REPORT OF OSCAR PILOT
Tests at 5,000, 10,000 ft.
"We climbed to 5,000 feet and began maneuvering. The P-38 climbed faster in both rate of climb and air speed to 5,000 feet. I used 30" and 2100 RPM on all maneuvers.
"The P-38 dove on the OSCAR's tail and in a steep turn to the left the OSCAR was on the P-38's tail in one and a half turns. The same results were obtained on a turn to the right. The turns were made level but, if the P-38 made steep climbing turns, the OSCAR was unable to keep enough speed to stay with the P-38.
"Pulling up into a hammer-head stall, the P-38 overran the OSCAR and, after the OSCAR kicked off, the P-38 dropped down on its tail. By looping very tightly from 240 mph, the OSCAR could get on the P-38's tail, but the latter did not have speed to loop so just leveled out on top of a stall.
"I then made a head-on pass at the P-38, rolling on my back and Split S-ing after passing. The P-38 pulled up into the sun and I lost it. I would have been unable to catch it in a climb away.
"The OSCAR dove on the P-38 and had no trouble staying behind it in turns both to the left and right. The OSCAR tended to overrun the P-38 by staying inside the turns. When combat flaps were used on the P-38, it was easy to stay behind by cutting throttle to keep from overrunning.
"In a hammer-head stall, the P-38 outclimbed and outran the OSCAR, but on kicking off and diving the OSCAR could turn inside and follow the P-38 far enough down to get a good shot.
"The P-38 again outclimbed and outran the OSCAR in the hammer-head stalls, the OSCAR dropping to 60 mph. When the P-38 climbed above the OSCAR, it could kick off and get a shot at the OSCAR on the dive. The P-38 tried a loop with the OSCAR but the OSCAR was one and one-half times around before the P-38 completed its loop.
"The OSCAR then dove on the P-38's tail and, in steep turns to the right and left, had no trouble staying with the P-38. The steeper the turn, the more the OSCAR tended to overrun the P-38.
"In level turns the OSCAR turned inside the P-38's turns. When the P-38 made steep climbing turns, the OSCAR lost speed and could not hold its nose on the P-38.
"In following the P-38 on the way down, the OSCAR could stay in easy gun range on all maneuvers except fast climbs or dives over 300 mph. The OSCAR followed the P-38 up into an Immelman, rolling out at 50 mph on top. The controls are very loose at that speed but it can stay right on the P-38's tail. On rolls to the right and left--200 to 28O mph—-the OSCAR stayed with the P-38; also in Split S's and rolls straight down up to 300 mph."
REPORT OF P-38 PILOT
Tests at 5,000, 10,000 ft.
"On all turns and tight maneuvers, the OSCAR is definitely superior and will stay with a P-38 in all acrobatics by doing the same maneuvers more quickly.
"The P-38 will outclimb the OSCAR at all the altitudes from ground level to 10,000 feet. Using 4O" of manifold pressure and 2600 RPM, the P-38 is far superior in speed and climb.
"Combat flaps used in turns only served to slow the P-38 down and were useless in trying to turn with the OSCAR.
"In doing an Immelman, the OSCAR could stay with a P-38 by pulling up to 50 mph.
"The P-38 can dive away from OSCAR or get out of range after diving speed has reached about 300 mph.
"The angle of climb of the P-38 is much flatter than that of the OSCAR, and holding it at 3,000 feet per minute ascent the P-38 will end up far ahead and above the OSCAR.
"The P-38 can turn with the OSCAR by climbing steeply and turning at the same time. However, the turn should be about 50° and rate of climb about 3,000 feet a minute.
"In a diving turn on an OSCAR's tail, the P-38 can hold a lead for the first 60° of the turn only."
REPORT OF OSCAR PILOT
Tests at 20,000 feet
"I climbed the OSCAR to 20,000 feet and met the P-38 over the field. Full throttle at 20,000 feet was 20 to 22" and I used 2300 RPM in all maneuvers. The IAS cruising was 140. The P-38 dove on the OSCAR's tail and in the initial 180° turn the OSCAR got out of gun range. In two turns the OSCAR still was 180° from the P-38's tail and losing speed fast. The P-38 lost 1,000 feet in four turns and enabled the OSCAR to gain a little, but it still was a long way from obtaining a shot. In turns to the right the OSCAR still could not get a shot. I had some trouble with the throttle slipping and the canopy coming Open, but after anchoring both I still could not get on the P-38's tail. In level turns the OSCAR's speed dropped very fast and in the same radius turn as the P-38 it was difficult to maintain altitude.
"The OSCAR then dove on the P-38, and with only 1,000 feet advantage in height the P-38 had to turn under the OSCAR with the result that, the OSCAR could get on the P-38's tail, IAS after diving being only 160 mph. With this air speed, the OSCAR easily stayed behind the P-38 on both turns to the right and left and tended to overrun. The P-38 put down combat flaps after two turns and the OSCAR had to cut the throttle to keep from over-running.
"When the P-38 looped, the OSCAR followed it up, and by turning inside the P-38 it ended up on its back about 500 feet below the P-38 with an IAS of 50 mph. On diving down, the OSCAR was in position to shoot at the P-38.
"A series of loops and Immelmans were done between 20,000 feet and 15,000 feet with the OSCAR easily staying behind the P-38, most of the time in position for a shot. In long climbs the P-38 pulled far enough ahead for a turn into the OSCAR for a head-on pass.
"In a series of Split S's, loops and Immelmans, the OSCAR stayed with the P-38 and in any maneuver involving a turn could get an easy shot. On straight climbs the P-38 easily left the OSCAR.
"On turns at 20,000 feet, the P-38 can stall out the OSCAR by making steep climbing turns, or if the P-38 dives on the OSCAR it can turn with the OSCAR as it likes, unless the OSCAR has an IAS of 170 or more to start."
REPORT OF P-38 PILOT
Tests at 20,000 feet
"I used 45" and 3000 RPM on take-off and climbed 3,500 to 4,000 feet per minute to 20,000 feet. I flew on OSCAR's wing during speed test at 13,000 feet indicating 210 mph. I climbed to 21,000 feet and dove on OSCAR's tail indicating 210 mph. OSCAR made a right turn and continued around for four turns without getting into position for a shot. However, he was out-turning me slightly. I lost about 1,000 feet in the turns which seemed to help the OSCAR maintain better speed. On a turn to the left, indicating 210 mph, I kept at exactly 20,000 feet nose high position, and OSCAR could not turn any tighter than the P-38. When I slowed down to 110 mph, he still could not gel on my tail.
"I was flying the P-38 at 200 mph IAS and the OSCAR dived on me, I made a sharp turn to the right, pulling in until on the three and a half turn I stalled out. The OSCAR was in a firing position all the time. On the left turn, the OSCAR stayed in firing position. I pulled maneuver flaps when the third 360 degree, air speed 150 IAS, and OSCAR cut throttle back and pulled inside me until I stalled out about 180 degrees after I put flaps down.
"I followed the OSCAR into a loop, airspeed 250 mph IAS, and had to put down maneuver flaps to finish the loop. The OSCAR was started on the second loop when I went over the top and settled on my tail as I came out. The OSCAR followed me into a loop and stayed inside the loop to the top of mine, then half rolled and came over on me, and half rolled again on my tail and followed through the rest of the loop.
"While returning to the field from 20,000 feet, I tried every maneuver I could think of and the OSCAR out-maneuvered me every time. I could outclimb it in a high speed low angle climb, then do a tight 180 degree and meet the OSCAR head on. I could also out-dive OSCAR easily. In high speed climbing turns, it was impossible for the OSCAR to keep in range or to keep his sights on me."