FINALLY saw a P-38 fly

Paul Tomblin wrote:

They also didn't have
superchargers, which probably explains why P-38s are thought of as a
Pacific theatre plane.

They're considered a Pacific theatre plane because Ira Eaker wanted to set the
8th Air Force up with only one type of fighter escort (to reduce spare parts
counts and other maintenance issues). Lockheed could not provide enough P-38s to
supply the entire 8th. North American could provide enough P-51s. Eaker had the
Lightnings transferred out.

George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.

On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 19:10:52 +0000 (UTC),
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:

No, the British ones turned the same way. They also didn't have
superchargers, which probably explains why P-38s are thought of as a
Pacific theatre plane.

The P-38 sometimes gets a bum rap for it's appearance in the European
theatre. The initial versions had excessively complicated controls
and had the turbocharger tubing running up and down the D section of
the wing. Naturally there were a lot of leaks in this system.

The oil being used apparently congealed at very low temperatures, the
type encounted at the typical high altitudes at which combat occured.

The fuel seemed to be a problem too, with seperation of components
occuring, which reduced it's octane rating leading to severe
detonation and engine failure. Frequently.

The cockpit heater was not adaquate leading to frosting of the
windshield and canopy, which of course made it difficult to see out
of. Seeing out is considered reasonably important in a combat zone.
In addition, the lack of heat severely incapacitated the pilots.

In addition, there was the problem of not being able to exceed a
certain speed in a dive, which allowed the Messerschmitt's and Focke
Wulf's to dive away vertically with impunity.

The DC-4 bringing dive flaps that would have alleviated this situation
was mistaken by an intercepting Spitfire for a Focke Wulf Condor, and
shot down off the coast of Scotland.

The P-38's shape is and was of course unique, a disadvantage in a
combat zone as the enemy knows for sure that you are foe, no mistake.
Plus the P-38 was a big airplane which meant that it could be seen
from a greater distance.

As if this weren't all enough to make the fighter unpopular, it's
controls stiffened up at high speeds, a characteristic shared by most
fighters designed early in the war.

Finally, at least one expert remarked that to transition from cruise
power settings to combat power required so many control manipulations,
coolant flap settings, and myriad other adjustments that pilots had
their heads down in the cockpit making them all while being bounced,
all the while flying in a straight line.

That last may be a slight exaggeration.

In any event, the last model of P-38 deployed to Europe had boosted
controls and automated cooling controls. The boosted controls made it
instantly more maneuverable than most of it's opponents. It was a
formidable fighter and few German or Allied airplanes were it's match.
But by then the orders were cut and the P-38 was replaced by the P-51.
It cost a lot less to manufacture P-51's than P-38's, more could be
built in a month than P-38's and the performance was essentially
equal, especially in regards range.

So the P-38 was sent to the Pacific where it excelled.

Corky Scott

Finally, at least one expert remarked that to transition from cruise
power settings to combat power required so many control manipulations,
coolant flap settings, and myriad other adjustments that pilots had
their heads down in the cockpit making them all while being bounced,
all the while flying in a straight line.

That last may be a slight exaggeration.

Considering that our leading ace of the war, Richard I. Bong, flew only the
P-38 in the Pacific Theater, as did Tommy McGuire -- our Number 2 Ace in the
war -- this last is, indeed, an exaggeration. As with all things, with
practice all movements were done without thought, nearly instantly.

So the P-38 was sent to the Pacific where it excelled.

Indeed.

The P-38 failed in Europe because the climate was too damned cold, and
because the airplane had a few design flaws that were heightened by the
cold. As you state, by the time the J and L models came along -- which
fixed all of the early shortcomings -- the orders had already been cut to
transition to the Mustang and Thunderbolt.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In your P-38 aviation video (Start-Up) the two props are spinning in the
same direction. Is this normal for P-38's? British?

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/aviation_videos.htm
(scroll down to "P")

Wow -- that is TOTALLY bizarre. The props most certainly are
contra-rotating on Porky II, yet, I agree -- the video makes it look
like they're both turning the same direction.

Of course, it also makes them look they're turning about 60 rpm.

Must be some side effect of the low frame rate?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Probably the props weren't quite synched, so the strobe effect of the video
showed one turning "backwards".

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...

In your P-38 aviation video (Start-Up) the two props are spinning in the
same direction. Is this normal for P-38's? British?

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/aviation_videos.htm
(scroll down to "P")

Wow -- that is TOTALLY bizarre. The props most certainly are
contra-rotating on Porky II, yet, I agree -- the video makes it look
like they're both turning the same direction.

Of course, it also makes them look they're turning about 60 rpm.

Must be some side effect of the low frame rate?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

Is that plane still flying? I've seen two P-38s with the "Marge" paint
job -- one in the EAA Museum in OSH, and one in the Bong Museum in
Superior, WI.

That's probably Tallichet's plane. Here's a photo of what it looked like in 1997.
http://www.475thfghf.org/Photos/p38_2.JPG

This is what it looks like now.
http://www.warbird-photos.com/Airsho...s/IMG_2890.JPG

If it's the same plane, it's still flying.

George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.