Lockheed P-38 Lightning

GARY BEDINGER, 16.01.2012 07:46 THIS AIRCRAFT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT MY VERY VERY FAVORITE OF ALL TIME!!!! reply

PRC, e-mail, 13.12.2011 07:32 My Father's unit initially flew p-38s in England in July 1943 before switching to P-51s in 1944. He reported that the p-38 had supercharger overboost issues in the dense cold air over Europe and suffered numerous engine failures, often at most inopportune times such as advancing the throttles. The plane was a stable firing platform with concentrated firepower, but was cold and uncomfortable and very dangerous with an engine out as are most twins if not handled properly. The early versions were not great dogfighters and were complicated to switch over from cruise flight to instant combat upon being jumped. Reportedly, the pilots loved to fly the p-38, but loved the p-51 for combat as it was a far superior warplane. I have read that the later improved versions of the p-38 excelled in the warm lower altitude combat of the South Pacific against less capable aircraft and pilots than those of the Luftwaffe. Historical statistics seem to bear this out. reply

Aaron, e-mail, 16.10.2011 17:44 crikey, Lt.William "Bill" A.Lovell transfered from the RCAF to the 94th "Hat-in-the-ring" Squadron in England in September of 1942. On January 11, 1943, while flying with Lt.Jack Ilfrey they were jumped by 12 Me.109 and Fw.190s. Bill was shot down and seen parachuting to the ground. That was the last time he was seen. members.fortunecity.com /ww2airmen /lovell.html reply

crikey, e-mail, 25.09.2011 00:27 I'd like to know whether anyone has any information on Bill Lovell.An American pilot who in 1942 transferred from 263 squadron R.A.F. and flew the R.A.F s' only twin engined single seater the Westland Whirlwind. Bill then transferred to the A.A.F flying the P 38. J.P Coyne who is a Canadian remained at 263 squadron and met up for some mock dogfighting over the Devon countryside. Gunther Rall the famous Luftwafe Ace flew several captured allied aircraft had a preference for the P-38 since he liked the centrally mounted armament set up...... reply

robert c beckett, e-mail, 24.09.2011 02:40 Charles C Arthaud is my grandfather would love to hear more. reply

Jon Wagner, e-mail, 23.09.2011 04:56 I saw the P-38 at an airshow at Santa Anita Race track in 1940 or maybe 1941 as a child, a spectacular show as the polished aluminum aircraft came down the homestretch at low altitude and high speed then went vertical 'til nearly out of sight reply

walt paynre, e-mail, 13.09.2011 03:21 When I was a kid in Ft. Lauderdale I met a Mr. Ashe who had flown p-38 in Europe. I told me he had a broken back from being hit by the elevator while bailing out. I don't remember the particulars. reply

None, e-mail, 24.08.2011 15:59 Tony LeVier flying a non turbocharged P-38 came in second in the 1946 Thompson Trophy Race in Cleavland. That was ahead of every P-51 Mustang and FG-1 (F4U) Corsair. The aircraft to beat him was a P-39. reply

None, e-mail, 24.08.2011 15:46 Several P-40 aircraft with a P-36 were the First American planes, piloted by Americans to shoot down several Japaneses planes on 12-7-41. A few days before the P-38 claimed a victory. reply

Will Sutton, e-mail, 23.08.2011 03:45 First of many benchmark aircraft associated with Kelly Johnson. A true National Treasure, he and his Skunk Works went on to develop the P /F-80, F-104, U-2 and vatiants, A-12 /SR-71 program. reply

Fred Krinke, e-mail, 18.07.2011 20:50 I was in the USAAF in 1946 and 47, and was stationed at KIMPO Air Base just outside Seoul Korea. I was in the 308 Bomb Wing, 40th Air Engineers, attached to the 475th FG. I was an avionics technician, and serviced both P-38, and P-51 radios. The P-38 were there when I arrived, but by January 47, they were reolaced by P-51;s.The radios were SR375, 4 channel VHS transceivers. We would install one in the P-38, and forget about it, it worked forever. The same radio, we would tune it and install it in the P-51, worked great, until the pilot got to the end of the runway for takeoff, and the Damn thing de-tuned, and would not work. The reason, was Vibration of the 51. I loved both planes. reply

Aaron, e-mail, 03.07.2011 20:20 Hey shoeswang, What do you have in a 14AA high top tennis shoe and what sounds like an interceptor to you? Yes the P-38 was originally designed as an interceptor but you need to seriously take that crap to e-bay. I have clicked on every one of your postings but haven't seen anything that applies to a thing we are discussing......WOW! reply

Klaatu, e-mail, 01.06.2011 20:14 There's always been a lot of speculation about whether or not the P-38 was as effective a long-range escort fighter as was the P-51 Mustang. One little-known factor was the cockpit being in a separate nacelle, away from the engines. That rendered the P-38's cockpit very cold at high altitudes. The pilots were so cold on those long, high-altitude escort missions that, by the time they arrived over German airspace, it was often difficult for them to function effectively. The P-51 Mustang's cockpit was warmer because it had that big engine right in front of it. However, the real bottom line is the undeniable fact that you could build 2 Mustangs for the price of a single P-38. When trying to build up a huge Air Force, in order to win a major war against another industrialized power, that factor makes a big difference! reply

WILLIAM W HOLT, e-mail, 18.02.2011 09:24 Although assigned to " Bomber Flight Test " @ Wright Field , I flew the P-38 L for many hours. It was a Fun Airplane. It was "Red Lined " @ 490 mph P- 51 & P-47 were both @ 495 mph . I didn't know why then , but now I know it was due to "Compressibility ". At these Indicated speeds, they all would begin to lose elevator control and tended to "hump over " into a vertical dive. reply

Ben Beekman, e-mail, 16.02.2011 03:26 How many recall that it was the P-38's that got Japan's Admiral Yamamoto, who lead the Pearl Harbor attack force in 1941 (the "Kido Butai")? The story goes that in 1943 our code-breakers intercepted a Japanese message detailing the Admiral's time-line itinerary on an inspection tour in the Solomons. After calculating the distances involved, the army air force concluded the only airplane with the range necessary to intercept Yamamoto's escorted bomber was the P-38. Twelve were dispatched with orders to make it look like an "accidental" intercept. Flying over water most of the way for secrecy they turned toward Bougainville at just the right time to meet Yamamoto's Betty bomber with its escort of Zeros. Having planned the mission well, most of the P-38's took on the escort while several (the better shots?) went for the Betty. After taking quite a few hits the Betty went down in the jungle with a dead Yamamoto inside, having taken a 50 cal. in the head. A Japanese search team recovered the body still strapped in his seat and returned it to Japan for the proper ceremonies. Credit was given at that time to Lt. Tom Lanphier for shooting down the bomber, but in recent years newer evidence has indicated it might be Lt. Rex Barber who "got" Yamamoto, both having fired at the bomber. The jury is still out on this one. If I remember correctly it was about 400 miles each way on the mission. Quite an achievement for the young men and their P-38's! reply

Jim Penny, e-mail, 06.02.2011 22:04 During WW II, my uncle was the line chief in New Guinea servicing P 38's. I have photos of Uncle Fred with Maj. Bong, and his plane, which had only 27 Jap flags at that time. Bong was not popular at that field. He lost 19 wingmen while hunting kills. reply

Ben Beekman, e-mail, 16.01.2011 23:16 It should be mentioned here that the P-38 was originally designed as a high altitude interceptor to shoot down enemy bombers, and not as a dog-fighter. To meet the design specifications, Lockheed had to use two engines. Further, unlike typical fighter planes that used a control stick, the P-38 came equipped with a control wheel since it was thought that the wheel would be all that was necessary to bring down relatively unmaneuverable bombers. In its first cross country flight from California to Mitchell Field, New York, it only needed two stops for fuel to complete the trip in 7 hours and 2 minutes. At times the indicated cruising speed was 420 mph. And this was in February 1939! (Data taken from Wm. Green's book, "Famous Fighters of the Second World War", Hanover House, 1960). reply

Ron, e-mail, 14.01.2011 01:40 Fred, Even though P-38s had some success in Europe, they were much more at home in the warmer Pacific theater where long legs and twin engine insurance paid off. reply

Fred Brooks, e-mail, 13.01.2011 05:33 15 yrs ago I traveled to the Air museum in Tucson to see a P38. The museum's two were on loan for the Paris Air Show and were subsequently destroyed in a fire while in France. 5 years ago I drove to an air show in Ann Arbor where one was on display along with P51s, P47s, B17s and a British Lancaster. My question is about the role of the P38 in the European theatre. The P51 due to range and other characteristics became the premier fighter for bomber escort. The P47 due to 8 50 cals, bomb capacity, ruggedness etc became the premier fighter-bomber for use in ground support. I know the P38 was loved in the Pacific but have read that its European pilots were anxious to change to P51s. Can anyone tell me more about its role in Europe or steer me to a definitive book?? Thanks for any help. reply

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