drgondog
Major
Shortround noted on subject of single engine vs twin engine fighters "It turns out that most of them weren't very good escort fighters but shows that most air staffs didn't believe it was possible to build single engine long range escorts."
The primary AAF Combat leaders, notably Spaatz and Eaker, did not believe that a long range single engine, high altitude capable fighter was possible in the formative years leading to WWII as well as 'observer status' in 1940-1941. The change from "impossible to maybe" was fueled by the progress reports from Tommy Hitchcock during the RR/RAF experimental conversion MustangX. The conversion from "Maybe to Probable" was fueled by the early performance achieved with the XP-51B 41-37352 between December 1942 to flight tests under AAF control at Eglin in May 1942. The conversion of "Probable to Practical" was stimulated by NAA rapid response to General Barney Giles directive to NAA to increase internal fuel in June 1943, followed by first flight w/85 gallon fuselage fuel tank on July 14, 1943.. Then it was all about NAA being able to craft a field modification 85 gallon fuselage tank kits (plus oxygen supply relocation and increased capacity) while the production insertion was placed at the first P-51B-10 and mid C-5 blocks.
"A P-38 on internal fuel (410 gallons) had an operational radius of 275 miles as outlined above. The P-51B with out rear tank was godd for 150 miles and a P-47 with 305 gals internal was good for 125 mile radius and with 370 internal was good for 225 miles."
SR - the timing of the 2x55 gallon leading edge kits was about 2 months following the installation of the first US Depot mods for the P-51B-5. The first ETO bound 85 gallon kits for the P-51B-1 and -5 already in theatre was December 1943.
The first 55 gallon LE tank kits for the P-38J were released in December, 1943 for delivery to ETO (first) and were retro-fitted to J-5 and -10 already delivered to 55th and 20th FG's. Until the first Berlin missions in March 1944, the P-38 FGs did not have enough conversion kits installed to effectively send in Group level quantity to Berlin. The P-51B groups were going to Schweinfurt during Big Week beginning Feb 20. Until that late February 1944 timeframe the P-38J on 300 gallons of fuel had a Combat radius of 150 miles, the P-51B on 184 gallons was 150 miles, and P-47D on 305 gallons was 125 miles - all at 25,000 feet. The P-47D-25 with 370 gallons had an extended Combat Radius of 225 miles but not in Group level combat ops until July, 1944.
The addition of 110 gallons (from 300 to 410) for the P-38J took the CR to 275mi; the addition of 85 gallons for P-51B/C (from 184 to 269) took the CR to 375 miles - still 150 miles past the best range of the P-47D-25 and 100 miles past the P-38J-15 through L.
"Early P-38s without self sealing tanks would hold 400 gallons, the self sealing tanks dropped capacity to 300 gallons and the lat emodels with under engine intercoolers and leading edge tanks went to 410 gallons.
The P-38 was not designed as an escort fighter but as an interceptor with twice the endurance of a single engine interceptor and shows the problems the designers of the time had in providing single engine performance with high endurance/long range."
Historically, both Spaatz and Eaker were both 'becoming convinced' that the P-51B was probably going to emerge as the preferred escort fighter by the end of October 1943 as it became clear that the P-38H was experiencing too many operational issues and even with external tanks, the P-47D-25 was not getting to ETO for another nine months.
The primary AAF Combat leaders, notably Spaatz and Eaker, did not believe that a long range single engine, high altitude capable fighter was possible in the formative years leading to WWII as well as 'observer status' in 1940-1941. The change from "impossible to maybe" was fueled by the progress reports from Tommy Hitchcock during the RR/RAF experimental conversion MustangX. The conversion from "Maybe to Probable" was fueled by the early performance achieved with the XP-51B 41-37352 between December 1942 to flight tests under AAF control at Eglin in May 1942. The conversion of "Probable to Practical" was stimulated by NAA rapid response to General Barney Giles directive to NAA to increase internal fuel in June 1943, followed by first flight w/85 gallon fuselage fuel tank on July 14, 1943.. Then it was all about NAA being able to craft a field modification 85 gallon fuselage tank kits (plus oxygen supply relocation and increased capacity) while the production insertion was placed at the first P-51B-10 and mid C-5 blocks.
"A P-38 on internal fuel (410 gallons) had an operational radius of 275 miles as outlined above. The P-51B with out rear tank was godd for 150 miles and a P-47 with 305 gals internal was good for 125 mile radius and with 370 internal was good for 225 miles."
SR - the timing of the 2x55 gallon leading edge kits was about 2 months following the installation of the first US Depot mods for the P-51B-5. The first ETO bound 85 gallon kits for the P-51B-1 and -5 already in theatre was December 1943.
The first 55 gallon LE tank kits for the P-38J were released in December, 1943 for delivery to ETO (first) and were retro-fitted to J-5 and -10 already delivered to 55th and 20th FG's. Until the first Berlin missions in March 1944, the P-38 FGs did not have enough conversion kits installed to effectively send in Group level quantity to Berlin. The P-51B groups were going to Schweinfurt during Big Week beginning Feb 20. Until that late February 1944 timeframe the P-38J on 300 gallons of fuel had a Combat radius of 150 miles, the P-51B on 184 gallons was 150 miles, and P-47D on 305 gallons was 125 miles - all at 25,000 feet. The P-47D-25 with 370 gallons had an extended Combat Radius of 225 miles but not in Group level combat ops until July, 1944.
The addition of 110 gallons (from 300 to 410) for the P-38J took the CR to 275mi; the addition of 85 gallons for P-51B/C (from 184 to 269) took the CR to 375 miles - still 150 miles past the best range of the P-47D-25 and 100 miles past the P-38J-15 through L.
"Early P-38s without self sealing tanks would hold 400 gallons, the self sealing tanks dropped capacity to 300 gallons and the lat emodels with under engine intercoolers and leading edge tanks went to 410 gallons.
The P-38 was not designed as an escort fighter but as an interceptor with twice the endurance of a single engine interceptor and shows the problems the designers of the time had in providing single engine performance with high endurance/long range."
Historically, both Spaatz and Eaker were both 'becoming convinced' that the P-51B was probably going to emerge as the preferred escort fighter by the end of October 1943 as it became clear that the P-38H was experiencing too many operational issues and even with external tanks, the P-47D-25 was not getting to ETO for another nine months.
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