FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Ralph Wandrey was said to be one of Dick Bong's favorite wingman, he come on scene in the Pacific in early 1943. By that time the initial "batch" of P-38 pilots have already had their share of playing with the P-38. The 39th and the 9th was the first units to receive P-38s and its at this time I believe Tommy Lynch, John Lane, Dick Bong and Stan Sparks and later possibly Gerry Johnson began playing with the P-38 and examining the use of adverse yaw in an attempt to tighten a turn or increase the roll rate in the P-38. I do know that Lynch specifically told his pilots DO NOT attempt a turning battle with any Japanese aircraft, it does not mean that this "technique" wasn't attempted by these guys...
I know Wandrey was a 6 kill ace and is one of the last (if not the last) surviving member of the original 9th FS. I would respect his word on this matter but the fact he wasn't there with these guys in the beginning doesn't mean it was not attempted. As stated earlier I once had a conversation with Tony LeVeir and he was well aware of pilots doing this maneuver. I believe that Wandrey perhaps did not hear of any of these guys doing this the time he was flying with them....The "myth" came from somewhere - I believe it was at least experimented with and maybe employed...
I know Wandrey was a 6 kill ace and is one of the last (if not the last) surviving member of the original 9th FS. I would respect his word on this matter but the fact he wasn't there with these guys in the beginning doesn't mean it was not attempted. As stated earlier I once had a conversation with Tony LeVeir and he was well aware of pilots doing this maneuver. I believe that Wandrey perhaps did not hear of any of these guys doing this the time he was flying with them....The "myth" came from somewhere - I believe it was at least experimented with and maybe employed...