"Glacier Girl" is the miracle baby of the warbirds fleet and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning is one of two showing its colors here at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007. Photo by Dave Higdon

The odds are astronomical.

Lockheed manufactured more than 10,000 P-38 Lightnings during World War II, yet only four are still flying. And for the first time in many years, two are at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007.

Ron Fagen’s Ruff Stuff and Rod Lewis’ Glacier Girl both made the trek to AirVenture. Ruff Stuff is parked in the Warbirds area in its first visit to Oshkosh, while Glacier Girl is on AeroShell Square, back for its fourth trip. For two of its earlier visits, the class twin was little more than a collection of parts.

Fagen holds in his heart a special fondness for the P-38 since it is the favorite plane of his 89-year-old father.

"My father was in the 4th Infantry Division in World War II, and there were only three left in their squadron," he said. "They were getting strafed, and it was about over for them when a P-38 came and got them out alive."

The Granite Falls, Minnesota, man purchased the plane, which had been stored in a Chino, California, hangar, about three years ago. It was airworthy, but more work needed to be done.

Warhawks Inc. finished the restoration work, working sometimes up to 60-70 hours a week, Fagen said. In addition, some components were sent out for overhaul, including one engine.

Fagen said he decided to paint it like Ruff Stuff after meeting Norb Ruff, of Bloomer, Wisconsin, who flew a P-38 during World War II. Ruff’s son did business with Fagen and occasionally brought his father along on the road.

One time, the elder Ruff brought a photo of the P-38 he had flown in World War II. As soon as he saw the photo, Fagen knew how his plane had to be painted.

"Ruff Stuff" is one of two vintage Lockheed P-38 Lightnings appearing at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007.  Photo by Dave Higdon

"I really wasn’t sure what I was going to do about the nose," Fagen said. "Everybody was saying Richard Bong. But Norb Ruff is a great hero right here, and he has no ego."

They finished painting it at 8 a.m. Monday, and by 10 a.m. they were at Oshkosh. "The paint was still drying in the air," Fagen said, laughing. "I told Norb to be here, and I didn’t want to disappoint him."

Fagen said now that the plane is finished, he intends to keep it flying and in front of the public. And the reception he’s gotten so far at Oshkosh tells him that people will approve. "There’s been nonstop lookers since we arrived."

Glacier Girl has been getting nonstop attention, too. The plane, rescued from under 300 feet of ice in Greenland, had started a trip to England to re-enact its famous 1942 Bolero mission when it developed engine problems earlier in July.

Bob Cardin said many people have stopped by to ask what happened.

"We took off for Greenland and were one hour over the ocean when we noticed coolant coming out of the overflow tube," Cardin said. They came back, and after analysis they decided it was time to change the engine. In the end, they decided to change both engines.

"The engines arrived on Tuesday, and we had it flying on Sunday," Cardin said. "We considered still flying to England, but we thought it best not to risk an ocean crossing with a twin engine change."

The plan now is to re-create the England flight next year, in time for the Duxford Air Show.

Rod Lewis, Glacier Girl’s new owner, said while he was disappointed they had to cancel the trip, they will be even better prepared in 2008.

"It was disappointing, but we learned a heck of a lot. We have more knowledge how to prepare for next year."

Lewis said he would be trained to fly the P-38 in Chino, and then move Glacier Girl to San Antonio.

"But I will definitely bring it back to AirVenture," Lewis said. "After the adventure she’s gone through, I realize just how popular she is. Between Steve (Hinton) and I, we will hit a lot of air shows so a lot more people can enjoy it."