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 44-53078.

1946

Photographer: Emil Straser
Notes: Tony LeVier surprised everyone by bringing his P-38 Lightning Fox of the Skyways to a second place finish in the 1946 Thompson Trophy. 1946 was the Battle of the Test Pilots and LeVier did well in representing Lockheed. Another image from the archives of Emil Strasser preserved for the ages by Gerry Liang.

30 January 1946

To Anthony W. Levier, Burbank CA with new c/r N21764.
Operated with markings: 3

From 30 August 1946 to 2 September 1946

Raced as #3, named Tony LeVier.
Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the Thompson Trophy Reciprocating Division race. The primary pilot was Tony Le Vier. Qualified in 5th place with an average speed of 376.438 mph. Raced in the B Feature race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 370.193 mph.

Circa 30 August 1946

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the National Air Races at Cleveland, OH.

From 30 August 1947 to 1 September 1947

Raced as #3, named Fox of the Skyways.
Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the SOHIO class. The primary pilot was Tony Le Vier. Qualified in 10th place with an average speed of 366.361 mph. Raced in the B Feature race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 360.866 mph.

From 30 August 1947 to 1 September 1947

Raced as #3, named Fox of the Airways.
Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the Thompson Trophy Reciprocating Division race. The primary pilot was Tony Le Vier. Qualified in 5th place with an average speed of 366.36 mph. Raced in the B Feature race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 357.488 mph.

Circa 1947

Photographer: Mr. Lowry / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive

1947

Photographer: Emil Strasser
Notes: Only one year later in 1947 LeVier and his Lightning had no chance for victory. Cleland and his F2G Corsairs saw to that!

1947

Photographer: Harold G. Martin
Notes: I wish it was a full view of the airplane but any color from the Post-war era is hard to come by. No question of the color of Tony LeViers P-38 in this photo from the collection of the late Phil Krause. I believe this is 1947.

16 March 1948

To Butler Co, Chicago IL with new c/r NL21764.

14 April 1950

To Joseph I. Bulger, Chicago IL with new c/r N21764.

5 February 1951

To Ford E. Slagle, Chicago IL keeping c/r N21764.

7 October 1951

To K. C. Benbow, Greensboro NC keeping c/r N21764.

12 March 1953

To Mark Hurd Aerial Surveys, Minneapolis MN keeping c/r N21764.

From Circa October 1957 to October 1958

Operated in Europe and Ethiopia on survey work.

March 1958

To Mark Hurd Aerial Surveys, Minneapolis MN with new c/r N504MH.

24 May 1965

To J. Byron Roche, Saint Cloud MN keeping c/r N504MH.

3 August 1965

To Roche J Byron Jr, Saint Cloud, MN keeping c/r N504MH.

4 August 1965

Crashed.
Summarized NTSB narrative from report number LAX66A0016: There was one fatality. Incident occurred at 14:30 hours. The airframe was destroyed. Experienced an uncontrolled collision with terrain in an uncontrolled descent. The factors included; unqualified person operated the aircraft. A fire broke out after impact. Report remarks include: No previous flight time in type aircraft. Incident occurred at or near Los Olivos, CA.
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

28 September 1965

Civil registration, N504MH, cancelled.

1990

Recovered.
Wreckage salvaged and trucked to Santa Maria,trucked to Chino.90 by Fighter Rebuilders Inc for use as patterns for parts for rebuild of N3145X.

To Dave Horn, Santa Maria CA.