Great job on the 38, and neat story to go with it.
I've got quite a few Ethell books myself and own the whole Roaring Glory series. My wife bought me the one with the P-38 pretty early in my warbird days and I thought it was the best thing ever.
I've always wondered exactly what happened in the cockpit that day. Everyone is always quick to blame the pilot in an accident, and it could certainly have been his fault, but I've always given him the benefit of the doubt. The fuel selectors were to be in reserve for takeoff and landing, which is where they were found after the crash, but noone could know whether he burned fuel from main tanks or not during the flight. It's also sad that his father was at the field and watched him go in.
I just read within the last month that what's left of the wreckage is in rebuild but I can't remember who or where.
