We are the P-38 National Association, founded in 1987 by a handful of World War II veterans who wanted to memorialize their favorite airplane, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, and to honor the men and women who designed, built, flew, and maintained it during those war years. Our corporate headquarters was initially in Burbank, California, where the P-38 was designed and built. At the invitation of the March Field Air Museum (MFAM), we relocated our headquarters to their campus in Riverside, California, where the P-38 took its maiden flight. In 1996, with their own money and labor, a group of World War II pilots, veterans and crew members, who were the founders of the P-38 National Association, built a monument to honor that mission and constructed a military-style Quonset Hut to house memorabilia and artifacts for that purpose, many of which are museum quality. We continue to be on the grounds of the MFAM under a 2008 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which allows us to remain on their grounds as long as we are in business, after which the building, but not its contents, would be turned over to the MFAM. Several months ago, however, for reasons unknown to us, they decided they would like to take possession of our property. Needless to say, our Board of Directors is not willing to hand over our major asset to them. In early March of this year, without notification, they locked us out of our hangar, where these priceless artifacts are on display for the public at no charge. We have been locked out of our hangar by them since March and, for this reason, are unable to be open to the public since then. This has understandably caused a legal rift between our two organizations and damage to our reputation. We have offered to negotiate a fair update to the MoU, which the MFAM up until now has not been willing to do. They are a large organization with major sponsors and grants and presumably deep pockets. We are a small organization with limited funds, supported mostly by members and volunteers. We have already spent thousands of dollars in legal fees to fight this, which is why we are asking for your help to cover these costs and to get us through this crisis without being crippled by ever-growing legal expenses. If you are a fan of the P-38 or have a special affection for it because of a friend or family member, we are asking for your help with this LFEBridge campaign. Any contribution will be appreciated by us.
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