1st i write fightning. 2nd so the P-38 it's contemporary of Me 262.
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The P-38 actually entered service in 1941 so, more or less, it was a contemporary of the Me 110; the advantage the P-38 had was, a.) turbo-supercharged engines, b.) lower inertial mass, which contributed to a better roll rate, c.) contra-rotating engines which allowed the P-38 to roll equally well in either direction (left or right), and d.) single-pilot operation, which required less in the way of support hardware vs. the 110 and, therefore, lower overall weight. The P-38 is generally overlooked vs. more the "glamorous" fighters like the P-47 and the P-51, but it was the first production fighter in the world to exceed 400 mph in horizontal flight, and the first operational fighter with a 1,000 mile range; it was also the only US fighter to remain in constant production from 1941 to 1945.
So what version of the Me-110 was flying during the fall of 1943?The definitive P-38J was introduced in August 1943
Largely why I picked it and faced it off against the one of the last of the P-38s, the L....the G-2 was the last zerstorer...
When did P-47 and P-51 production end?
Largely why I picked it and faced it off against the one of the last of the P-38s, the L.
The G-2 did share performance similarities with the G-6
Well spottedG-6 ???
Not all of it comes from the G-4, but anything I could base on the powerplant commonality, I didimho G-4 it's not a good proxy for G-2. it's more heavy, more drag.
In the hands of a capable pilot who knew how to get the best out of his machine, the most widely produced variants of the P-38 (J&L models) were vastly superior to the Bf 110. The 110 could not out-turn a P-38, nor could it match it in any aspect of combat performance.
"... more the "glamorous" fighters like the P-47..."
I don't think I have ever heard P-47 and "glamorous" in the same sentence. The P-38 was much more sexy looking and glamorous IMHO and I assume that was the general consensus at the time too.
Outturn a Zero now ? Hmm.. no.
You have a very valid point and I'll give the benefit of the doubt there. At the same time you "could have" had the cream of the crop sitting there wondering why this twin engine monster was chewing up their aircraft.I believe the accounts happened all right FLYBOYJ, but lets remember one thing, we DON'T know what the Zero or Oscar pilots were doing, and most likely they were rookies.
But also remember this NO pilot will ever fly their aircraft to 100% efficiency, with that said, what was done with the P-38 in this situation was done outside tactical and design parameters established for the aircraft.That having been said, we've had these discussions before and I will say exactly the same as I said then, and that is; There is no way that a P-38 is EVER going to outturn a Zero if both pilots know their a/c 100%. Sorry but it just wont happen!
Yes - and look into the multi engine training many 110 drivers received. From what I understand many of the pilots who flew the 110 had some time in bombers and flew the 110 like a bomber. Tactically the Bf 110 and P-38 were flown entirely different and I think history shows us the end results when comparing them in their respective theaters of operation (the SWP for the P-38 )Think about it, if it were to be true then a Bf-110 would be able to turn even better, yet Spitfires preyed on it quite effortlessly.
I can't find anything putting the G-2 over 350mph or a climb rate any like as ambitious as 3,000ft/min
Where are you getting this from?