I was reading some very old post tonight and I began to notice a pattern. When asked about P38 vs P47 most people picked the P38 including the die hard German guys. Now, it is, as far as evreything I have ever read, generally accepted that the P47 broke the back off the Luftwaffe. BUT, when the same people are asked about P38 vs either a 109 or 190 it invariably comes back that the P38 will loose every time. From all the posts I read, a P38 couldnt shoot down a 109 or 190 if the German planes were out of gas, filled with concrete and the pilots were on vacation. Add to that was the reasoning that a P38 simply couldnt turn well enough to ever shoot down a 109 or 190. One wonders after reading the posts if a P38 EVER actually shot down a single engine German fighter. YET, history records the P47 crushed the Luftwaffe despite the fact that it cant outturn anything and it sure cant outclimg anything either, except for the zoom climb. (I know, the paddle blade prop to)
Anybody want to explain the alleged discrepensies here?
There are different reasons for the discrepancy, but the 38s usefulness also came down to pilot training and design factors, where other single engine fighters like the Jug just didn't have issues.
You have two engines, it takes a bit more consideration and experience to fly properly.
The 38 had a low mach number which made it horrible to dive with, and from all accounts it seems that BnZ was a popular tactic on both sides of the war. Not being able to dive away from an attack with out also losing control, is another reason the 38 was not as useful as a fighter.
It did follow the roll of the P-47 in ground support and attack missions.
Lastly, and less commonly known is not so much the turn rate, but it did have a poor roll inertia.
It could roll fast, but getting the plane to roll the opposite direction with in combination of maneuvers was difficult by comparison . A 109 pilot was quick to learn that a half roll to the right, and then a full roll to the left, and the 38 was not able to follow.
There are also reports of 38 pilots who mention the delay between moving the stick and the actual bank of the plane feels like an eternity with an enemy plane baring down on you.
Talking about turning ability is kind of sillly, considering that it all depends on the speeds these planes are traveling. There are also many 38 pilots who contended better against the better turning Japanese planes. I don't think turn ability was as much of an issue for the P-38, but i might say the biggest factor in Europe was trained pilots who could managed two engines.
Bill