"Yippee" T-shirt

The Yippee is a P-38J-20-LO (s/n 44-23296) that was completed in May 1944 and is the 5,000th P-38. It was painted bright red to celebrate the event, with the name ‘Yippee’ on each side of the nose and bottom of the aircraft.

After taking publicity photos, ‘Yippee’ had its red paint removed and was assigned to the 431st Fighter Squadron of the 475th Fighter Group during the summer of 1944, operating in the Pacific theatre.

On 20 December 1944, ‘Yippee’ was forced to return prematurely from a mission due to engine trouble. The P-38 was declared damaged in a taxiing accident in January 1945, and was probably turned over to a training or service unit as it was not in combat condition shortly thereafter. ‘Yippee’ was likely scrapped after the war.