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Resp:That is a little too simplistic.
The Army Directorate of Ground Support (Schlatter) was perhaps the earliest single most important driver to remove the Mustang from the clutches of Material Command. The Director- Military Requirements (Fairchild) also joined to move the AAF to the Mustang for Dive Bomber/attack fighter role leading to the A-36 and securing the P-51-1 from the RAF Mustang I order to fulfill both training and Observation/Recon 'hole' in Tactical Army Aviation. The impetus not only pulled the Allison Mustang into AAF but also escalated priority of Merlin based P-51B before the XP-51B was completed.
9th AF was the designated repository for all initial P-51Bs. Eaker didn't 'assign them' because they were not deployed to 8th AF. His sin was to not appeal to Arnold to get them. The first arrived in UK a month before Black Thursday - and Eaker was still convinced that the 8th could survive the impending attrition if he could just get the 600 heavy bomber inventory that he had fought for.
Pulling 354FG, then allowing trade for 357FG for P-47D equipped 358th FG, then pulling the 363rd FG was a decision by Spaatz and Doolittle in concert with Arnold approval. The 354th and 363rd went back under 9th/TAC in late May 1944
The YB-40 was introduced and died in Blitz Week due to the myriad issues. The emergency re-deployment of the 55th FG occurred after August 17, 1943 Schweinfurt mission.. He drove thResp:
Thanks for the correction on Merlin Mustang arrival in the ETO. I was under the impression that Gen Eaker placed his faith in the YB-40, a super-gunned B-17 in mid 1943 . . . rather than fighter escort. The commander of Bombers made a formal request in 'writing' to Fighter Command for more escorts.
Resp:The YB-40 was introduced and died in Blitz Week due to the myriad issues. The emergency re-deployment of the 55th FG occurred after August 17, 1943 Schweinfurt mission.. He drove th
The failure to have Long Range Escort in mid 1943 had many, many mothers - least of all Eaker. His attitude was "I need them - but don't see them'. If you want the single most important driver in 1943, look to Barney Giles Asst Chief of Staff AAF when Arnold told him - solve the problem by December (1943).
Immediately after being tasked by Arnold in early July 1943, he tasked Material Command and NAA, Lockheed and Republic to increase internal fuel. The result was the 85 gallon fuse tank for P-51B, the 55 gal LE fuel tank and intercooler re-design for P-38J, and the increase from 305 to 370 gal for P-47 plus wing pylons and fuel feed which arrived in P-47D-25 and P-47D-15 respectively.
Resp:
I am aware of Armold's letter to Giles, and his contribution to fighter production. He made things move! I also have read Arnold's ltr to Giles in mid 1943. But I must digress to Eaker; he met with English leaders for drop tank (forget the date, but it was fairly early 1943) production, but failed to confirm the order. In the mean time he cancelled a request for drop tanks from the US, as he thought a local source would take care of it. Before Eaker realized his error, much time had expired. Result? Fighters without drop tanks. I could go on.
Resp:Resp: Oh please do..........
Resp:Interestingly enough, Arnold was aware that the P-38E/F, starting with the late "E" (and the unarmed F-4-1-LO), had plumbing for droptanks in 1941.
Germans used drop tanks on their fighter biplanes in 1930s, US used external taks (both 'slipper' and drop-shaped) on their fighter biplanes in 1930s. Plus the Japanese on A5M Claude, at least....
Resp:The E and F both were retro-fitted OR installed while being manufactured, as the plumbing design was in the works while they were being manufactured.
The F-4-1-LO is an unarmed E variant.
The G was the first to have the plumbing as production standard.
I have been trying to find out who and where these large tanks were made. They had to have been immediately available (read that they were flown in 'quick time'). So what was the logistics trail?The P-38s on the Yamamoto raid carried a one off fuel load. Instead of the usual two 165 US gallon drop tanks, they used one 330 US gallon fuel tank and one 165 US gallon tanl
I have been trying to find out who and where these large tanks were made. They had to have been immediately available (read that they were flown in 'quick time'). So what was the logistics trail?
Resp:Seems to me I read they flew them in (330g tanks) from Australia but now I cannot find the reference for it and am now not sure who made them and why. If they were fabricated for this mission or not.
I agree though, without them there's probably no Yamamoto mission, although if he had lived I doubt there's much he could have done different, it wasn't like he was going to turn the tide by any stretch.
Dave - Several sources including Bodie and DeWitt Coop point to the Lockheed-Kelsey collaboration to provide pylon, plumbing and pylons was not known to Arnold until deployment of 1st and 14th FG was being planned for 8th AF in March/April 1942.Interestingly enough, Arnold was aware that the P-38E/F, starting with the late "E" (and the unarmed F-4-1-LO), had plumbing for droptanks in 1941.
Resp:Dave - Several sources including Bodie and DeWitt Coop point to the Lockheed-Kelsey collaboration to provide pylon, plumbing and pylons was not known to Arnold until deployment of 1st and 14th FG was being planned for 8th AF in March/April 1942.
General Bob Olds was the father of the initiative to hang drop tanks on fighters despite entrenched AAC attitudes. Kelsey first proposed to the Fighter Board that drop tanks be designed and provided for the P-36. Arnold rejected the notion for combat tanks but Olds didn't hear a NO for Ferry capability.
Olds provided the command authority for Kelsey to approach Lockheed in mid 1941. The result was a pylon, sway brace capability for first, the 165 gal, then 330 gallon tanks. Kits were produced and released in Feb 1942. About that time during a Fighter Conference hosted by Arnold - the highest priority was the development of combat tanks for high altitude operations - self sealing etc.
Arnold directed Kelsey when he (kesley) returned from UK tour with Spaatz to proceed with a program for development and test - to support Ferry ops to UK for 8th AF.
That is when Kelsey sprung the 'news' that he had already begun at Lockheed. That said, the 165 gallon tank was the last to pass Combat tests ~ August 1943. But the Ferry tanks were used in June-July 1942 Atlantic crossing for P-38.
Resp:Resp:
Thanks drgondog. Sometimes it is better if the boss isn't presented with a decision. It often works against you. "Sir, I was just thinking we might need to 'ferry' some aircraft quickly to a destination." Well son, you did the right thing by add extra tanks for fuel!"
The p51 wins this hands down. Not that it wasn't an excellent aircraft but the post war legend that sprang up around it is, well, a legend. A few frequently printed examples; " the p51 was the only fighter that go make it to Berlin and back". Truth is by the time p51s were there in any significant numbers(early 44) the range of the p47d had been expanded to almost 700 miles(boxted airfield to Berlin is 589 miles) and of course the p38 had an even longer range with drop tanks. Another one of my favorites" the p51 turned things around durring big week" the truth: p51s acounted for about 80 kills durring big week, p47s and p38s almost 300.