P-38L in the European Theater

[Auitys]

Well, I have tried to find information about the participation of the P-38L (Not the J) in Europe. But the information is very scarce, I know it participated a lot in Asia and in the Pacific, but I would be interested to know when, in which battles and in which operations, as well as in how many numbers it was available in Europe.
Any information you know is welcome.

 

[fubar57]

Look for Ninth Air Force sites. From Joe Baugher's site...
"The Ninth Air Force was assigned a tactical role (in contrast to the strategic role of the Eighth Air Force), and retained its P-38J/L fighters a bit longer. Its first Lightning group was the 474th, which flew its first combat mission on April 15, 1944. It was soon joined by the 367th and 370th Fighter Groups. However, in March of 1945 these two latter groups converted to P-47Ds and P-51Ds respectively. By V-E day the 474th was the only Fighter Group still operating P-38s"

 

[fubar57]

If you have lots and lots of time, these are the P-38L serial numbers from the above site

44-23769/25058 Lockheed P-38L-1-LO Lightning
44-25059/27258 Lockheed P-38L-5-LO Lightning
44-53008/53327 Lockheed P-38L-5-LO Lightning
44-53328/54707 Lockheed P-38L-5-LO Lightning - order cancelled.
43-50226/50338 Convair P-38L-5-VN Lightning
43-50339/52225 Convair P-38L-5-VN Lightning - contract cancelled.

 

[Auitys]

If you have lots and lots of time, these are the P-38L serial numbers from the above site

44-23769/25058 Lockheed P-38L-1-LO Lightning
44-25059/27258 Lockheed P-38L-5-LO Lightning
44-53008/53327 Lockheed P-38L-5-LO Lightning
44-53328/54707 Lockheed P-38L-5-LO Lightning - order cancelled.
43-50226/50338 Convair P-38L-5-VN Lightning
43-50339/52225 Convair P-38L-5-VN Lightning - contract cancelled.

So there were only very few P-38Ls in Europe? I had read in a book that there were several P-38Ls on D-Day, I think less than 100. And since it was the most produced, I thought there would be more in Europe.

 

[Reluctant Poster]

So there were only very few P-38Ls in Europe? I had read in a book that there were several P-38Ls on D-Day, I think less than 100. And since it was the most produced, I thought there would be more in Europe.

The first P-38Ls were accepted by the USAAF (in the US) in June 1944. None were present on D Day. The 8th AF converted 3 of their 4 P-38 groups to the P-51 in July 1944 with the remaining group converted In September.

 

[Conslaw]

What about the 12th and 15th Air Forces in Italy? Did they get P-38Ls?

 

[drgondog]

Well, I have tried to find information about the participation of the P-38L (Not the J) in Europe. But the information is very scarce, I know it participated a lot in Asia and in the Pacific, but I would be interested to know when, in which battles and in which operations, as well as in how many numbers it was available in Europe.
Any information you know is welcome.

There were Zero P-38L in 8th AF. Olds told me that he never saw an L and only had 1 P-38J-25 at Wattisham when he was in the 479th FG. IIRC te P-38L first flew combat in 474th in October 1944. Th 479th fully converted to P-51 Operations on or around 9-28-1944.

The P-38L was exclusive to 9th and 15th AF in Europe.

 

[eagle0025]

The 474th FG began receiving L models late summer 1944. They had quite a few Ls by the end of the war.. I'll provide more details shortly (numbers/dates/serial #s). I have to dig through my archives for the info.

 

[eagle0025]

I dug into my archives and can confirm that the 474th FG had AT LEAST 28 P-38L-1-LO and 14 P-38L-5-LO models assigned to the group. I am certain there were more. The earliest loss for a 474th FG L model is 16 Nov 1944 so they likely started receiving them not too long before then.