Ravishing Lil was the assigned mount of 1/Lt Jess E. Gidley, seen here at 12-Mile Airfield near Port Moresby in early 1943.

This particular P-38 was delivered to the 80th Squadron on 17th September 1942. It was eventually scrapped when newer model P-38Gs, then Js replaced all the Squadron's F model Lightnings.

Gidley was an aggressive pilot who survived his early combat days, only to be killed in a freak accident. On 23rd January 1944 he was fighting several 68th Sentai Ki-61s over Boram Field near Wewak when one suddenly slammed into his Lightning, sending the broken remaining debris into the sea below. His body was never recovered, and he had three confirmed kills to his name. When lost over Boram, Gidley was flying P-38J serial #42-67152 which, contrary to what other publications have stated, was NOT Ravishing Lil.

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