Finding photos of specific WW2 P-38J in Europe

[AlbertD]

I'm starting an Academy 1/48 P-38J and want to do it as Arkansas Traveler flown by Lt James Fincher 367th Fighter Group 392nd Fighter Squadron. My book resources are pretty limited and I have done searches on line. The best photo I can find of the specific plane is a 3/4 view showing the nose art with the pilot. It was taken in France on 12 October 1944. There is no way to tell from the photos I have seen if the plane still or ever had invasion stripes.

Is there any way to find more and better photos of a specific plane? Would invasion stripes be out of place on a P-38 in October 1944 or were they pretty much gone by then? I can't find any information about when this plane went into service. I know I can do whatever I want but it would be nice to at least make an educated guess.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Stokesy44]

Greetings.

Almost certain to have had them on D Day.

As the unit was operating from France from July 44 the aircraft would definitely have had their stripes removed from the upper surfaces as per orders to make them difficult to spot on the ground. There was then a general order to remove them completely in Sept 44 so its pretty safe to assume your P38 would have lost its zebras before Oct 44.

[AlbertD]

Greetings.

Almost certain to have had them on D Day.

As the unit was operating from France from July 44 the aircraft would definitely have had their stripes removed from the upper surfaces as per orders to make them difficult to spot on the ground. There was then a general order to remove them completely in Sept 44 so its pretty safe to assume your P38 would have lost its zebras before Oct 44.

So the plane probably had them at one time. I actually want to do the stripes as long as it has some historical basis. Sounds like the lower stripes would be a pretty safe bet. The Print Scale decal pack shows stripes but that's not a photo. I don't have them yet but should by tomorrow. Maybe there are more references inside the pack.

Thanks for helping to clear some of this up for me.