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The results could have been significant - though not game changing. P-38's were impressive in the role of both pathfinders and light-fast bombers. P-38's with turbos and 'handed' engines would have provided an option to the Mosquito - with a crew of one.
FYI - unless you're relying on electronic equipment, navigating at night (even during WW2) is no easier (or difficult) in a multi engine aircraft than a single engine aircraft - sometimes it's actually easier.Do you think that a P-38 pilot may be a bit overwhelmed by the amount of work he has to do by himself? Navigating at night, for example.
FYI - unless you're relying on electronic equipment, navigating at night (even during WW2) is no easier (or difficult) in a multi engine aircraft than a single engine aircraft - sometimes it's actually easier.
Regardless. A crew of two would take some work load off a pilot but regardless of the aircraft, my point, night navigation under VFR conditions is not that difficult. A navigator helps but nothing a pilot flying solo in a twin engine aircraft couldn't do by himself.Said nothing about twin engined aircraft vs single engined aircraft. In any case the comparison was between the Lightning and teh Mosquito, which was also a twin - but had two crew.
Regardless. A crew of two would take some work load off a pilot but regardless of the aircraft, my point, night navigation under VFR conditions is not that difficult. A navigator helps but nothing a pilot flying solo in a twin engine aircraft couldn't do by himself.
The story about the turbos being government-furnished equipment is true. The British planes would have been OK with handed engines, but they didn't handle very well on same-turning engines.
Regardless. A crew of two would take some work load off a pilot but regardless of the aircraft, my point, night navigation under VFR conditions is not that difficult. A navigator helps but nothing a pilot flying solo in a twin engine aircraft couldn't do by himself.
The only reason why pathfinders were needed is because the RAF was expected to go out at night in all conditions and find their targets. On a moonlit night you can see terrain and ground features quite well, this is from actual flying experience and I'm sure other civilian and former military pilots on this forum will agree with me. It's when target areas become obscured either by weather or defensive measures where pathfinders become necessary, aside from marking the target.If it wasn't such a problem the RAF wouldn't have needed pathfinders in the first place.
They were and that's another reason why the "Merlin Myth" was so difficult to really confirm, but that's another story.The engines were probably GFE too.
Agree!!!An Air Force that really would have benifited with the P-38 was the RAAF in the PTO.
You're probably right, especially in the winter months but it was still done by other aircraft.Valid point Joe but we're talking about RAF use of the P-38...that means flying over the UK and Europe...at night. VFR not so much, methinks!
The only thing that makes the Mosquito a "night fighter" was it's radar equipment. Aside from things like flame arrestors and minor cockpit mods, true WW2 night fighters were based on the installation of radar. After WW2 when this equipment became "standard" notice how the "night fighter" term went into the sunset.People, how come we discuss usage of the day fighter for night duties? Replacement for Mosquito?? C'mon.
Yep - and later in the war I believe bombadier positions were manned by NCOs who just released the bombs on the lead's command - these guys were known as "togglers."Also ... all Navigators are equal .... using the most talented as Pathfinders was intelligent. Didn't the USAAF use lead Bombadiers in daylight Ops even with the Norden ....?