Specifications (P-38L) P-38 Perspective and notes

Lockheed P-38L Lightning at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, marked as a P-38J of the th Fighter S!uadron, "ased in #ngland$%&'&( M) machine gun armament in the nose of the P-38$
Data from Lockheed P-38 Lightning Pilot*s Flight Manual%&')(

General characteristics
Crew: +ne Length: 3, ft &' in -&&$ 3 m. -&&$ 3 m. Wingspan: ) ft ' in -& $8 m. -& $8 m. Height: &) ft &' in -3$/& m. -3$/& m. Wing area: 3),$ ft0 -3'$13 m0. irfoil: NA2A )3'&3 4 NA2A 11&) !"pt# weight: &),8'' l"%&'3( - ,8'' kg. Loaded weight: &,, '' l"%&'3( -,,/1' kg. $a%& ta'eoff weight: )&,3'' l" -/,,/8 kg. Powerplant: ) 5 Allison 6-&,&'-&&&4&&3 6-&) 7iston engine, &,,) h7 %N ,( -&,&/1 k8. each (ero-lift drag coefficient: '$')38%&'3( )rag area: 8$,8 ft0 -'$8) m0.%&'3( spect ratio: 8$)3%&'3(

Perfor"ance
$a%i"*" speed: 99113 m7h -,&3 km4h. -,&) km4h. on 8ar #mergenc: Po;er< &,,) h7 at 31 in=> and )8,''' ft -8, 3' m.%N 8(%N /( Stall speed: &' m7h -&3/ km4h. -&,' km4h. +ange: &,3'' mi -),&'' km. com"at -&,,,' km 4 3,31' km. Service ceiling: 11,''' ft -&3,''' m. -&3,1'' m. +ate of cli",: 1,, ' ft4min -)1$& m4s. ma9imum -at 8#P. Wing loading: 3$1 l"4ft0%&'3( -)3'$/ kg4m0. Power-"ass: '$&3 h74l" -'$), k84kg.

Lift-to-drag ratio: &3$

r"a"ent
&5 =is7ano M)-2. )' mm cannon ;ith & ' rounds 15 ?ro;ning M> 3-) '$ ' in -&)$, mm. machine guns ;ith '' r7g$ 15 M&' three-tu"e 1$ in -&&) mm. rocket launchers@ or< Anner hard7oints< )5 ),''' l" -/', kg. "om"s or dro7 tanks@ or )5 &,''' l" -1 1 kg. "om"s or dro7 tanks, 7lus either 15 '' l" -)), kg. "om"s or 15 ) ' l" -&&3 kg. "om"s@ or

35 '' l" -)), kg. "om"s@ or 35 ) ' l" -&&3 kg. "om"s

+uter hard7oints< &'5 in -&), mm. =6ABs -=igh 6elocit: Aircraft Bockets.@ or

)5 '' l" -)), kg. "om"s@ or )5 ) ' l" -&&3 kg. "om"s

#arl: Cariants did not enDo: a high re7utation for maneuCera"ilit:, though the: could "e agile at lo; altitudes if flo;n ": a ca7a"le 7ilot, using the P-38*s forgiCing stall characteristics to their "est adCantage$ From the P-38F-& model on;ards, a Ecom"at maneuCerE setting ;as added to the P-38*s Fo;ler fla7s$ 8hen de7lo:ed at the 8F maneuCer setting, the fla7s allo;ed the P-38 to out-turn man: contem7orar: single-engined fighters at the cost of some added drag$ =o;eCer, earl: Cariants ;ere ham7ered ": high aileron control forces and a lo; initial rate of roll,%,/( and all such features re!uired a 7ilot to gain e97erience ;ith the aircraft,%)3( ;hich in 7art ;as an additional reason Lockheed sent its re7resentatiCe to #ngland, and later to the Pacific Gheater$ Ghe aircraft ;as still e97eriencing e9tensiCe teething trou"les as ;ell as "eing CictimiHed ": Eur"an legendsE, mostl: inColCing ina77lica"le t;in engine factors ;hich had "een designed out of the aircraft ": Lockheed$%)3( An addition to these, the earl: Cersions had a re7utation as a E;ido; makerE as it could enter an unrecoCera"le diCe due to a sonic surface effect at high su"sonic s7eeds$ Ghe ), P-38Fs ;ere heaCier, ;ith more 7o;erful engines that used more fuel, and ;ere un7o7ular in the air ;ar in Northern #uro7e$%)3( Since the heaCier engines ;ere haCing relia"ilit: 7ro"lems and ;ith them, ;ithout e9ternal fuel tanks, the range of the P-38F ;as reduced, and since dro7 tanks themselCes ;ere in short su77l: as the fortunes in the ?attle of the Atlantic had not :et s;ung the Allies* ;a:, the aircraft "ecame relatiCel: un7o7ular in minds of the "om"er command 7lanning staffs des7ite "eing the longest ranged fighter first aCaila"le to the 8th Air Force in sufficient num"ers for long range escort duties$%)3( Nonetheless, >eneral

S7aatH, then commander of the 8th Air Force in the UI, said of the P-38F< EA*d rather haCe an air7lane that goes like hell and has a fe; things ;rong ;ith it, than one that ;on*t go like hell and has a fe; things ;rong ;ith it$E% /(

Ghe P-38. ;as introduced in August &/13$ Ghe tur"o-su7ercharger intercooler s:stem on 7reCious Cariants had "een housed in the leading edges of the ;ings and had 7roCen Culnera"le to com"at damage and could "urst if the ;rong series of controls ;ere mistakenl: actiCated$ An the P-38J model, the streamlined engine nacelles of 7reCious Lightnings ;ere changed to fit the intercooler radiator "et;een the oil coolers, forming a EchinE that Cisuall: distinguished the J model from its 7redecessors$ 8hile the P-38J used the same 6-&,&'-8/4/& engines as the = model, the ne; core-t:7e intercooler more efficientl: lo;ered intake manifold tem7eratures and 7ermitted a su"stantial increase in rated 7o;er$ Ghe leading edge of the outer ;ing ;as fitted ;ith gal -)'8 l. fuel tanks, filling the s7ace formerl: occu7ied ": intercooler tunnels, "ut these ;ere omitted on earl: P-38J "locks due to limited aCaila"ilit:$%8&( Ghe final )&' J models, designated P-38J-) -L+, alleCiated the com7ressi"ilit: 7ro"lem through the addition of a set of electricall:-actuated diCe recoCer: fla7s Dust out"oard of the engines on the "ottom centerline of the ;ings$ 8ith these im7roCements, a USAAF 7ilot re7orted a diCe s7eed of almost 3'' m7h -/,' km4h., although the indicated air s7eed ;as later corrected for com7ressi"ilit: error, and the actual diCe s7eed ;as lo;er$%8)( Lockheed manufactured oCer )'' retrofit modification kits to "e installed on P-38J-&'-L+ and J-)'-L+ alread: in #uro7e, "ut the USAAF 2- 1 carr:ing them ;as shot do;n ": an BAF 7ilot ;ho mistook the Jouglas trans7ort for a >erman Focke-8ulf 2ondor$%83( Unfortunatel: the loss of the kits came during Lockheed test 7ilot Gon: Le6ier*s four-month morale-"oosting tour of P-38 "ases$ Fl:ing a ne; Lightning named ESnafu7ermanE modified to full P-38J-) -L+ s7ecs at Lockheed*s modification center near ?elfast, Le6ier ca7tured the 7ilots* full attention ": routinel: 7erforming maneuCers during March &/11 that common #ighth Air Force ;isdom held to "e suicidal$ At 7roCed too little too late "ecause the decision had alread: "een made to re-e!ui7 ;ith Mustangs$%81(
&$ /he P-38.-01-L2 prod*ction

,loc' also introd*ced power-,oosted ailerons& /hese consisted of ailerons that were operated ,# a h#dra*licall#-act*ated ,ell-cran' and p*sh-p*ll rod3 "a'ing it easier for the pilot to "ane*ver the airplane at high airspeeds& /his ,oosting s#ste" was one of the first applications of powered controls to an# fighter3 and re4*ired onl# 56 percent of the previo*s stic' forces& /he h#dra*lic aileron ,ooster s#ste" vastl# i"proved the roll rate and there,# increased the effectiveness of the P-38 in co",at& P-38.s with power-,oosted ailerons proved to have the highest roll-rates of an# fighter& Speed was up to 426 m.p.h., and best climb to 3,900 ft./min. It would climb to 20,000 ft. in 5.9 minutes. Ghe ke: to e9tracting range from the P-38 ;as Cer: much in fl:ing techni!ue, using lo; BPM and high "oost -eg< P-38= ),3''431 for )& kt at &13 US>4hr for 3''K NM radius., and until &/11 this ;as the art of indiCidual units and 7ilots$-1. "...Miracle of miracles, the "ig old P38 actuall: turned inside that nim"le little +scar$ A ;as on the deck, in a Certical "ank, and the :oke ;as "ucking and shuddering in m: hands$ Ghat turn ;as nothing more nor less than a controlled stall$E -- John A$ Gille:, USAA2, 1, th F>$

Ghe P-38L- , the most common su"-Cariant of the P-38L, had a modified cock7it heating s:stem ;hich consisted of a 7lug-socket in the cock7it into ;hich the 7ilot could 7lug his heat-suit ;ire for im7roCed comfort$ Ghese Lightnings also receiCed the u7rated 6-&,&'-&&&4&&3 -F3'B4L. engines, and this dramaticall: lo;ered the amount of engine failure 7ro"lems e97erienced at high altitude so commonl: associated ;ith #uro7ean o7erations$ Le7ier ,elieved too little testing at high altit*des was done ,efore sending the P-38s to 8ritain& He also ,elieved that too "an# e%perienced pilots were spread too thin in the pilot ran's3 and that the coc'pit heat was a serio*s pro,le"& 9t was not :*st the co"fort of the pilot3 ,*t when the pilots were cra"ped in a s"all coc'pit *nder e%tre"e cold sit*ations3 the# were not in a good fl#ing condition when enco*ntering ene"# aircraft& lso3 the windows wo*ld fog *p3 and red*ce visi,ilit#& He arrived at the 3;<th =ighter Gro*p at Honington& Le7ier was not spreading propaganda3 and was honest with the pilots he "et with& /he# were infor"ed a,o*t all the 'nown li"itations of the aircraft3 ,*t he also spo'e with the" on all the positive aspects of the aircraft as well& $an*al de"onstrations were perfor"ed3 s*ch as recovering fro" a dive& Le7ier contin*ed his de"onstration to*r and arrived at >ingscliff3 ho"e of the 0?th =ighter Gro*p& /he pilots of the 0?th were not overl# i"pressed with his lect*re& Le7ier proceeded to ta'e *p his P-38 (e4*ipped with the new dive flaps)& t 013??? ft&3 Le7ier dove straight down3 and the pilots r*shed o*t to see what the# tho*ght wo*ld ,e a crash& He easil# p*lled o*t witho*t an# pro,le"s3 and for e%tra e"phasis3 he prefor"ed several low level one-engine rolls& /he c*rrent P-38s in the !/2 were not e4*ipped with this flap3 ,*t he was atte"pting to showcase the new feat*res3 which wo*ld ,e arriving soon& /he pilots were shown that the# wo*ld ,e a,le to p*rs*e a Ger"an fighter diving o*t of tro*,le& /he de"onstration was indeed s*ccessf*l& Go%hill was ho"e to a co""ander who co*ld easil# ,e considered a P-<? "an& He disli'ed the P-383 and the pilots *nder his co""and reflected that opinion& Le7ier went @all o*t@ in his de"onstrations& He convinced the" that the pro,le" was inade4*ate training3 not an inade4*ate aircraft& Le7ier won over the opinions of the co""ander and the pilots& /he ne%t stop was in ndover3 the head4*arters of the Ath =ighter Co""and& /hese pilots originall# ca"e fro" a P-<6 o*tfit in the States3 and were having diffic*lt# transitioning to the twin-engine P-38& Le7ier de"onstrated several dives3 low-level *pside-down passes on one engine3 accelerated stalls3 and circled the ,ase *pside-down several ti"es& 7irt*all# ever#one on the ,ase ca"e o*t to watch the @air show@& Le7ierBs de"onstration to*r was an overwhel"ing s*ccess& )*ring the fo*r "onths he was in 8ritain3 an esti"ated 03??? engines were replaced on the P-38s& /his staggering n*",er was the "ain reason for the transfer of the P-38s o*t of the !/2& In his seminal work on the Allison V-1710 engine, Daniel Whitney analyzed in detail other fa tors that made the !-"# a disa$$ointing air$lane in om%at o&er Western '(ro$e.

) *any ne; and ine97erienced 7ilots arriCed in #ngland during Jecem"er &/13, along ;ith the ne; J model P-38 Lightning$ L J model rated at &,3'' horse7o;er Cs$ &,1) for earlier = model Lightnings$ Ghis 7o;er setting re!uired "etter maintenance "et;een flights$ At a77ears this ;ork ;as not done in man: cases$ L Juring stateside training, Lightning 7ilots ;ere taught to fl: at high r7m settings and lo; engine manifold 7ressure during cruise flight$ Ghis ;as Cer: hard on the engines, and not in kee7ing ;ith technical directiCes issued ": Allison and Lockheed$ L Ghe !ualit: of fuel in #ngland ma: haCe "een 7oor, G#L -tetraeth:l lead. fuel additiCe a77eared to condense inside engine induction manifolds, causing detonation -destructiCe e97losion of fuel mi9ture rather than controlled "urning.$ L Am7roCed tur"o su7ercharger intercoolers a77eared on the J model P-38$ Ghese deCices greatl: reduced manifold tem7eratures "ut this encouraged G#L condensation in manifolds during cruise flight and increased s7ark 7lug fouling$ Levier was *sing his special P-383 which was e4*ipped with the newl# designed dive flaps& /he pro,le" was after he de"onstrated the P-38s a,ilit# to recover fro" dives3 the pilots had to go ,ac' to fl#ing the older P-38s in their *nits& Loc'heed 4*ic'l# loaded *p <?? sets of dive flaps for installation in the !/2& C-1< cargo aircraft was loaded *p and sent to 8ritain& /he res*lts fro" the installation of the flaps wo*ld ,e tre"endo*s and "an# pilots and aircraft wo*ld ,e saved& However3 d*ring the flight3 a 8ritish pilot "istoo' the aircraft for a Ger"an aircraft3 and shot it down& /he loss of the flaps was the final ,low to the P-38 in the !/2& General )oolittle had previo*sl# started the transition to onl# P15s and P-<6s& Loc'heed wo*ld never get a chance to reprod*ce the dive flaps3 and none were installed on P-38s in the !/2& 9n co",at3 e%perienced pilots fl#ing the P-38 were a,le to cope with the ,est Ger"an fighters& 8eing o*tn*",ered3 and *s*all# li"ited to escorting d*ties3 the P-38s scored over 031?? 'ills at the loss of a,o*t 5361? P-38s& /hese losses incl*ded losses of all t#pes3 which not onl# incl*ded co",at3 ,*t also accidents and "echanical pro,le"s& "ore realistic 'ill ratio was 0:53 ,*t that was "ostl# when fl#ing o*tn*",ered& /he P-38s flew 53?3??? sorties at a loss of 5&3C (5&3 lost P-38s for ever# 5?? "issions flown)& /he P-15Ds loss rate was 5&5C& =eres another as7ect that is rarel: looked at, According to the ;e" 7age of 8th AF losses 8th Air Force 2om"at Losses in 8orld 8ar AA #G+ Against the AMAS Po;ers there ;ere 1 & P-38s and ),)'& P- &s lost to all causes ": the 8th AF oCer #uro7e -data credited to the AF Statistical Jata Files.$ Ghe P-38 fle; &),,''' sorties oCer #uro7e$ +f those the /th AF had 3 P38 F>s the 1,1th, 33,th and the 3,'th$ Ghe 1,1th fle; from A7ril *11 to A7ril *1 haCing flo;n Dust sh: of &1,''' sorties, the others ;ere dis"anded in Se7tem"er and +cto"er A don*t haCe

sortie num"ers :et "ut the: ;ould haCe flo;n a77ro9imatel: half of the sorties of the 1,1th$ Ghat ;ould leaCe the 8th AF ;ith N&'',''' sorties$ Ghe P- & losses of the 8th AF ;ere ),)'& -same source.$ Ghe P- & fle; )&1,''' sorties oCer #uro7e$ Ghe /th AF also had some P- &s "ut A ;ill ignore the added sorties here giCing the "enefit of the dou"t to the Mustang$ Go 7ut it sim7l: the P-38 lost 1 & aircraft to all causes to &'',''' sorties -loss rate of $''1 .$ Ghe P- & lost ),)'& aircraft in )&1,''' sorties -loss rate of $'&.$ Ghere ;ere more than t;ice the P&s lost 7er sortie as P-38s oCer #uro7e ": the 8th AF$ No; lets factor in conditions< &$ Ghe P-38 fle; escort alone for ) months, NoC - Jec *11 )$ Ghe P-38s teething 7ro"lems for the first 3-1 months$ 3$ Pilot and ground cre; learning curCe$ Ne; tactics, mission 7rofiles, location etc$ 1$ Ghe "est >erman 7ilots $ +utnum"ered <& ": the >ermans initiall: 3$ From Ma: *11 on a high 7ercentage of 7ure >4A missions ,$ 2lose escort 7eriod Ghe P- & 7rogram "enefited directl: from all that ;hen it came into serCice$ Eot ever#,od# loo'ed at the P-38 favora,l#& Lt& Col& $ar' H*,,ard openl# disli'ed the aircraft& He arg*ed that co"pressi,ilit# and incorrect intercoolers eli"inated the positive aspects of this aircraft& What he did not acco*nt for was the newness of co"pressi,ilit#& 7irt*all# all the top scientists had no e%perience with this pheno"ena3 and the E S ,loc'ed progress for "onths for fear that the e%tre"e testing wo*ld da"age their wind t*nnels& /he pro,le" with the intercoolers co*ld ,e easil# attri,*ted to the original design specifications& >ell# .ohnson had no idea the P-38 wo*ld ,e generating the a"o*nt of hp in the later "odels& He tho*ght the a"o*nt of hp wo*ld not e%ceed 5?;? hp& 9n 5A<<3 the P-38 engines were generating ;?C "ore power than envisioned ,ac' in 5A38& ct*al co",at "issions did not allow the P-38s to freel# attac' Ger"an fighters& /he# were either providing close escort for heav# ,o",ers3 or were fl#ing at low levels attac'ing gro*nd targets& When fl#ing escort3 the# had to sta# with the ,o",ers3 and co*ld not p*rs*e their targets& 9t was ver# li"ited3 and red*ced the aggressiveness of the pilots& /he P-38 did show that it had the a,ilit# to go the distance and tangle e4*all# with the ene"#& /he Ger"an fighters were not a,le to foc*s onl# on the ,o",ers& 9f the# were too foc*sed with a ,o",er3 it wo*ld ,e an eas# target for a P-38& $orale was high in the initial escorting "issions of the 11th =ighter Gro*p& $issions were s*ccessf*l3 and the ,o",er losses were ,eing effectivel# red*ced& 8# "id-Eove",er 5A<33 the winter weather was t*rning "ostl# ,ad& 8ad fl#ing weather posed "an# pro,le"s for the fighters3 and "echanical pro,le"s were on the rise& !%tre"e cold coc'pits when fl#ing at high altit*des was "a'ing effective co",at fl#ing e%tre"el# hard& Pilot "orale was on the decline3 and losses were on the rise& )*ring a Eove",er 0A "ission3 seven P-38s were lost3 and were onl# a,le to destro# three of the Ger"an fighters& Several aspects that are attri,*ted to the pro,le"s e%perienced ,# the P-38 are the following& 5& Were forced to operate a,ove 3?3??? ft&

0& Ger"ans wo*ld easil# perfor" a Split-S "ane*ver to get o*t of tro*,le& 3& /he *ni4*e ph#sical loo' of the P-383 "ainl# the tail-,oo"s3 ena,led the Ger"an pilots to easil# recogniFe the" as ene"# aircraft& <& !%tre"e cold coc'pits wo*ld ha"per pilot effectiveness& /he pilots wo*ld not ,e in good fighting condition when the# enco*ntered Ger"an fighters& 1& =l#ing a,ove 3?3??? ft& wo*ld increase chances of engine pro,le"s& ;& Weather co*ld ,e deadl#& /he P-38s were also hard to "aintain& 7er# tight cowled engines "ade it diffic*lt to gro*nd crews perfor"in "aintenance& Landing gear shoc's wo*ld lea' when it got ver# cold& /*r,ochargers wo*ld freeFe *p at high altit*des& /o "a'e "atters worse3 the t*r,ochargers onl# had two settings3 low (not eno*gh to s*stain high altit*de flight) and high ("ore li'el# to ,low *p)& /here were instances of pilots fl#ing "*ch lower :*st to war" *p3 and in the process3 e%posed the"selves to fire& When the e4*ip"ent was wor'ing properl#3 the P-38 was a definite "atch for Ger"an fighters& 9n fact3 when ,elow 0?3??? ft&3 the P-38 was s*perior in "an# wa#s& /he pro,le" was that the Ger"ans rarel# engaged "erican fighters at lower altit*des& General )oolittle was especiall# fed *p with all the engine pro,le"s& $an# theories e%ist as to the reason wh#& 9n other theaters3 the llison engines were fairl# relia,le& 2ne theor# was that the 4*alit# of the 8ritish aircraft f*el was not a high as the "erican developed aircraft f*el& When operating with the 8ritish f*el3 this theor# states that the t*r,ochargers wo*ld ,eco"e "ore volatile and ca*se ter"inal engine fail*res& nother possi,le theor# was the nat*re of the co",at and weather& /he aircraft3 especiall# in the fall-winter "onths3 were constantl# soa'ed with "oist*re on the gro*nds& Co",ine that with fl#ing at e%tre"e high altit*des3 conditions were ripe for engine fail*res& 9n other theaters3 the P-38s flew at lower altit*des3 and were not operating in the sa"e weather conditions& Whatever the reason for the engine pro,le"s3 the P-38 was on the wa# o*t in the !/2& /he P-<6s were ,eginning to get so"e pro,le"s in that design wor'ed o*t3 and the longrange P-15s were arriving& So"e of the P-38s were transferred to the Ath ir =orce and "ostl# started carr#ing o*t tactical stri'es& 9n .an*ar# 5A<<3 the 0?th =ighter Gro*p engaged a force of Ger"an fighters& /he# proceeded to destro# ten at the loss of onl# two P-38s& Lt& .a"es $orris had a good da# on =e,r*ar# 8 5A<<& $orris was fl#ing at a low altit*de when he spotted a Ger"an aircraft& He 4*ic'l# dispatched it3 and spotted another Ger"an& $orris 4*ic'l# downed three Ger"an fighters3 a loco"otive3 and too' down #et another fighter on his wa# ,ac' ho"e& /he 0?th too' had another good "ission on pril 8& /he# were on a sweep with no ,o",ers to escort& /he# attac'ed several targets of opport*nit# and also attac'ed an airfield near SalFwedel& Several Ger"an fighters intercepted the P-38s3 ,*t were forced to retreat after s*ffering so"e losses& 9n the "onths leading to invasion of Eor"and#3 the P-38s wo*ld have tre"endo*s s*ccess3 and were responsi,le for h*ndreds of targets destro#ed&

/he P-38s contin*ed s*pporting the invasion forces after )-da#& 2n .*l# A3 the P-38s were o*t in force and engaged a large force of Ger"an aircraft& /he# destro#ed "an# of the Ger"ans witho*t an# significant losses& /he 0?th =ighter Gro*p protected attac'ing 8-0< ,o",ers& Shot down seven Ger"ans for the loss of onl# one P-38& /he 11th S4*adron destro#ed eight =W-5A?s and three $!-5?As witho*t ta'ing an# losses& t the end of the da#3 twent#-one Ger"an aircraft were destro#ed to the loss of onl# one P-38& Captain L& !& 8l*"er was fl#ing with the 3;6th =ighter Gro*p on *g*st 01& He :*st co"pleted a ,o",ing attac'& 2n the wa# ,ac'3 he ca"e to the assistance of another s4*adron of P-38s and proceeded to shoot down five Ger"an fighters& /he P-38s pla#ed an i"portant role in the invasion& /heir aggressive attac's on Ger"an targets essentiall# paral#Fed their co""*nication s#ste"& =ield $arshall von +*nstedt and +eich $arshall Goering cited the co""*nication s#ste" ta'edown was the "ost i"portant factoring the defeat of the Ger"an forces in the west& /he relentless attac's also instilled terror and despair into the Ger"an troops& 8etween pril 8 and .*l# 0<3 the 0?th destro#ed the following: 351 loco"otives 5?? a""*nition cars 86 oil tan' cars 5??? freight cars 36? "otor vehicles 8A Ger"an aircraft in flight 3A Ger"an aircraft on the gro*nd

$an# ,arges3 ,oats3 radar installations3 high-tension towers3 s"all factories3 and hangars /he P-38 did "ore to inflict da"age onto Ger"an forces while operating at low-levels than the# wo*ld have fl#ing at high altit*des& When fl#ing low3 the P-38 did not have nearl# as "an# pro,le"s with engine pro,le"s than if fl#ing over 0?3??? ft& 9f the Ger"an fighters decided to engage the P-383 the low-level advantages of the P-38 wo*ld co"e into pla# and give the "erican pilots the advantage& /he Ger"an pilots wo*ld also not ,e a,le to dive o*t of tro*,le3 so dive flaps were not needed& co*ple of draw,ac's of fl#ing low-level "issions was the e%pos*re to fire fro" the gro*nd and the height advantage the Ger"an pilots wo*ld possess& /he P-38 was a,le to ta'e advantage of its speed& 9t co*ld "a'e 4*ic' attac's and gain altit*de for another attac'& /his "ethod of attac' created ,etter res*lts than engaging in p*re dog fighting& /hese tactics were ,ased on the P-38 having ,etter speed than either Ger"an fighter& 9t also re4*ired close tea"wor' ,etween the "erican pilots& /he# preferred to ta'e either Ger"an fighter to low altit*des& /he P-38 co*ld o*t-dive and overta'e the Ger"an fighters& Eor"all# the# achieved good res*lts&

Co""on Ger"an tactics wo*ld *se a lone fighter fl#ing low as ,ait& 9f so"e P-38 pilots decided to go for the @eas#@ 'ill3 the rest of the Ger"an fighters wo*ld have the altit*de advantage and po*nce on the P-38s& "erican pilots 4*ic'l# learned to leave so"e P-38s fl#ing topside cover in these instances to prevent a Ger"an s*rprise attac'& =ere are some >ermans o7inions< &. EJohannes Steinhoff, Iommodore of J> ,, in North Africa, Sicil: and Atal:, fl:ing ?f &'/s, had this to sa: a"out the P-38, *A had encountered the long-range P-38 Lightning fighter during the last fe; da:s of the North African cam7aign, +ur o7inion of this t;in-"oomed, t;in-engined aircraft ;as diCided$ +ur old Messerschmitts ;ere still, 7erha7s, a little faster$ ?ut 7ilots ;ho had fought them said that the Lightnings ;ere ca7a"le of a77recia"l: tighter turns and that the: ;ould "e on :our tail "efore :ou kne; ;hat ;as ha77ening$ Ghe machine guns mounted on the nose su77osedl: 7roduced a concentration of fire from ;hich there ;as no esca7e$ 2ertainl: the effect ;as reminiscent of a ;atering can ;hen one of those dangerous a77aritions started firing tracer, and it ;as essential to 7reCent them manoeuCring into a 7osition from ;hich the: could "ring their guns to "ear$E P-38 Lightning, ": Jeffre: #thell4Ghe >reat ?ook of 88AA Air7lanes, ?onanaHa ?ooks, &/81, 7age )&$ ). E+"erleutnant FranH Steigler, a )8 Cictor: ace in the ?f &'/ ;ith J> ), in North Africa, said the P-38s Ecould turn inside us ;ith ease and the: could go from leCel flight to clim" almost instantaneousl:$ 8e lost !uite a fe; 7ilots ;ho tried to make an attack and then 7ull u7$ Ghe P38s ;ere on them at once$ Ghe: closed so !uickl: that there ;as little one could do e9ce7t roll !uickl: and diCe do;n, for ;hile the P-38 could turn inside us, it rolled Cer: slo;l: through the first or &' degrees of "ank, and ": then ;e ;ould alread: "e gone$ +ne cardinal rule ;e neCer forgot ;as< aCoid fighting a P-38 head on$ Ghat ;as suicide$ Gheir armament ;as so heaC: and their fire7o;er so murderous, that no one eCer tried that t:7e of attack more than once$EP-38 Lightning, ": Jeffre: #thell4Ghe >reat ?ook of 88AA Air7lanes, ?onanaHa ?ooks, &/81Pages )&,))$ 3$ -=einH Inoke descri7tion of a duel ;ith a P-38 -from EA Fle; for the FuhrerE.< E$$$At once A 7eel off and diCe into the Lightnings "elo;$ Ghe: s7ot us and s;ing round to;ards us to meet the attack$$$$ Ghen ;e are in a madl: milling dogfight$$$it is a case of eCer: man for himself$ A remain on the tail of a Lightning for seCeral minutes$ At flies like the deCil himself, turning, diCing, and clim"ing almost like a rocket$ A am neCer a"le to fire more than a fe; 7otshots$$$$E

Der Gabelschwanz Teufel

Assessing the Lockheed P-38 Lightning
/echnical +eport P -/+-0?5?-50?5 by Dr Carlo o!!" #$A%AA" #$%&&&" P&ng )ece",er3 '()(

Additions by Corey C* +ordan" ),,,* Te-t and Diagra.s / ),,'" ),,, Carlo o!!" Te-t and Diagra.s / ),,, Corey C* +ordan0 1!dated '()( The contribution of Lockheed's twin-boom P-38 Lightning fighter to the crucial air battles of World War II has been consistently understated for the last five decades !eceiving far less "ublicity than its single engined stablemate# the P-$%# the big twin fought the most im"ortant air battles of the %&'3 to %&'' "eriod and was a key element in breaking the back of ()is air "ower over *ermany# and in the +editerranean and the Pacific The P-38 excelled in that design parameter which is pivotal to fighting a strategic air war, its combat radius in excess of 700 N !"# had no e$uivalent in either camp% The &ightning's combat radius was exploited repeatedl( and surprisingl(, the &ightning repeatedl( succeeded in catching its opponents off guard% )oth in the Pacific and the editerranean, the P-38 provided long range escort for heav( bombers, long range fighter sweeps deep into hostile airspace and interdiction of surface targets% *n the +,, the P-38 wings initiall( provided long range escort for the 8th -ir .orce, in that critical phase of the da(light bombing offensive, when &uftwaffe strength was at its best, and +/ bomber losses began to reach unsustainable proportions% The presence of the P-38 allowed the offensive to continue at a point, where it ma( have been scaled down due disproportionate attrition% The &oc0heed P-38 was a complex aircraft, using innovative technolog(, which experienced a painful and protracted development phase and in the end, was denied the credit which it deserved for the importance of its role% This becomes all the more apparent upon closer examination% An the #G+, the 8th Air Force ;as still ;orking u7 and the "om"er commanders initiall: sa; little use for the Lightning, as the: still "elieCed in the conce7t of unescorted da:light "om"ing$ Nearl: all P-38F4>s ;ere de7lo:ed to North Africa, to su77ort the Gorch landings in Morocco and Algiers$ Ghe P-38s fle; air su7eriorit: and ground attack missions in the MG+, inflicting heaC: damage on the >erman and Atalian air, sea and land conCo:s attem7ting to reinforce the theater$ Ghe P38 ;as the onl: US fighter ca7a"le of engaging the ?f&'/> and F;&/'A on e!ual terms, 7roCiding escort for "om"ers ;ell out of the range of the BAF S7itfires$ ?: mid March &/13, the A9is had a force in e9cess of '' Ju- )s, Me-3)3s and SM$8)s dedicated to reinforcing the theater$ Ghe Allies a77lied the long-legged P-38 to cut this air "ridge from Sicil:, some measure of the intensit: of this "attle can "e gauged ": three nota"le sorties$ +n the th A7ril )3 P-38s engaged a conCo: of ,' Ju- )s escorted ": )1 Luft;affe fighters, destro:ing && trans7orts and ) fighters, for the loss of 3 P-38s$ +n the &'th A7ril, 1& trans7orts and 8 fighters ;ere dis7atched, the follo;ing da: )3 Ju- )s and fighters ;ere destro:ed for no loss$ Ghe Allied landings in Sicil: and Atal: sa; further successes for the P-38 force, a nota"le highlight "eing an Allied

conCo: escort 2AP on the /th +cto"er, during ;hich Lt$2ol$ 8$L$ LeCerette shot do;n , Ju-8, diCe "om"ers, another of his 7ilots do;ning another aircraft$ At is not sur7rising that >erman 7ilots nicknamed the P-38 Jer >a"elsch;anH Geufel -the Fork-Gailed JeCil.$ Ghe outstanding success of the P-38 in the Med and the Pacific ;as not matched ": units of the 8th AF in the UI$ Ghese ;ere a77lied to the long range escort role, e!ui77ed ;ith the P-38=$ Ghe = model, a sto7ga7 ;hile 7roduction of the P-38J ;as "eing organised, su77lanted the > in Ma:, &/13, and differed 7rimaril: in the use of more 7o;erful F-&, engines ;ith automatic engine mi9ture controls -autolean4autorich., ?-33 tur"ochargers and automatic oil cooler fla7s, and a ne; AN-M)2 cannon$ Ghe more 7o;erful 6-&,&'F-&, hit the design limits of the leading edge intercoolers, oil coolers and radiators, ;hich limited militar: 7o;er out7ut to &,)1'-&,3 ' =P, onl: late "uild aircraft ;ith im7roCed oil coolers could maintain the nominal &,1) =P$ Ghe th F> "ecame o7erational ;ith the P-38= at Nutham7stead in the UI, in +cto"er, &/13, de7lo:ing from Mc2hord Field in 8ashington state, ;here it ;as a training unit 7eriodicall: stri77ed of s!uadrons to reinforce MG+ and S8PA F>s$ Gasked ;ith "om"er escort at high altitude, the single grou7 of P-38s 7roCided dee7 escort outside of the range of the seCen P-1, grou7s and numerous BAF S7itfire s!uadrons, ;hich escorted "om"ers oCer the 2hannel$ At this time the Luft;affe ;as at its 7eak, ;ith 8 Jagd>esch;aders -J>&, J>), J>3, J>&&, J>)3, J> &, J>&'3. e!ui77ed ;ith ?f&'/> and F;&/'A and 3 NachtJagd>esch;aders -NJ>&, NJ>), NJ>3. e!ui77ed ;ith ?f&&'> aCaila"le to defend the continent, each J>4NJ> ;ith t:7icall: 3 Staffels -S!uadrons. 7er J>4NJ>$ Ghe P-38s ;ere all that stood "et;een the Luft;affe and the "om"ers, '' NM dee7 inside hostile airs7ace$ Unescorted, the ?-&,s and ?-)1s suffered u7 to 3'O attrition on some raids and the P-38s ;ere the onl: aircraft ;ith the radius to the task$ G:7icall:, P-1, Ghunder"olts 7roCided fighter coCer to and from the >erman "order$ Ghe P-1,, trul: an e9cellent high altitude fighter, ;as saddled ;ith its limited range$ Ghe: ;ere Dust "eginning to "e e!ui77ed ;ith "ell: mounted dro7 tanks$ Pet, these ;ere still inade!uate for fl:ing "e:ond the >erman frontier$ Ghe rotund Ghunder"olt ;ould suffer from a lack of range until the arriCal of the P-1,J-) -B# later in &/11$ Ghis model had &'' gallons of increased internal tankage and 7roCision for three e9ternal dro7 tanks$ #Cen ;ith the arriCal of some P- &? Mustangs, the P-38 ;as to "ear the "runt of dee7 7enetration escort dut: for the ne9t seCeral months$ Ghe P- &? e!ui77ed 3 1th -/th AF. ;ent o7erational in late Jecem"er, &/13, follo;ed ": the 3 ,th and 1th F>s in Fe"ruar:, &/11$ Ghe P-38 e!ui77ed )31th ;ent o7erational in March, &/11, and the 1,/th as late as Ma: &/11$ Juring the critical late months of &/13 the P-38 stood alone, ;ith Mustang num"ers "uilding ra7idl: from Fe"ruar: &/11$ 8ith a large 7ro7ortion of Pacific and Med P-38 o7erations flo;n at medium to lo; altitudes, Lockheed and Allison had little o7erational e97erience ;ith the aircraft at high altitude and lo; am"ients and this ;as !uickl: reCealed$ Ghe Allisons mis"ehaCed !uite consistentl:, *thro;ing rods, s;allo;ing CalCes and fouling 7lugs* ;hile the intercoolers often ru7tured under sustained high "oost, and tur"ocharger regulators froHe at &' in$ or 8' in$ of "oost, the latter often resulting in catastro7hic failures$ #Cen ;ith the arriCal of the P-38J, engines and tur"ochargers continued to fail$ Ghe ne; intercooler4oil cooler design ;as actuall: too efficient and the enlarged radiators "ecame a ne; 7ro"lem$ Fuel too, ;as a source of trou"le, it is "elieCed ": man: kno;ledgea"le 7eo7le that the maDorit: of fuel used in ?ritain ;as im7ro7erl: "lended, the anti-knock lead com7ounds coming out of solution -se7arating. in the Allison*s induction s:stem at e9treme lo;

tem7eratures$ Ghis could lead to detonation and ra7id engine failure, es7eciall: at the higher 7o;er settings demanded for com"at$ Man: of the P-38*s assigned to escort missions ;ere forced to a"ort and return to "ase$ Most of the a"orts ;ere related to engines coming a7art in flight, ;ith intercoolers that chilled the fuel4air mi9ture too much$ Badiators that could lo;er engine tem7s "elo; normal o7erating minimums$ +il coolers that could congeal the oil to sludge$ Ghese 7ro"lems could haCe "een fi9ed at the s!uadron leCel$ Pet, the: ;ere not$ At took the P-38J-) -L+ and L model to eliminate these headaches$ Add su"-standard fuel, green 7ilots, 7oor tactics and the 8th had a serious 7ro"lem in the making$ =aCing had their num"ers seriousl: reduced ": a"orts, the remaining fighters ;ere all the more hard 7ressed ": Castl: su7erior num"ers of Luft;affe fighters$ Ghe single ine97erienced th F> often fought the J>s outnum"ered <&, and the o7erational de"ut of the )'th F> in late Jecem"er &/13, e!ui77ed ;ith a mi9ed inCentor: of P-38= and P-38J- 4&'-L+ did not dramaticall: im7roCe the situation$ Ghere is little ;onder that loss rates ;ere relatiCel: high and the kill to loss ratio ;as "elo; that of the P-1,*s ;hich could "e massed ": the hundreds -,'' P-1,*s fl:ing escort ;as not uncommon.$ Ghe Luft;affe !uickl: learned to 7osition the "ulk of their fighters Dust "e:ond the range of the Ghunder"olts and re7eatedl: fle; aggressiCe small unit am"ushes against the handful of P-38s tied to close escort and thus denied the freedom to engage at ;ill$ Go aggraCate these 7ro"lems, inade!uate cock7it heating resulted in seCere 7ilot frost"ite, ;hile the Luft;affe !uickl: learned a"out the com7ressi"ilit: 7ro"lems in diCes, ;ith >erman 7ilots eCading the P-38s ": e9ecuting a s7lit-S at high s7eed$ Ghe initial roll rate ;as not s7ectacular and the easil: recogniHed 7lanform 7roCided the Luft;affe ;ith :et another adCantage to 7la:$ Poor serCicea"ilit: and engine 7ro"lems meant that initiall: ' or less aircraft ;ere aCaila"le for such missions, including the first escorts oCer ?erlin, and therefore the th and later also )'th F> usuall: fought the J>s outnum"ered "et;een three to one and fiCe to one, as noted 7reCiousl:$ Ghe large num"er of engine failures dee7 inside enem: airs7ace e9acer"ated the 7ro"lem, and the aggregate e9change rate, accidents inclusiCe, dro77ed to a"out &<&$ in faCour of the Lightning ": &/11$ Aircre; morale dro77ed, moreso due to the large num"er of single engine landing accidents, thus further damaging the aircraft*s re7utation$ Ghe technical 7ro"lems ;ere not resolCed until the introduction of the P-38J-) -L+, ": ;hich time the 8th had decided that the ne; Merlin 7o;ered P- &?42 ;as a "etter choice for the mission$ An hindsight, ;hile the P-38= and earl: J Cariants ma: not haCe 7erformed to e97ectations in the #G+, ;hat is oCerlooked is that their 7resence alone allo;ed the da:light offensiCe to 7roceed at the most crucial 7hase of the "attle, the last !uarter of &/13, leading to eCentual air su7eriorit: ": the middle of &/11, ;hen the P- &*s reached full strength$ At is safe to sa: that ;ere larger num"ers of the P-38 aCaila"le to offset Luft;affe num"ers, and more e97erienced 7ilots made aCaila"le to cre; the P-38, the oCerall result ;ould haCe looked far "etter$ Ghe common conclusion that the P-38 ;as inade!uate for the needs of the 8th is fre!uentl: "ased u7on com7arisons of the scores achieCed ": the )'th and th F>s during the late Fe"ruar: EArgumentE raids, in com7arison ;ith the P- &? e!ui77ed 3 1th F> -/th AF. and the 3 ,th F> -8th AF., and the scoring 7erformance of the P- &? e!ui77ed 1th F> in the earl: March raids into >erman:$ Ghe factor ;hich is ignored ": critics of the P-38 is tactical and aircraft47o;er7lant handling e97erience$ Ghe 1th F> com7rised the former BAF #agle S7itfire

s!uadrons, and ;as ": far the most e97erienced USAAF F> in the #G+$ Ghe 3 1th ;as "eing led ": ?lakeslee, formerl: of the 1th F>$ Ghe 3 ,th dre; directl: on the e97erience of the 1th and the 3 1th F>s$ All three F>s dre; on the initial long range escort e97erience of the th$ In summary a valuable pool of tactical experience and engine handling experience for the Merlin equipped P-51B existed in the th !"# and this experience could be directly applied to the P-51B$ %o such experience existed for the turbocharged &llison po'ered t'in engined P-() in theatre$ *he valuable tactical and handling experience of the +,P& !"s 'as a theatre a'ay$ -nly a limited number of M*- pilots 'ere made available for the ./th and 55th# and both units had ta0en heavy losses during the early escort missions# impacting both morale and the rate at 'hich experience could be accumulated in these !"s$ Many of the P-() handling techniques developed in the +,P& to counter the highly manoeuvrable and s0illed 1apanese opposition# such as differential throttle and rudder assisted roll entries# 'ere never practiced 'idely in the 2*-$ Jes7ite these difficulties the th did ;ell on a num"er of sorties during this 7eriod$ +n the 3rd NoCem"er, &/13, the th in concert ;ith the e97erienced 1th, 3th and ,8th F>s clashed ;ith the elite J> &$ Ghe th accounted for , Luft;affe fighters of the &3 claimed$ +n the ) th NoCem"er, &/13, 1 F8-&/'s ;ere claimed for the loss of one P-38=, one of the Focke-8ulfs "elonging to MaDor J$ Seifert -an Ee97ertE ;ith , kills., >ru77enkommandeur of AA4J>)3$ +ther sorties ;ere much less successful, and heaC: losses ;ere suffered on a num"er of occasions$ A heaC: 7rice ;as e9acted for the de7lo:ment of ine97erienced 7ilots in a Cer: demanding theatre in the hitherto untried long range escort mission 7rofile$ Perha7s the "est criti!ue of the #G+ record of the P-38 is that ": former )'th F> 2a7t$ Arthur =eiden, ;ho fle; the P-38 during the S7ring of &/11, in the com7an: of "etter kno;n 7ilots such as Jack Alfre:, and #rnest Fie"elkorn, later instructed on the P-38 and P- &, and after the ;ar ;ent on to log in e9cess of ) ,''' hrs of fl:ing time< 3*he quality of multi-engine training during ,orld ,ar II bordered on the ridiculous$ I am convinced that 'ith training methods no' in use 'e could ta0e most of civilian private pilots 'ho might be about to fly the &4tec or 5essna (1/# and in ten hours# have a more confident pilot than the ones 'ho fle' off to 'ar in the P-()$ & P-() pilot usually got his training in t'o 'ays$ *he first 'ay# of course# 'as t'in-engine advanced training in 5urtiss &*-6s# 'hich had the unhappy feature of having propellers you couldn7t feather$ &fter sixty hours of this# the student received ten hours of &*-8 gunnery# although he might get his gunnery training in the &*-6# since &*-8s 'ere in short supply$3 3&t this point he had his chance to fly the 9P-(.. for another t'enty hours$ *he (..# as you 0no'# 'as the British version of the airplane# and they came 'ith assorted equipment and things on them that nobody could predict$ :pon graduation from the 9P-(.. he 'as assigned to a P-() 9eplacement *raining :nit ;9*:< or an -perational *raining :nit ;-*:< for 1// hours or more of fighter training$ & second 'ay to get into the P-() 'as to transition from single engine fighters$ In this event# someone probably too0 him up in a multi-engine transport or bomber and demonstrated engine shutdo'n a couple of times after s0imming the tech order# a blindfold chec0# and then ignoring the chec0 list ;not for real fighter pilots=<# he blasted off$ More than one neophyte has described his first 3launch3 in a P-() as being hit in the ass 'ith a sno' shovel$3

32ither method of training# probably# made little difference as neither guy 0ne' that much about multi-engine operations and procedures$ *rue# he had been 'arned about the magic number of 1./ miles per hour his >me ;editor?>mca< or single-engine control speed$ @e had s'am in glue during a couple of prop featherings 'hile in formation 'ith his instructor$ @e 'as# also# 'arned never to turn into a dead engine# never put do'n the gear until he had made the field# and never to go around 'ith one caged$ *hat 'as about it until shortly thereafter the old &llison time bomb ble' up# and he 'as in business the hard 'ay$ 9ight on ta0eoff$ 3+ome people luc0ed out if the run'ay 'as long enough$ +ome overshot or undershot and they bent the 'hole thing$ +ome tried a single-engine go-around any'ay# usually 'ith horrible results$ +uch happenings 'ould ma0e a son of a bitch out of any saint$3 3*ony Aevier7s spectacular demonstrations 'ere an attempt to rectify all these problems# but the damage had been done$ *he &ir 5orps# as far as I 0ne'# never did change its pilot training$3 3!or perspective# it must also be remembered that t'o other significant events had ta0en place in training ;in 2ngland<$ *heater indoctrination at "oxhill in 2ngland had received the same overhaul that had occurred in the +tates$ *he most important of all may have been the training units set up by the combat organi4ations themselves$ @ere it 'as possible to up-date training to the latest information and for individual commanders to put their special stamp on things and develop ne' tactics$ 3But and this is giant to'ering B:* this 'as all for the P-51 pilots$3 3,hat 'ould have happened if the P-() pilots and their units could have been blessed 'ith the same 'onderful opportunityB3 For conte9t, ;e 7resent a 7reCiousl: un7u"lished letter from the 2ommanding +fficer of the )'th Fighter >rou7, to the 8th Air Force =ead!uarters$ Ghe letter s7ells out the 7ro"lems faced ": the P-38 >rou7s in clear, unam"iguous terms$

./th !ighter "roup @eadquarters &P- 8(C :$+$ &rmy ;2-.< ( 1une 16 +ubDect? P-() &irplane in 5ombat$ *o? 5ommanding "eneral# >III !ighter 5ommand# &P- 8(C# :$+$ &rmy$ 1$ *he follo'ing observations are being put in 'riting by the undersigned at the request of the 5ommanding "eneral# >II !5$ *hey are intended purely as constructive criticism and are intended in any 'ay to 3lo' rate3 our present equipment$ .$ &fter flying the P-() for a little over one hundred hours on combat missions it is my belief that the airplane# as it stands no'# is too complicated for the 7average7 pilot$ I 'ant to put strong emphasis on the 'ord 7average# ta0ing full consideration Dust ho' little combat training our pilots have before going on as operational status$ ($ &s a typical case to demonstrate my point# let us assume that 'e have a pilot fresh out of flying school 'ith about a total of t'enty-five hours in a P-()# starting out on a combat mission$ @e is on a deep ramrod# penetration and target support to maximum endurance$ @e is cruising

along 'ith his po'er set at maximum economy$ @e is pulling (13 @g and .1// 9PM$ @e is auto lean and running on external tan0s$ @is gun heater is off to relieve the load on his generator# 'hich frequently gives out ;under sustained heavy load<$ @is sight is off to save burning out the bulb$ @is combat s'itch may or may not be on$ !lying along in this condition# he suddenly gets 3bounced3# 'hat to do flashes through his mind$ @e must turn# he must increase po'er and get rid of those external tan0s and get on his main$ +o# he reaches do'n and turns t'o stiff# difficult gas s'itches EvalvesF to main - turns on his drop tan0 s'itches# presses his release button# puts the mixture to auto rich ;t'o separate and clumsy operations<# increases his 9PM# increases his manifold pressure# turns on his gun heater s'itch ;'hich he must feel for and cannot possibly see<# turns on his combat s'itch and he is ready to fight$ &t this point# he has probably been shot do'n or he has done one of several things 'rong$ Most common error is to push the throttles 'ide open before increasing 9PM$ *his causes detonation and subsequent engine failure$ -r# he forgets to s'itch bac0 to auto rich# and gets excessive cylinder head temperature 'ith subsequent engine failure$ $ In my limited experience 'ith a P-() group# 'e have lost as least four ; < pilots# 'ho 'hen bounced# too0 no immediate evasive action$ *he logical assumption is that they 'ere so busy in the coc0pit# trying to get organi4ed that they 'ere shot do'n before they could get going$ 5$ *he question that arises is# 'hat are you going to do about itB It is standard procedure for the group leader to call# five minutes before 9G> and tell all the pilots to 3prepare for trouble3$ *his is the signal for everyone to get into auto rich# turn drop tan0 s'itches on# gun heaters on# combat and sight s'itches on and to increase 9PM and manifold pressure to maximum cruise$ *his procedure# ho'ever# does not help the pilot 'ho is bounced on the 'ay in and 'ho is trying to conserve his gasoline and equipment for the escort Dob ahead$ 8$ ,hat is the ans'er to these difficultiesB During the past several 'ee0s 'e have been visited at this station time and time again by Aoc0heed representatives# &llison representatives and high ran0ing &rmy personnel connected 'ith these t'o companies$ *hey all as0 about our troubles and then proceed to tell us about the marvelous mechanisms that they have devised to overcome these troubles that the &ir !orce has turned do'n as 3unnecessary3$ 5hief among these is a unit po'er control# incorporating an automatic manifold pressure regulator# 'hich 'ill control po'er# 9PM and mixture by use of a single lever$ It is obvious that there is a crying need for a device li0e that in combat$ C$ It is easy to understand 'hy test pilots# 'ho have never been in combat# cannot readily appreciate 'hat each split second means 'hen a 3bounce3 occurs$ 2very last motion 'hen you get bounced is Dust another nail in your coffin$ &ny device 'hich 'ould eliminate any of the enumerated above# are obviously very necessary to ma0e the P-() a really effective combat airplane$ )$ It is also felt that that much could done to simplify the gas s'itching system in this airplane$ *he s'itches Evalve selector handlesF are all in a'0'ard positions and extremely hard to turn$ *he toggle s'itches for outboard tan0s are almost impossible to operate 'ith gloves on$ 6$ My personal feeling about this airplane is that it is a fine piece of equipment# and if properly handled# ta0es a bac0 seat for nothing that the enemy can produce$ But it does need simplifying to bring it 'ithin the capabilities of the 7average7 pilot$ I believe that pilots li0e 5olonel Ben Helsey and 5olonel 5ass @uff are among the finest pilots in the 'orld today$ But I also believe

that it is difficult for men li0e them to place their thin0ing and ability on the level of a youngster 'ith a bare .5 hours in the airplane# going into his first combat$ *hat is the sort of thin0ing that 'ill have to be done# in my opinion# to ma0e the P-() a first-class all around fighting airplane$ @&9-AD 1$ 9&: 5olonel# &ir 5orps# 5ommanding$ 2a7tain Stan Bichardson of the th Fighter >rou7 recalls some of his e97eriences as an instructor -"efore his tour ;ith the th. at a stateside BGU$ *he airplane 'as a 3dream3 on single-engine$ ,hile I 'as instructing in P-()7s at Muroc &&!# on occasion the instructor and three students ;four ship flight< 'ould each feather the right propeller ;remember# only a single generator# and that on the left engine< for a 3tail chase3 'hich included loops# slo' and barrel rolls# and Dust generally having a good time$ *he exercise 'as to instill confidence in the pilots ability to control the aircraft on one engine$ My area of 3expertise3 'hile instructing at Muroc 'as single-engine demo7s in a piggybac0 P-()$ *a0e-off on t'o engines# feather the right engine shortly after ta0e-off$ 5limb to 1/#///7$ Demonstrate various emergency procedures ;landing gear and flap extension<# propeller operation in fixed pitch ;simulating electrical failure<# high speed stalls# a loop# a roll or t'o# then return to the airfield for landing on one engine$ Ma0e a typical fighter approach on the dec0# pitch out# drop the landing gear# then some flaps# finally full flaps and plun0 it onto the run'ay$ !or a short period in my life flying P-()7s I had as much time on one engine as I did on t'o$ Heep in mind that most of my P-() flying occurred Dust after my ./th birthday$ +ome of my P-() combat time 'as 'hile I 'as a ./ year old snot-nosed 0id$ %o brains# lotsa luc0$ "ad= I love that bird$$$$$ It 'as a dandy flying machine in instrument conditions associated 'ith poor 'eather$ I had to return once from Berlin on one engine$ %o problem$3 2a7t$ =eiden ;ent on to discuss some of the 7ro"lems inherent ;ith high altitude escort missions oCer #uro7e$ =e 7oints out that all the com"at instructors ;ho gained their e97erience in Africa or in the Pacific, had done the Cast maDorit: of their com"at fl:ing "elo; )',''' feet$ Gherefore, ne; 7ilots ;ere trained to fl: the P-38 at altitudes "elo; that height$ 6er: fe; 7ilots had flo;n the Lightning at the altitudes re!uired ": 8th Air Force mission 7rofiles and ;ere loath to do so$ Man: of the P-38 trained 7ilots arriCing in ?ritain re!uested assignment to the /th Air Force in order to fl: at lo;er leCels ;here the: had "oth e97erience and confidence in the a"ilit: of the air7lane to do the Do"$ Nonetheless, the high 7riorit: giCen to 7roCiding escort fighters determined that nearl: all the incoming 7ilots ;ere destined for the 8th$ Most P-38 7ilots ;ere com7letel: un7re7ared for high altitude o7erations nor the technical 7ro"lems inColCed$ 2a7t$ =eiden continues< 3*hese ne' pilots made their attempts to go to altitude$ *his is 'hat the curriculum called for and they gave it their best# but those early airplanes# the 'ay they 'ere set up# Dust 'ouldn7t ma0e it$ *here 'ere disastrous incidents of ignition brea0do'n because of high-tension lea0age$ *he oxygen systems 'ere 'oefully inadequate$ *his is 'hat they put into the airplane and the pilot in the coc0pit 'as stuc0 'ith he had$ It Dust 'ouldn7t do the Dob$ %o one li0ed (/#/// feet

any'ay$ *here had been no training for it$ *here had never been any need for it$ It 'as too cold and the 'indo's frosted up$3 3&ll this piled up on the )th &ir !orce pilots# but there they 'ere at (/#/// feet plus and sixty belo' 4ero$ It 'as miserable$3 3*hen things really started to come apart$ %o'# suddenly# turbochargers 'ere running a'ay$ *hey 'ere blo'ing up engines on the basis of one engine blo' up every seven hours$ Intercoolers 'ere separating the lead from the fuel and the result 'as lo'ered octane$ @ands and feet 'ere free4ingI pilots 'ere calling their airplanes airborne ice 'agons and they 'ere right$ !rost on the 'indo's got thic0er than ever$ Most disgusting of all 'as the leisurely 'ay the "erman fighters made their get-a'ays straight do'n$3 3&nother problem seldom mentioned 'as the single generator problem$ If a generator 'as lost or a lo' battery the 5urtis 2lectric prop 'ould lose the Dynamic Bra0e and go to extreme Ao' Pitch$ *his 'as called a 9:% &,&J$ It could happen on *a0e -ff 'ith a lo' battery$ +ince you couldn7t feather# it set up a lot of drag ma0ing it difficult to ma0e it around to land$ *he Hiller situation 'as to lose the "enerator or lose the engine 'ith the "enerator on it 'hile . or (hrs into "ermany$ Procedure 'as to +2* the Props then turn off all electrical po'er$ *hen momentarily turn it bac0 on to reset the props as needed$ Being sure everything electrical 'as also turned off -- %o 9adios$ *he forgotten thing 'as you 'ere at altitude and the -&* 'as -8/degrees and the little old battery 'as cold soa0ed$ @ence# dead as a dog$ 9esult# 'ith a lot of altitude you have less than an hour 'ith one or t'o props in 9:%&,&J$ I have no statistics to bac0 me up on this# but believe# that more P-()s 'ere lost from this than any other factor including combat$ *his simple problem did not receive attention until &pril# 7 $3 3*his leads us to another vague fact$ *his is the need of boost pumps to maintain fuel pressure to the engines at around ./#///7 and above$ %o boost pumps# a pilot 'ill need to get do'n to ./H or belo'# and if he needs more than cruise po'er he 'ill have to get 'ay do'n lo'$3 3My only experience in these problems# 'as of course the runa'ay prop# and once 'hen the boost pump circuit brea0ers popped 'hile 'e 'ere engaged 'ith some 1/6s$ +o there I 'as holding in the circuit brea0ers 'ith my right hand 'hile flying 'ith my left# hoping to get to a lo'er altitude before something burned up$3 3P-() units from the moment of going on initial operational status 'ere committed to M&K 2!!-9*$ %o t'o 'ays about it$ %o time to sha0e things out# to discover your problems$ Jou got there and 4ap# you 'ere in up to your eyeballs$ *his meant that everything flyable 'ent and everything that still had 'ings 'ould be made flyable$ %o matter 'hat$ *his in effect 'as the same as demanding# by direct order# that everyone and everything must have# immediately if not sooner# 1// percent combat capabilities$ Ai0e 5asey 1ones# the pressure 'as all the 'ay up 'ithout any margins 'hatsoever$3 3Despite these revolting developments# the pilots of the )th 0ne' that the P-() could outturn# outclimb# outrun and outfight anybody7s airplane in the air so they set about rectifying their problems$3 32very one of these problems 'as solved 'ith the introduction of the P-()A$3

3Aet me repeat this again and again$ It can never be emphasi4ed too strongly$ It ma0es up the "ospel ,ord$ *he P-()A$ %o' there 'as the airplane$3 3%othing# to these pilots# after the hard 'inter of 16 (- could be more beautiful than a P-()A outrolling and tailgating a "erman fighter straight do'n# follo'ing a spin or split-+ or 'hatever gyration a startled# panic0ed and doomed "erman might attempt to initiate$ Jou Dust couldn7t get a'ay from the P-()A$ ,hatever the "erman could do# the &merican in the P-()A could do better$3 -cited from %8( ;ith 7ermission from Arthur 8$ =eiden.$ 2a7tain Stan Bichardson comments on the slo; initial roll rate of the earl: P-38= and J models de7lo:ed ;ith the 8th Air Force$ 3*he P-() 'as a large fighter 'ith much mass$ 5.7 'ingspan and long# 'ide-chord ailerons that contributed to slo' response along the longitudinal axis of the early airplanes$ *he higher the indicated airspeed# the slo'er the response$ &t very high I&+ it too0 plenty of muscle to roll the airplane$ I don7t believe that a Doystic0 'ould have improved matters over the 'heel$ *he Auft'affe soon recogni4ed the slo' roll rate of the 3@3 and early 313 model Aightnings and used it to their advantage$ It also learned of the dive restrictions caused by 3compressibility3 and used that advantage also$ +ometime in the development of the P-()# the design engineers must have reali4ed that P-()7s didn7t have great roll capability$ ,hen *ony Aevier# Aoc0heed test pilot# visited the 55th !"# he heard a common thread of complaints from the pilots$ 5old coc0pit# poor 3flic03 roll rate# and inability to dive after the Bf-1/67s and !,-16/7s from high altitude$ *he complaints 'ere relayed to the Aoc0heed factory# and design changes 'ere incorporated in the P-()A$ Prior to the arrival of the 3A7s3 at ,ormingford# many modification 0its 'ere shipped to Aangford Aodge# %orth Ireland# for field modifications of the 313 model Aightning then arriving in the theater$ :nfortunately# an early shipment aboard a D5- 'as lost at sea 'hen the Brits shot the cargo plane from the s0y$ It too0 several months to replace the lost modification 0its$ 2arly P-()1-5-A-7s 'ere modified at Aangford Aodge by the addition of the replacement 0its$ *he 0its added dive recovery flaps under the 'ings# outboard of the engines# and a (///psi hydraulically boosted aileron system$ *he P-()A7s 'ere no' coming do'n the production line 'ith the aileron boost and 3speed boards3 installed$ P-()7s from the 1-.57s on'ard 'ere 'hat 'e should have had 'hen 'e 'ent operational in -ctober 16 ($ *he compressibility problem of the P-() 'as also experienced by P- C *hunderbolts# and 'as not a mystery to aeronautical design engineers$ *he P-()1.5-A- and P-()A7s 'ere terrific$ 9oll 9ateB @a= %othing 'ould roll faster$ *he dive recovery flaps ameliorated the 3compressibility3 ;Mach limitation< of earlier Aightnings$ &n added benefit of the dive recovery flaps 'as their ability to pitch the nose 1/-./ degrees 3up3 momentarily 'hen trying to out turn the Auft'affe7s best# even 'hen using the flap combat position on the selector$ -f course the nose 3pitch-up3 resulted in increased aerodynamic drag# and must be used cautiously$ @igh speed is generally preferred over lo' speed in combat situations$ Properly flo'n# the !o'ler flaps of the P-() allo'ed very tight turning radius$3 Arthur =eiden o"serCed first-hand ho; tight a ;ell flo;n P-38 could turn$

3I remember an amusing incident# &pr 7 $ ,e had run into a real mess and the Auft'afe 'as bouncing everybody$ My flight had Dust been bounced# did the brea0# and the Auft'affe 0ept on going$ ,hile I 'as on guard# I sa' this other flight get bounced$ ,hile the rest of that flight did a halfhearted brea0# old tail-end 5harlie7s P-() emitted a cloud of exhaust smo0e ;thought he had been hit<# sa' his nose come up and 'rap up his turn$ Before I could thin0# old L 'as in the lead of that flight$ Impressed the hell out of me$ *urned out to have been !iebel0orn -- he 'as off to a good start$3 Ghe decision to re7lace the P-38J in the 8th AF ;ith the P- &, rather than the P-38L, meant that the 8th neCer got to e97loit the full 7erformance and com"at 7otential of the P-38$ 2a7t$ =eiden makes some further interesting o"serCations$ 3*he P-51 'as a ne' airplane and 'e 'ere eager to fly it and 'ere happy 'ith it$ It 'as so easy and comfortable to fly$ *he P-() had 0ept us on our toes and constantly busy--far more critical to fly$ Jou never could relax 'ith it$ ,e 'ere disappointed 'ith the 517s rate of climb and concerned 'ith the reverse stic0# especially if fuel 'as in the fuselage tan0# the rash of rough engines from fouled plugs# and crac0ed heads 'hich dumped the coolant$ ,ith the () you could be at altitude before landfall over the continent# but 'ith the 51 you still had a lot of climbing yet to do$ *he () 'as an interceptor and if both engines 'ere healthy# you could outclimb any other airplane# and that7s 'hat 'ins dog fights$ ,hen you are in a dog fight belo' tree tops# it is 'ay more comfortable in a () 'ith its po'er and stall characteristics and# for that matter at any altitude$3 Go summarise the 7erformance of the P-38 in the 8th AF, 2a7t =eiden notes< 3&ug (# )th&! has retrieved some Bomber "ps and has several original +pitfireGP- C !"s$ *'o P-() !"s# 1-P-51 !" that 'ill not be operational till late -ct and have to 'or0out tactics and maintenance problems# 'hich all are severe$ @ighly inadequate supply of &G5$3 3%ov$ (# P-()@s and P-51Bs beginning ops# find themselves in a climate environment none had experienced before and a superior opponent 'ith 1/ times the numbers$ !orced to ta0e the bombers to# over and 'ithdra' them$ Auc0y to get half of 'hat they had to the target after abortsGearly returns$ +ometimes as fe' as four fighters made it to target under attac0 continuously going and coming$ !ive minutes of M2*- po'er 'as planned into the profile$ Meaning that if you fought over five minutes you 'ouldn7t ma0e it home$ 9emember# you 'ere being bounced continuously$3 3!eb 11# # (5Cth!" goes on -ps ;P-51<$ th!" converts to P-51s$ .-'ee0s later and other groups are converting by end of !eb$ %o' fighter groups don7t have to go the 'hole to# over# and from target$ *he escort is no' Penetration# *arget# and ,ithdra'al# each leg is assigned to only one !"$ and many operational problems are being resolved$ Internal fuel on P-()s has been greatly increased 'ith ,ing and Aeading edge tan0s$ P- Cs are starting to get external fuel tan0s$3 3*he last half of ( brought horrendous losses# had forced "erman manufacturing underground and had forced "ermany to go to synthetic oil$ *his had increased the cost of 'ar exponentially to the "ermans$3

3!eb 'e 'ent bac0 to +ch'ienfurt 'ith acceptable loses$ March (rd the ./th M 55th!"s 'ent to Berlin--Bombers 'ere recalled$ March# &pril# and May brought vicious battles# often 'ith heavy loses$ @o'ever# "ermany 'ere thro'ing their valuable flight instructors and 1//hr students in to the battle$ *he Auft'affe 'as at last starting to die$3 3*he )th 'as# at last# being flooded 'ith Mustangs and 'ell trained pilots$ *he Mustang 'as a delight to fly# easier to maintain cheaper to build and train pilots for# and had long legs$ In those respects you can rightfully call it better# but it could not do anything better than a P-38J-25 or L. 1ust remember 'ho too0 the 'ar to the enemy and held on under inconceivable odds$ 2nough of the crap$3 P- &J - "est clim" is at ,'''ft - 3,3)'ft4min -,$ min to )','''ft. P-38J - "est clim" at SL - 1,'''ft aCe clim" to )','''ft - 3,,)1ft4min A haCe a P-38L gra7h that matches this $3,min to )','''ft. *Planes and Pilots of 88AA* site$ An AAF test 7uts it at 1$/&min to )','''ft, A don*t haCe it so Ats Dust a 7ossi"le at this time$ P- &J - Go7 s7eed - 113m7h P-38L - Go7 S7eed - 11)m7h -A haCe a Lockheed gra7h and haCe "een told there is an AAF test confirming this. ho;eCer A think until more solid data surfaces -the AAF re7ort. A*ll go ;ith 13&m7h$ P- &J - Acceleration - )$)m7h4sec Q & ,'''ft from cruise P-38L - Acceleration - )$8m7h4sec Q & ,'''ft from cruise P- &J - range - ),)''mi P-38L - range - ),3'' mile mission carried off in earl: *1 -see Smithsonian site. P- &J - gun 7ackage - 3 $ ' M) guns - sited at ) ':ards P-38L - gun 7ackage - 1 $ ' M) guns, & cannon )'mm - effectiCe to &,''':rds$ P- &J - load - ),'''l"s P-38L - load - 1,'''l"s - 3''l"s re7orted from the field$ ManeuCering ca7a"ilit:$ the AAF considered the F model as good from &',''' to & ,'''ft and the P-38F "etter that the P-1', P-1,, P-3/, and P- &-the "est handling Mustang model. a"oCe & ,'''ft$Ghe L ;as re7orted "etter, and ;ith maneuCering fla7s de7lo:ed ;as re7uted to "e a"le to turn ;ith an:thing, check the John Gille: stor: ;here he out turned a Rero at /'m7h and &,'''ft$ Ghe L model had com7ressa"ilit: slats de7lo:a"le at an: s7eed and could momentaril: 7o7 the nose u7 )'deg at an: s7eed, and could diCe after an:thing$ 8ith the aileron "oost could out roll an:thing a"oCe 3 'm7h -A can 7ost a gra7h. or its aCaila"le at the *Planes and Pilots of 88AA* site$ Ghe P-38 out 7erforms the P- &J in all "ut to7 s7eed, and cruise s7eed, and cost$ 2ost ;as not an issue durring the ;ar, the: made N&8,''' P-1,s ;hich ranged from S '' less to NS8,''' less and ;asn*t u7 to the Do" until the J model ;as introduced$ Ghe P-38J resolCed the intercooler efficienc: 7ro"lems of the earlier su"t:7es Cia the use of a core t:7e intercooler in the for;ard nacelle chin$ 8hile 7rotot:7es ;ere "eing tested in earl: &/13, P-38= 7roduction continued$ Ghe ne; nacelle chin 7roCided increased oil cooling ca7acit:, and automatic control of the intercooler Cent, resulting in the full aCaila"ilit: of the &,3'' =P 8ar #mergenc: rating of the F-&, 7o;er7lant$ +ther design changes ;ere introduced, including enlarged gl:col radiators in the tail "ooms, in later "uild aircraft additional out"oard leading edge tanks, and t;o maDor control s:stem changes$ Ghese ;ere h:draulicall: "oosted ailerons ;hich decreased control forces ": a factor of si9, and electricall: actuated diCe fla7s

under the ;ings ;hich cured the diCe com7ressi"ilit: 7ro"lems$ Ghe latter ;ere fitted standard from the P-38J-) -L+, sadl: almost all retrofit kits intended for earlier P-38J su"t:7es ;ere lost in a friendl: fire incident in earl: &/11, there": dela:ing the introduction of this im7ortant modification to theatre units ": seCeral months$ 2uriousl:, the modification entered 7roduction as a kit in late &/13, :et ;as not incor7orated into 7roduction aircraft for another si9 months, until the P-38J-) -L+, although some P-38J-&'4& -L+ aircraft ;ere retrofitted in the field$ An addition, the ;indscreen ;as changed to flat armour glass 7late, the control ;heel ;as changed and 7ro7er cock7it heating and defrosting fitted$ Although the heating and defrosting 7ro"lems ;ere not full: cured until the arriCal of the P-38J-) -L+, ;hich ;as nearl: identical to the 7enultimate P-38L$ Ghe electrical fuses ;ere re7laced ;ith "reakers allo;ing the 7ilot to reset the "reaker in flight rather than suffer the loss of a s:stem$ JeliCeries of the P-38J commenced in August, &/13, ho;eCer, the P-38J-) did not arriCe until Jul: of &/11$ Goo late to affect 8th Air Force thinking as the die had "een cast in the #G+ and the 8th "egan to 7hase in the P- &? and 2 from earl: &/11$ Ghe P-38s ;ere graduall: shifted to the ground attack and Flak su77ression roles, ;here their su7erior 7a:load radius 7erformance easil: outclassed the single engined t:7es$ Ghe result ;as an aircraft ;hich could ;ell e9ceed the Luft;affe fighters in 7erformance, ;hile further e9tending the t:7e*s radius 7erformance$ Almost 3,''' ;ere "uilt and de7lo:ed to eCer: theater, ;ith increasing num"ers to the MG+ ;ith the & th AF, the Pacific ;ith the th, ,th, &&th and &3th AF*s, and ?urma4Andia ;ith the &'th and &1th AF*s$ An the Pacific, the th and &3th AF*s used the P-38J to its fullest$ Ghe inCasion of the Phili77ines sa; rede7lo:ment from Ne; >uinea to the Phili77ines, and the 1, th F>, Satan*s Angels, ;ith four s!uadrons of P-38s led the scoring contest, ;ell ahead of the mi9ed F>*s$ Ghe 1, th ;as a late entr:, formed at A7s;ich in mid &/13 ;ith a mi9ed force of >4= models$ Man: aces fle; ;ith the Fifth Air Force, and the t;o highest scoring US 7ilots of the ;ar, Bichard ?ong -1'. and Gomm: Mc>uire -38., "oth fle; the P-38, ?ong ;ith the 1/th Fighter >rou7 and Mc>uire ;ith the 1, th$ ?: the end of the ;ar, the 1, th had destro:ed & for 3 losses, a ratio of &'<&$ Ghe 1/th, haCing flo;n mostl: P-1's and P-38s, ;ith some P-1,Js thro;n in for good measure, out scored the 1, th ;ith 338 air to air Cictories$ Ghis score ranked them third of all American Fighter >rou7s "ehind the the 3 1th and 3th in the #G+$ A much 7u"liciHed eCent in the Pacific ;as the &/11 Cisit ": 2harles Lind"ergh, ;ho ;idel: disseminated the kno;ledge of range 7erformance im7roCement through o7timal cruise control techni!ue -discussed a"oCe., getting the message to 7ilots and unit commanders throughout the theater$-1. An the Med, the P-38Js fle; from Atal: on escort and fighter s;ee7 missions into Southern and 2entral #uro7e, attacking targets as far North as 6ienna and Prague, and re7eatedl: raiding the Bumanian oilfields at Ploesti$ Ghe Ploesti oilfields ;ere the target of man: a ?-)1 raid, ;ith !uestiona"le results, P-38 strikes ho;eCer reduced 7roduction to a fraction of full ca7acit:$ Ghe P-38s "ecame a familiar sight all oCer #uro7e, strafing rail;a: locomotiCes and Flak sites in areas once the inCiolate domain of the Luft;affe$ 8ith a"ilit: to carr: t;o ),''' l" "om"s to su"stantial radii the P-38 "ecame a maDor "attlefield interdiction asset, 7la:ing a ke: role in the &/11 inCasion$

Ghe P-38J ;as follo;ed ": the P-38L, deliCeries of ;hich commenced in June, &/11, almost 1,''' ;ere "uilt ": the end of hostilities$ Ghe P-38L ;as fitted ;ith F-3' engines, deliCering e!ual or "etter 7o;er to higher altitudes, and slightl: larger fuel tanks, ;ith "ooster 7um7s in the ;ings$ Jetail changes included the first tail ;arning radar in a fighter$ ?: the end of &/11, the role of the P-38, like that of most Allied fighters, had shifted to tactical ground su77ort largel: due to the a"sence of serious fighter o77osition$ As the Ghird Beich crum"led and the Ja7anese retreated into their final defensiCe 7erimeter, the o7erational career of the P-38 reached its final stage$ #97ensiCe to maintain and fl:, most P-38s ;ere 7hased out soon after the end of hostilities in the Pacific, the F- & Mustang assuming its role$ At is interesting to note that the haste ;ith ;hich the aircraft ;ere dis7osed of 7reCented their use in the su"se!uent Iorean ;ar, an enCironment ;here the P-38 ;ould dou"tless haCe thriCed in its tactical interdiction role, ;ith "etter 7a:load4radius, fire7o;er and resilience to ground fire than the F- &$ Ghe last o7erational P-38s remained in serCice ;ith seCeral US aligned Ghird 8orld countries, "ut s7ares aCaila"ilit: and o7erating costs soon led to their demise$ Goda: onl: a small handful of aircraft remain, ;ith eCen fe;er fl:a"le$

/he Strategic Perspective

5ombat radius helps to 'in air 'ars$ *his simple observation sums up much of 'hat distinguished the P-() from its contemporaries# and also 'hy this aircraft must be considered the single most significant fighter in the :+ inventory in ,$,$II$ *he critical air battles# 'hen &llied strength 'as still building up and &xis strength 'as at its pea0# 'ere fought by the P-() force# deep inside hostile airspace against a numerically superior enemy$ All other 7arameters "eing e!ual, it ;as the radius of the Lightning ;hich allo;ed the #G+ da:light "om"ing offensiCe to succeed at a time ;hen losses ;ere high and long term success !uestiona"le$ ?: the time Mustang num"ers "uilt u7 in the #G+, the Luft;affe had alread: crossed the knee in the Lanchesterian attrition ;ar curCe and defeat ;as ineCita"le$ 8hile the much admired P- & made a critical contri"ution, it is ;orth noting that cumulatiCe de7lo:ments of the Merlin 7o;ered P- & matched the P-38 onl: as late as the end of &/11, ;hich is clearl: at odds ;ith the esta"lished m:tholog:$ 8ith the 8th AF, the long range escort load ;as shared e!uall: ": the P-38 and P- & throughout the decisiCe first half of &/11$ &. Ultimatel:, com"at range of the P-38 gre; until it easil: e9ceeded the endurance of its 7ilots$ #!ui77ed ;ith 3&' gallon dro7 tanks, oCer &,'3' gallons in total, the P-38 ;as ca7a"le of a com"at radius in e9cess of &,3'' miles$ Ghe P-38 outranged its contem7orar: Cersions of the P- &$ 1. Ghere has "een much ;ritten on 2harles Lind"ergh*s contri"ution to increasing the range of the P-38$ Much of this falsel: states ;h: he ;ent to the S8PA$ Lind"ergh*s 7ur7ose in the S8PA ;as not originall: to instruct P-38 7ilots in fuel conserCation methods$ =e arriCed in the area as a consultant for United Aircraft$ =e Cisited the th Air Force =ead!uarters and managed to conCince the "rass to allo; him to o"serCe P-38 com"at o7erations$ =e soon discoCered that the 7ilots ;ere not "eing efficient ;ith fuel$ Ghe P-38 manual called for cruise settings of ),)'' ),1'' r7m in auto-rich$ Lind"ergh lectured on using &,3'' r7m in auto-lean$ An the Pacific, ;here land "ased air gra77led ;ith the Ja7anese, the Lightning ;as the foremost fighter, destro:ing more Ja7anese aircraft than an: other Allied fighter$ Ghe air "attles oCer Ne;

>uinea, the Solomons, the inCasion of the Philli7ines and later +kina;a ;ere all cam7aigns ;here the radius and 7erformance of the P-38 ;ere fundamental adCantages oCer Ja7anese air assets$ Ghe 7erce7tion of the P-38 as a mediocre aircraft is clearl: the result of ;artime 7ro7aganda run unchecked, and la: inter7retations of 7eriod statements$ Ghe historical record clearl: indicates that the "ig t;in ;as there ;hen it reall: mattered and there can "e no greater a com7liment for its designers$ At ;as the aircraft ;hich allo;ed the USAAF to 7la: an offensiCe strateg: almost from the Cer: "eginning of com"at o7erations$ /he P-38 was witho*t do*,t the strategicall# "ost i"portant "erican fighter of World War 99& P-38 perspective ,# .eff !thell "
ppppnnnnn

EAs the s7eed dro77ed "elo; & 'm7h, A fli77ed the fla7 handle to the maneuCer sto7 -;hich can "e used u7 to ) 'm7h. and stee7ened the turn$ At this 7oint, the &'/ 7ilot, at full 7o;er ;ith the right rudder all the ;a: do;n, ;ould haCe sna7-rolled into a Cicious stall if he had chosen to follo;$ A 7ulled the 7o;er "ack on the inside -right. engine, 7ushed the 7o;er u7 on the outside -left. engine, shoCed right rudder 7edal, and the Lightning smoothl: s;a77ed ends$ Not onl: did it turn on a dime, "ut it actuall: rotated around its Certical a9is as if s7inning on a 7ole running through the to7 of the cano7: and out the "ottom of the TTTT7it$ Ghe maneuCer ;as a"solutel: comforta"le ;ith no heaC: >-loading$ As the nose came through &8' degrees, A thre; the fla7 leCer "ack to full u7, eCened the throttles and headed do;nhill going through 3''m7h in less time than it takes to tell it$ Ghe &'/ ;ould haCe "een a sitting duck$E 8hen the da: arriCed, A stood transfi9ed "efore the ne;l: restored oliCe-dra"-and-gra: P-38L- $ Ghe P-38 defines the ;ord E"igE for 88 AA fightersUUVWE )-foot ;ings7an ;ith o7erational ;eights u7 to &,, '' 7ounds, or more if needed$ Preflight is Cer: eas:@ :ou can ;alk under eCer: 7art of the air7lane, ;hich sits some &' feet off the ground on massiCe landing gear$ 8ith t;in, li!uid-cooled engines, four radiators, four oil coolers and the maHe of h:draulics to run landing gear and fla7s, the Lightning is Cer: com7le9 indeed, so there is 7lent: to check$ Fortunatel:, Museum maintenance chief Ged B:der is as much a fanatic on mechanical 7erfection as Jack, so this P-38UUVWEafter a"out &3 hours total time since restorationUUVWEit ;as o7erating Cirtuall: fault-free$ 8ith a flick of a small leCer, the handle for the "oarding ladder 7o7s out of the u77er rear of the central gondola@ one 7ull and it s;ings the ladder do;n then locks it into 7lace$ >etting u7 onto the air7lane is then a series of em"arrassing tries at sticking feet into the rungs, falling do;n and scram"ling for the handhold Dust for;ard of the ladder handle$ Ghis took more getting used to than fl:ing the 7lane$ Ghe final s:stem "oils do;n to right foot into the first rung, 7ull for;ard on the handle to get centered oCer the ladder, left foot into the ne9t rung and gra" the handhold to 7ull for;ard for all :ou*re ;orth ;hile s;inging the right leg u7 onto the ;ing$ #Cer:one had his laugh for the da: ;atching me tr: to co7e ;ith this thing$ +nce A ;as settled in the cock7it, A ;as taken ;ith the Cast e97anse of air7lane around me$ Sitting dee7 ;ithin the center gondola and ;ing, A !uickl: got the im7ression of "eing "uried in

the machine@ this ;ould intensif: in flight$ Ghe cock7it is Dust a"out 7erfect in siHe< not too small, not too large and Cer: comforta"le$ =aCing memoriHed the Pilot*s Flight +7erating Anstructions, A ;as !uickl: familiar ;ith the la:outVWEa"solutel: mandator: "efore fl:ing$ Ghe la:out is a m:riad of s;itches, and the la"eling is often hard to read, 7articularl: "ecause most of the s;itches sit "ehind the control ;heel$ A can see ;h: ;artime instructors re!uired a "lindfold cock7it check "efore turning 7eo7le loose$ Jack, as if he*d come straight out of 88 AA as a transition instructor, gaCe me a fe; last-minute 7ointers like ho; to start it and ;hat ;as different from a stock P-38@ then he said, E>iCe it a tr:$E =e turned around, slid do;n the ;ing and clim"ed do;n the ladder, ;hich A could hear retract ;ith a firm clunk$ =e reall: must haCe had confidence$ Ghe most o"Cious difference from other ;artime fightersVWEother than haCing t;o of eCer:thing for the enginesVWEis the dual 7istol-gri7 control ;heel$ Putting "oth hands on this thing "rings a sense of com7lete authorit:$ A can see ;h: it ;as so eas: to haul the aircraft into tight turns@ "oth "ice7s are ;orking$ Ghe ergonomics of the ;heel are also :ears ahead of their time< the gri7s are canted in;ard to the e9act 7osition of one*s hands ;hen the:*re rela9ed and held out in front of :ou$ Jad a"solutel: loCed the ;heel instead of a stick, "ecause he could maneuCer and 7oint the four $ 's and single )'mm like a fire hose$ -continued. Ghe engine controls s7rout from the left 7edestal in all directions, so A carefull: ;ent oCer each leCer, s;itch and 7ro7eller circuit "reaker -these are 2urtiss electric 7ro7ellers.$ Ghe large, red, round throttle kno"s are an ideal siHe for the left hand, com7leting the sense of total control giCen ": the ;heel gri7s$ Ghe fuel-tank selectors are mounted on the floor, one in front of the other, to the left of the seatVWEleft ;ing fuel for;ard, right ;ing fuel aft$ Ghis has "een the cause of most P-38 accidents in the 7ast 3' :ears$ Not onl: can one get confused a"out ;hich tank one is selecting, "ut the fiCe detents include an off 7osition that also dou"les for the dro7 tank$ Pilots haCe often selected a 7osition either "et;een the detents or the off4dro7 tank 7osition ;ith no tanks, starCing the engines of fuel$ A took seCeral minutes to look do;n and memoriHe the 7ositions and the feel of the selector handles$ 8ith nothing else to look at, the ineCita"le had arriCed$ ?efore-start checklist< "atter: on@ fuel selectors reserCe -the car"uretor Ca7or line returns seCeral gallons an hour here.@ if carr:ing dro7 tanks, the "om" selector s;itches go on ;ith arming s;itch to safe, "ut the: are not hung toda:@ throttles 341-inch o7en@ 7ro7s full for;ard@ 7ro7 selector s;itches auto@ mi9tures idle cut-off@ oilcooler fla7 s;itches auto@ generator s;itches on@ coolant-fla7 oCerride s;itches off -auto.@ intercooler fla7s o7en@ fuel-!uantit: check$ #ngine start "egins ;ith the left, then the right engine "oost 7um7 on and normal@ ignition master on@ magneto "oth@ starter s;itch hold for;ard -left engine. ;ith middle finger of right hand until ma9imum inertia$ Like most Allison-7o;ered 88 AA aircraft, a fl:;heel is s7un u7 and then engaged$ 8hile still holding the inertia starter, the third finger 7ushes the engage s;itch for;ard at the same time the inde9 finger holds the 7rimerX At first, this is a real comed: of t;isted fingers and contorted muscles "ecause :ou haCe to reach under or oCer the control

column to get to all this stuff ;hile the left hand is 7oised on the left mi9ture control$ Much to m: delight, the Allison started Cer: smoothl:$ A "rought the mi9ture u7, and the engine settled do;n into that distinctiCe P-38 collected e9haust rum"le$ Be7eat this for the right engine -e9ce7t the starter and engage s;itches are held rear;ard., and the same satisf:ing start takes 7lace$ Jad ;ould confound his students ": starting "oth engines at once@ this had to "e a real trick$ +Cer the ne9t seCeral da:s of fl:ing, the se!uence "ecame !uite natural ;ithout a single mis-start$ An the P-38, those Allisons start a"out as easil: as a car engine, "ut the: are more difficult to get going in the P-1' and the P- &A$ A haCe no idea ;h:$ Sitting there ;ith "oth tur"os ;hirling, feeling and hearing the satisf:ing, dee7-throated gro;l coming from the to7 of the "ooms -on either side of the ears. is a"solutel: mesmeriHing$ Ghere is no sound like it$ Looking at those s7inning 7ro7s, across the "road ;ings, A had to "e dreaming$ +ff the "rakes and the Lightning moCes easil: a;a:, eCen at lo; r7m$ Like all 88 AA tric:cle gear t:7es, the nose;heel is non-steera"le, so it casters in res7onse to throttles or "rakes$ A !uickl: discoCered that the rudders 7ick u7 the 7ro7 "last at lo; s7eed, so Cer: little "rake is needed@ Dust 7ush the rudder 7edal, and it steers as if the nose;heel is hooked u7$ Ghe "rakes don*t haCe the "ear-tra7 7o;er of the ?-) , "ut one can get a "o" and ;eaCe going ;hen 7ushing on them too hard$ Jifferential throttle is the 7rimar: means of steering, and ;hat a great thrill to hear the ErrrBBBBUMMMPPE of the e9hausts ;ith each a77lication of throttle$ Bun-u7 at ),3''r7m -once each engine has at least 1'-degree 2 oil tem7. is sim7le "ecause the 7ro7eller selector s;itches are "ehind the 7ro7 leCers< s;itch to manual, 7ull "ack to decrease r7m a fe; hundred, 7ush "ack u7 to ),3'' and flick the s;itch "ack to automatic$ Juring the 8ar, the 7ro7s ;ere kno;n to run a;a:, "ut this ;as usuall: due to corrosion ;hen the aircraft ;ere left outside$ +n the ;hole, the: ;ere Cer: relia"le, "ut 7art of the drill is to "e read: to reach u7 and 7ull them out of automatic to manual if the r7m go a"oCe 3,''' red line$ ?efore takeoff< to7 hatch locked@ side ;indo;s rolled u7 -the:*re like car ;indo;s., and engage the locking ratchet -if left o7en, the: create enormous tur"ulence across the horiHontal surfaces.@ 7ro7s full for;ard@ 7ro7 selectors auto@ mi9tures auto rich@ fuel tank selectors reserCe@ diCe fla7s u7@ ;ing fla7s u7@ aileron "oost on@ "oost 7um7s on and emergenc: -this giCes a"out &' 7ounds more fuel 7ressure.@ rudder trim ' degrees@ eleCator trim 3 degrees u7$ +nce lined u7 on the run;a:, the most im7ortant thing is to haCe the nose;heel straight@ the slightest deCiation to one side ;ill make it reall: lurch ;hen the 7o;er is a77lied$ Ghe Cie; for;ard is ;onderful@ unlike in the tail;heel t:7es, run;a: Cisi"ilit: is a totall: uno"structed$ =old the "rakes, o7en the throttles$ Juring the 8ar, the drill ;as to go to full 7o;er, let the tur"os sta"iliHe, see if the 7ro7s ;ere going to run a;a:, then let go$ At must haCe "een like a rocket "ecause all A did ;as go u7 to 3' inches manifold 7ressure, glance at the engine instruments, and releaseVWE;hamX Ghe P-38 shot out from under me as A ke7t moCing the 7o;er u7 to 1 inches and 3,'''r7m$ Ghe first thing A noticed ;as a"solutel: no tor!ue and 7erfectl: straight trackingVWEheaCen ;ith 3,'''h7 screaming into m: ears and a ;onderful feeling of "eing 7ressed "ack into m: seat$

Ghe manual recommends easing "ack on the control column at ,'m7h, lift off "et;een /' and &''m7h, retract the gear and accelerate to &)'m7h safe single-engine s7eed$ After ;hat seemed like a fe; seconds, noting a stead: 3,'''r7m, A thought A*d take a look at the airs7eed indicator for an u7dateVWEP+8XX A ;as 7assing through &3'm7hX Unlike a tail;heel aircraft, the Lightning must "e rotated off the ground, or it ;ill sim7l: sta: glued to the run;a:$ A 7ulled "ack, shot into the air and fum"led for the gear handle on the lo;er 7ortion of the engine control 7edestal$ Ghe P-38 immediatel: cla;ed for altitude as A "rought the 7o;er "ack to 11 inches and ),3''r7m for clim"$ At took a cou7le of takeoffs to get used to this, "ut eCentuall:, A ;as a"le to react !uickl: enough to get the nose;heel off the ground at the recommended s7eed and rotate the fighter$ At must haCe "een a su7er" short-field aircraft ;hen taking off ;ith the fla7s half;a: do;n$ Ghe s7ecter hoCering oCer this e9hilaration is loss of an engine on takeoff$ An earl: &/1), ;hen Jad and his &1th Fighter >rou7 friends transitioned into the P-38, the: had, on the ;hole, a"solutel: no t;in-engine time$ Ghe: ;ere fighter 7ilots, ;eren*t the:Y An short order, 7ilots ;ere getting killed ;hen one engine !uit and the P-38 rolled oCer onto its "ack and into the ground$ Soon, Lockheed test 7ilots Milo ?urcham, Gon: Le6ier, Jimm: Mattern and others ;ere sho;ing ne; P-38 7ilots ho; to "ring "ack "oth throttles, get the nose do;n and maintain control ;hile trimming out the :a; and "ringing the 7o;er "ack u7 on the good engine, feathering the 7ro7 of the dead engine and accelerating to &)'m7h$ Ghis ma: sound a "it daunting, "ut during a fe; single-engine drills at altitude, A found the P-38 res7onds ;onderfull: to each in7ut and flies a;a: ;ithout a ;him7er$ A Lightning ;ill fl: single-engine at ) m7h true air s7eed at )',''' feetVWE!uite im7ressiCe indeed$ ?est clim" is some;here "et;een &1' and &8'm7h, and this 7lane reall: clim"s$ Ghe ;artime techni!ue ;as a shallo;, high-s7eed clim", ;hich ;ould outdistance almost an: enem: fighter$ And ;hat a ;onderful e97erience not to haCe to hold strong right rudder@ feet on the floor, rela9ed, A ;as in 7aradise$ After a fe; tentatiCe turns, ;ith a"solutel: no 7ressure from the ailerons, A ;as "eginning to com7rehend ;h: eCer:one loCed the Lightning so much< it flies like a Det ;ith no Ci"ration and light controls$ -continued. %img(htt7<44;;;$flightDournal$com4fD4images4articles4738Zltng4cock7it$D7g%4img( LeCel off, 7o;er "ack to 3' inches and ),'''r7m, mi9tures to auto-lean, "oost 7um7s to normal, fuel selectors to main tanks$ 8hat a sightX 8ithin the ;ing, A felt as if A ;ere "eing a"sor"ed ": the machineVWE"ecoming a 7art of it rather than riding in it$ +ne of the ;eak 7oints of the design comes across right a;a:< the engines and ;ings on each side reall: "lock the Cie; do;n$ Ghe onl: ;a: to kee7 one*s scan u7 is to roll the air7lane into a stee7 "ank and then roll "ack, ;hich doesn*t do ;ingmen much good in formation$ A can see ;h: mutual scan among flight mem"ers ;as so critical$ M: first fe; turns ;ere effortless@ the aileron "oost makes an enormous difference$ Unlike ;ith a Det, the turns haCe to "e coordinated ;ith a firm 7ush on the rudders, ;hich are stiffer than "oth ailerons and eleCators$ 8ithout ;asting an: time, A decided to do the one thing A had ;anted to do more than an: other< a "arrel-rollVWEJad*s faCorite maneuCer$ Nose do;n for a little e9tra s7eed, 7ull "ack, turn the ;heel and 7ush the rudder 7edal$ Ghe P-38 glided through Dust as ;onderfull: as A thought it ;ould$ Another, eCen "etter$ Another, 7erfection$ 8ith one hand on the ;heel and the other on the throttles, it*s Dust as eas:$ 8ith "oth

hands on the ;heel, A 7ulled it into a tight turn and ;as delighted to find the eleCators almost as light as the ailerons$ Making tight turns and loo7s ;as so eas: that A grinned inColuntaril:$ 8hen going oCer the to7 of the loo7, no right rudder ;as needed at all@ Dust kee7 the feet on the floor$ Ghis ;as "ecoming far too eas:$ Ghe single dominant im7ression is this thing is smooth and effortless to fl:VWE!uite unlike the more com7le9 ;ar"ird t:7es$ Managing "oth engines !uickl: "ecomes second nature$ Stalls are docile@ Dust a rum"le as the airflo; starts to "reak u7 and moCe to;ard the ;ingti7sVWEno ti7stalling tendencies$ Go recoCer, Dust rela9 "ack7ressure and fl: a;a: ;hile shoCing the throttles to full 7o;er ;ith no ;orr: of a sna7-roll$ At a & ,'''-7ound gross ;eight, a 7o;er-off gearand fla7s-do;n stall is ,'m7hX Ghose Fo;ler fla7s are su7er"$ 8hile fl:ing formation ;ith the 2herokee Si9 camera shi7, A ;as full of tre7idation$ Ghe last time A did that in a Mustang, A held a "ootful of right rudder, hanging on the ragged edge of a reduced 7o;er-on stall$ At &''m7h, A could hang the P-38 on its 7ro7s, feet on the floor, and gentl: moCe the rudder to slide side to side$ 8ithin an hour, something !uite astonishing and totall: une97ected "egan to ha77en$ Not onl: ;as A more than comforta"le, "ut the air7lane also "egan to EshrinkE around me in m: mind$ Ghe ;ings seemed to get smaller, the engines ;ent almost unnoticed, and A ;as soon fl:ing onl: the central 7od ;ith its guns sticking out front$ Ghe sense of 7o;er, freedom and effortless control moCement is so Cisceral the machine "ecomes a 7art of :ou$ As this da;ned on me, A ;as a"ru7tl: sharing the cock7it ;ith :oung Lt$ #rC #thell$ =is recollections of handling the P-38 in com"at "ecame m: o;n@ his hands ;ere m: hands$ Ghe generational circle closed around me as A soared a"oCe the +regon coastline and A "egan to talk to him, eCen though he ;as ), '' miles a;a:$

-2loCer Leaf ManueCer. 8ithout much thought, A ;as entering his 7referred com"at maneuCer@ 7o;er u7, A 7ictured a &'/ on m: tail and "egan an increasingl: stee7 right-hand clim"ing turn$ An turning and t;isting ;ith &'/s and &/'s, Jad neCer got a "ullet hole in Gangerine, his P-38F$ As the s7eed dro77ed "elo; & 'm7h, A fli77ed the fla7 handle to the maneuCer sto7 -;hich can "e used u7 to ) 'm7h. and stee7ened the turn$ At this 7oint, the &'/ 7ilot, at full 7o;er ;ith the right rudder all the ;a: do;n, ;ould haCe sna7-rolled into a Cicious stall if he had chosen to follo;$ A 7ulled the 7o;er "ack on the inside -right. engine, 7ushed the 7o;er u7 on the outside -left. engine, shoCed right rudder 7edal, and the Lightning smoothl: s;a77ed ends$ Not onl: did it turn on a dime, "ut it actuall: rotated around its Certical a9is as if s7inning on a 7ole running through the to7 of the cano7: and out the "ottom of the cock7it$ Ghe maneuCer ;as a"solutel: comforta"le ;ith no heaC: >-loading$ As the nose came through &8' degrees, A thre; the fla7 leCer "ack to full u7, eCened the throttles and headed do;nhill going through 3''m7h in less time than it takes to tell it$ Ghe &'/ ;ould haCe "een a sitting duck$ Ghis transitional 7erformance is ;hat made the Lightning great in a dogfight@ it gaCe it far more Cersatilit: than a single-engine fighter$ No dou"t, if it ;ere flo;n like a single-engine fighter, it ;ould come out on the short end, "ut ;hen a 7ilot learned to use eCer:thing aCaila"le to him, it

;as stunningl: dangerous to the enem:$ +ne final characteristic made all this ;orth;hile< there ;as no conCerging fire from the ;ings$ A P-38 7ilot could get all of his guns on target ;hether it ;as &' feet or &,''' :ards a;a:$ 2onCinced the: ;ere fl:ing the finest fighter of the 8ar, ?ong and Mc>uire ;ere sold on this com"ination$ Ghe: had no hesitation at going round and round ;ith Reros and +scars, ;hich ;ere su77osedl: more maneuCera"le$ =o;eCer, once going do;nhill, the other Achilles heel of the Lightning comes out< com7ressi"ilit:$ A neCer got there, "ut A 7assed 1''m7h in a diCe ;ithout much time to think a"out it$ Ghere*s a diCe-limit 7lacard in the cock7it, and o"serCing it ;as a"solutel: mandator:$ Ghe Pilot*s Anstructions state, EAs the air7lane a77roaches the critical s7eed, it "ecomes ra7idl: nose-heaC: and starts to "uffet as if it ;ere a"out to stall$ Af this condition is allo;ed to deCelo7, the nose-heaC: condition ;ill "ecome more 7ronounced, and it ;ill "e Cer: difficult to 7ull out$E Man: neCer 7ulled out$ Fortunatel:, the P-38L had diCe fla7sVWElarge electricall: driCen surfaces under each outside ;ing that deflected no matter ;hat the s7eed$ A hit the s;itch on the ;heel and, ;ith no 7ull on the ;heel at all, the 7lane 7ulled out and 7itched u7 into a shallo; clim"$ 8hen A retracted the fla7s, the nose 7itched do;n into leCel flightVWEall ;ith no in7ut$ Unfortunatel:, diCe fla7s did not come along until the late J SeriesVWEa"out the same time as the aileron "oostVWE"ut far too late for most ;ho had flo;n the P-38 in com"at$ Another "uga"oo ;ith the Lightning ;as "ailing out and hitting the horiHontal sta"iliHer@ actuall:, it ;asn*t that 7reCalent$ Ghere ;ere seCeral methods< -&. slo; do;n to around &&'m7h ;ith full fla7s if 7ossi"le, cra;l out of the cock7it and slide headfirst do;n the ;ing@ Lockheed said :ou*d miss the horiHontal sta"iliHer ": four feet@ -). roll oCer ;ith eleCator trim for;ard and fall out@ -3. at high s7eed, Dust 7o7 the hatch and get sucked out$ Beluctantl:, A had to head "ack to Gillamook@ after "eating u7 the ;est coast of +regon, A had run out of ideas$ Anitial for an oCerhead fan "reak< 33' degrees oCerhead a77roach at ) 'm7h@ fueltank selectors on main or reserCe -;hicheCer is fullest.@ mi9tures to auto rich@ 7ro7s to ),3''r7m@ "oost 7um7s on and emergenc:$ Bacing across the num"ers, A 7ulled u7 and left into the "reak$ MoCe fla7 handle to the maneuCer sto7@ gear do;n "elo; &, m7h@ ' 7ercent fla7s at & 'm7h and settle into the do;n;ind$ From "ase to final, "ring the 7o;er "ack to &8 inches and sta"iliHe at &1'm7h$ 8ith the field made, add full fla7s, "leed airs7eed do;n to &)'m7h@ oCer the fence at &'' to &&'m7h, "ut neCer e9ceed &''m7h on touchdo;n or the P-38 ;ill reall: eat u7 some run;a:$ ?oth throttles to idle and 7ull the ;heel "ack$ Ghat first landing at around 8'm7h felt like setting a "a": carriage do;n ;ith a satisf:ing s!ueakVWE;a: too eas:$ =old the ;heel "ack for aerod:namic "raking, then lo;er the nose@ ;e haCen*t gone much more than ),''' feet$ A"solutel: amaHing$ 8ith one engine out, the landing techni!ue is similar ;ith the follo;ing e9ce7tions< &3'm7h and &,3'' feet on do;n;ind, aileron "oost off to conserCe h:draulic 7o;er, ' 7ercent fla7s at &1'm7h@ 7artiall: reduce rudder trim, a77roach no slo;er than &3'm7h$ At 11 inches and ),3''r7m, the P-38 ;ill "arel: hold altitude ;ith gear do;n and fla7s u7 and ;ill not hold an: altitude eCen ;ith some fla7s e9tended$ Jo not e9tend full fla7 until closing the throttle on the good engine for landing$ ?elo; '' feet ;ith full fla7s, :ou must land as it ;ill not make a goaround$

+ff the actiCe@ "rake to a sto7@ fla7s u7@ coolant fla7s full o7en@ "oost 7um7s off$ ?ack to the 7arking area, throttles u7 to &,)'' r7m@ sta"iliHe tem7eratures@ mi9tures to idle cut-off@ mags off@ "atter: off$ A haCe come full circle$ Beining "ack some o"Cious 7reDudice from gro;ing u7 ;ith Jad*s memories, A haCe come to see the P-38 in a far different light$ Ghere is little dou"t in m: mind A haCe flo;n the finest American fighter of 88 AA$ At ma: haCe taken a little more time to master and certainl: ;as more com7le9 to maintain in the field, "ut the o7tions aCaila"le to the Lightning 7ilot ;ere im7ressiCe$ A talented, aggressiCe fighter 7ilot could clearl: make the P-38 sing$ A count m:self fortunate to haCe heard, at last, that siren song$