Half on topic only but here is what McArthur had to say about the P-38 as a P-40 replacement in July 42
I thought I saved an interesting pilot report last night about P-38 pilots needing multiple days off after long range missions but seems I was too tired to put it in the right folder. I will try and find again.
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Discussed in another thread, I came across this article. With that memo written in mid 42' I think the article explains the climate.
Air Force Magazine
He was a superb leader and organizer. He also knew how to get along with MacArthur.
According to Arnold and Gen. George C. Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, MacArthur's air commander, Lt. Gen. George H. Brett, was in wrong with MacArthur and his staff. Marshall said the situation was rife with clashes of personalities.
Brett had in fact been shut off from MacArthur and his staff
Before he could tackle the logistics issue, he had to face MacArthur. According to Brett, neither
MacArthur nor his staff possessed an understanding of air operations. Yet, he said, after conferring only with his immediate staff, MacArthur made all decisions himself.
"You don't win wars with file cabinets," he said.
Kenney decided to confront (Gen.) Sutherland. In a meeting, he jabbed a dot onto a piece of paper. As he thrust it before MacArthur's chief of staff, he said, "The dot represents what you know about air operations, the entire rest of the paper what I know."
When Sutherland reacted belligerently, Kenney suggested they see MacArthur. Sutherland backed down.
Brett had told Kenney that he rarely saw MacArthur and added, "Every endeavor I have made to explain what I was trying to do has been lost among lengthy dissertations which I would not take the time to deliver to a second lieutenant."
Now, it was Kenney's turn. He recalled, "I listened to a lecture for approximately an hour on the shortcomings of the Air Force in general and the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific in particular."
The air forces, MacArthur charged, had done nothing.
Kenney interrupted and told him that he would take care of air operations. He added, "If, for any reason, I found that I couldn't work for him, I would tell him so and do everything in my power to get relieved."
According to Kenney, MacArthur grinned, put his hand on his shoulder, and said, "I think we are going to get along together all right."
Just because you're a 5 star general doesn't mean you're an authority in air operations. The rest is history.