport, New London, PA keeping c/r N5596V.

From 2 November 1964 to By 1965

To Westair Co./Jim Cullen, Westminster, CO keeping c/r N5596V.

From 8 September 1965 to By 1967

To Troy G. Hawkins, Wichita Falls, TX keeping c/r N5596V.

From 20 April 1967 to By 1968

To Sports Air Inc/L. James Ausland, Seattle, WA keeping c/r N5596V.

From 20 April 1968 to By 1970

To William E. Padden, Los Angeles, CA keeping c/r N5596V.

20 April 1970

Certificate of airworthiness for N7723C (P-38L, 7985) issued.

From 19 August 1970 to By 1973

To I. N. Junior Burchinall, Paris, TX keeping c/r N5596V.

23 May 1971

Involved in an incident.
Summarized NTSB narrative from report number FTW71DPA30: There were no fatalities. Incident occurred at 15:00 hours. The damage was substantial. Incident occurred at the Flying Tiger Airport, Paris, TX. This was a local flight from Paris, TX. The aircraft overran the end of the runway on touch down. Collided with an automobile during the landing rollout. The factors included; wet runway.
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

From By 1971 to By 1979

Gradually stripped for parts at Paris, TX.

From 2 April 1973 to By 1979

To Eagle Aviation/David M. Boyd, Tulsa, OK keeping c/r N5596V.
Transferred to Eagle Aviation as a wreck.

From 4 January 1979 to By 1989

To John P. Silberman, Key West, FL keeping c/r N5596V.

Restoration started.

Repair completed.
The work was finished at Live Oaks, FL.

September 1985

First flight.

By 21 March 1986

Markings Applied: 985, 985

21 March 1986

Photographer: Larry Johnson
Notes: At Lakeland, Florida

From October 1989 to By 1990

To Museum, Flying, Santa Monica, CA keeping c/r N5596V.

1990

Fitted with a fighter nose at Santa Monica.

From 20 May 1990 to By 1995

To Martin Aviation/William Lyons, Santa Ana, CA keeping c/r N5596V.

Markings Applied: Miss Invasion Stripes

August 1992

Crashed.
Damaged in a belly landing at Winslow, AZ.

By September 1992

Markings Applied: 7985

September 1992

Photographer: Harry E. Chatfield
Notes: At Colorado Springs, CO

Repaired.

From 6 November 1995 to By 2002

To Museum, Flying/Liberty Aero Corp./David Price, Santa Monica, CA keeping c/r N5596V.

Operated by Museum of Flying, Santa Monica Municipal Airport (south-West side), Los Angeles, CA.
View the Location Dossier

4 December 1997

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photo taken at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, CA.

4 December 1997

Photographer: Mike Henniger

4 December 1997

Photographer: Mike Henniger

From By 1998 to By 2002

Restored.
Work carried out at the Museum of Flight hangar at Mojave, CA.

6 February 2002

First flight.

From September 2002 to By 2005

To Commemorative Air Force, Midland, TX keeping c/r N5596V.

18 November 2002

To American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum Inc, Midland, TX keeping c/r N5596V.

Operated by Commemorative Air Force Airpower Museum, Midland International Airport (MAF), Midland, TX.
View the Location Dossier

27 May 2005

To Vintage Fighters Inc/Jack Croul, CA keeping c/r N5596V.

10 June 2005

To Vintage Fighters Llc, Sun Valley, ID with new c/r N7723C.

Contracted to Westpac Restorations, Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, CO for work on the airframe.
View the Location Dossier

Restored.

Based at Vintage Fighters, Clark County Airport, Clarksville, IN.
View the Location Dossier

By 11 September 2010

Markings Applied: Honey Bunny, 981, 426981

11 September 2010

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photo taken at the California Capital Air Show.

11 September 2010

Photographer: Mike Henniger

11 September 2010

Photographer: Mike Henniger

14 May 2011

Photographer: Robert Bourlier
Notes: Nose art Honey Bunny, Planes of Fame, Chino, CA.

14 May 2011

Photographer: Robert Bourlier
Notes: P-38 Honey Bunny Planes of Fame Airshow, Chino, CA.

14 May 2011

Photographer: Robert Bourlier
Notes: P-38 Honey Bunny Planes of Fame Airshow, Chino, CA.

22 October 2014

Assigned civil registration: N7723C

Based at John Wayne International Airport (Orange County Airport), Santa Ana, CA.
View the Location Dossier

By 2 May 2015

Markings Applied: 981, 426981

2 May 2015

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Planes of Fame Air Show at Chino, California.

12 July 2018

To Vintage Fighters Llc, Caldwell, ID keeping c/r N7723C.