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jakal said:Hunter368
I read Female Russian Pilots during WW@ kicked *** with the little training they received!
Jank said:wmaxt said, "The P-47, we all agree was the toughest fighter in combat but strangely enough, it has been reported that it also wore out most quickly to an overhaul/war weary status."
Wore out how? It's engine was quite reliable and didn't required the overhaul schedule of the Merlin powered Mustang. It didn't have the plug fouling problems of the Mustang nor the plethora of engine problems of the pre-J model P-38's.
Although the round engines were more robust, they could be a lot more difficult to work on (I say that from experience).
Jank said:Can you share where you saw that "it has been reported that it also wore out most quickly to an overhaul/war weary status"?
I am interested because I have read an account from a crew chief (I wish I had it to share) that indicated that the R-2800 could go longer between maintenance intervals than the Merlin powered Mustang - I think, in part due to the spark plug problems suffered by the Mustangs but I'm not sure.
I have also read in The Report on Joint Fighter Conference 1944 that the mechanical maintenance on the P-38 was more complicated and troublesome.
Jank said:Soren, while your point is well taken, I do not believe it is accurate to characterize the engine problems as "severe."