drgondog
Major
Best cruise for P-38 escort range was below B-29 cruise speed. For P-38s to cruise at 300mph TAS, the fuel consumption made it a poor second choice to the P-51 and P-47N (Joe -check me on this)
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Best cruise for P-38 escort range was below B-29 cruise speed. For P-38s to cruise at 300mph TAS, the fuel consumption made it a poor second choice to the P-51 and P-47N (Joe -check me on this)Ya, I've always found that odd( that p38s weren't used more to escort B29s that is).
Already had alot of them in the Pacific with experienced aircrews and as important as the safety of the extra engine seemed to be to the pilots. Seems the p38 pilots as a whole thought it was verry important anyway.
Might be altitude. Alot of the B29 missions were at higher altitudes as I understand it especially early on. If your going to operate bombers at high altitude probably a plane that is best below 25,000 feet is not a the best choice. They did do escort work where such high altitude was not used.
I'm thinking it's just a matter of picking the best plane for the specific mission.
Great info Bill - the OP's comment came across to me as if there were no P-38s going to the SWP and I think we all know by mid-1943 the P-38 was well establishing itself. The book quoted does state that the 9th and 39th were re-equipped with P-47s (this around October/ November 1943) but that would last 6 month. It seems around February or March 1944 is when the P-38J started to arrive in the SWPJoe - the P-38G/H that made their way to SWP were before the Blitz Week crisis at end of July, 1943. Arnold directed the re-routing of the 20th and 55th FG to ETO (from Med) which arrived in August 1943. IIRC it was October 1943 when he said ALL P-51B and P-38J were to go to ETO. After that the only new P-38FG in any Theatre until May 1944 were the 8th AF 364th/479th ETO and the 367/370474th 9th AF. About this time the flow of replacements were from 8th AF to 9th and then 15th until the Long Range crisis was effectively over around D-Day. Then the production logistics pointed to SWP and some CBI for most remaining New production
Make me wonder what the Soviets would use for a long range fighter escort, if they'd had the need. The post-war Lavochkin La-11 had a Mustang-like 2,235 km range....
...but the wartime Soviet fighters had terrible endurance.
Resp:I believe that's not totally accurate. While it was documented from several sources that Arnold had told Kenny the ETO was the priority, P-38s did find their way to the South Pacific. In the book "Peter Three Eight" (Stanaway) the Arnold/Kenney situation was mentioned but Kenny acquired enough P-38s to bring up 3 operational P-38 combat squadrons by the spring of 1943, I believe they were the 80th, the 475th and the 39th FS, all under V fighter command. I believe a 4th was on line during the summer of 43'. Well into 1943, P-38s were finding their way to the V fighter command. Bottom line in mid-late 1943, there were already P-38s in theater and more were on their way.
Resp:
Thanks for the info/clarification. Kennedy was concerned enough to direct his engineers to make the arriving P-47s drop tank capable. 60 days after the engineers were informed, P-47s flew their 1st long range missions with the special flat drop tank on the centerline. Amazing!
You have much less of a chance of the enemy getting on your tail in a 51 compared to the other two...When I have a 20mm shell blow off 3 cylinder heads. I'd rather be flying a twin over an ocean any day of the week, let the taxpayer fund my survivability.
Still depends on mission and theater.
See above!
If an enemy is on your tail in any of the three, more than likely you're already screwed, and forget all the dogfight stories you heard. So at the end of the day if a cannon round doesn't wipe out the cockpit area or torch a fuel tank, I'll settle on having an extra engine.You have much less of a chance of the enemy getting on your tail in a 51 compared to the other two...
An amazing feat indeed but I think Kenney had no choice as attrition forced him to take on P-47s for a brief period.Resp:
Thanks for the info/clarification. Kennedy was concerned enough to direct his engineers to make the arriving P-47s drop tank capable. 60 days after the engineers were informed, P-47s flew their 1st long range missions with the special flat drop tank on the centerline. Amazing!
Resp:An amazing feat indeed but I think Kenney had no choice as attrition forced him to take on P-47s for a brief period.
True, but if you were flying a 51, it would be easier to avoid that situation...If an enemy is on your tail in any of the three, more than likely you're already screwed, and forget all the dogfight stories you heard. So at the end of the day if a cannon round doesn't wipe out the cockpit area or torch a fuel tank, I'll settle on having an extra engine.
Resp:True, but if you were flying a 51, it would be easier to avoid that situation...
If an enemy is on your tail in any of the three, more than likely you're already screwed, and forget all the dogfight stories you heard. So at the end of the day if a cannon round doesn't wipe out the cockpit area or torch a fuel tank, I'll settle on having an extra engine.
True, but if you were flying a 51, it would be easier to avoid that situation...
N/A cloaking device, you heard it here first.How so?
"One engine is better than no engine." At least there's a chance you may live to fight another day!After which, you're in a crippled airplane in where there are active enemy fighters. I'm not sure that this is much of an improvement over no engine.
Perhaps. Many variables there. It's been well established that most fighter pilots shot down never saw their adversary. If an opponent got on your 6 without you knowing and started blasting lethal rounds into your aircraft, it's going to make little difference what aircraft you're in. My point is your chances of survivability is increased with a second engine.True, but if you were flying a 51, it would be easier to avoid that situation...
Resp:After which, you're in a crippled airplane in where there are active enemy fighters. I'm not sure that this is much of an improvement over no engine.