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Author Topic: Black p38g.  (Read 6243 times)

Offline lyric1

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Black p38g.
« on: March 31, 2009, 05:15:56 PM »
I thought I would start a new thread for this topic as I had some what hijacked the other thread. Sorry about that.
Any ways this is what I have so far & these are my sources.



Based on what I have the 6TH night fighter squadron was starting to use the P-38g instead of the P-70 as they were not very good for the job.

After a while these to were not very effective so they decided to modify two of the 38's as you can see in the article I posted. Eventually the 6TH NFS transferred the two 38's to the 418TH NFS & based off the other information I have it looks like they both were no longer used in a night fighter roll as the P-61 was on the way.

Even though they were no longer used as night fighters they did stay on as fighters with the 418TH NFS with the black paint schemes & with no radio operator in the rear or the drop tank pod or antennas.




I have also sent off to the archives for microfilm of the 418TH nfs on another topic I am looking at. When they arrive I will look for info on the black 38's in question.
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Offline Krusty

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2009, 05:29:16 PM »
The other thread lead us to believe it was a stock 38 that was painted and used in night intruder missions.

Custom modified night fighters with second seats, onboard radars, and all that jazz, are an entirely different plane. We don't have 2-seat night fighter me262s or 2-seat trainer fw190s; consequently neither do we have 2-seat p-38 skins (and should not).

If you have any P-38s in STOCK configurations that flew with black markings, I'm sure Larry would love to see any pics you have on the matter.


EDIT: P.S. The text is saying they added a second seat behind the pilot, they added the radar gear into drop tanks and other changes, but the color profile included is of a stock, clean (no DTs) P-38 with no changes. It's inaccurate or misleading.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2009, 05:32:55 PM by Krusty »
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Offline lyric1

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2009, 06:37:54 PM »
Yes & they were back to a stock configuration per the 418Th profile.
While with the 6TH all the trimmings were on.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2009, 06:39:29 PM by lyric1 »
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Offline Krusty

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2009, 06:39:26 PM »
So you're telling me they would rip out all the extra gear INCLUDING the rear seat, the rear windows (back to default) and yet while at the depot NOT strip the paint off?
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Offline lyric1

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2009, 06:45:01 PM »
Yes the black widow was on line they had no need for the radars at that point as they were obsolete. There was no rear window like the 38m's the photos & profiles show no such set up.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2009, 06:49:13 PM by lyric1 »
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Offline Krusty

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2009, 06:50:16 PM »
Reading the paragraphs in the pics you posted, even those used in daytime had radar in the nose, shown by antenna. This differentiated them from the all-silver daytime planes (so it says).

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Offline lyric1

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2009, 07:19:24 PM »
Quote from: Krusty on March 31, 2009, 06:50:16 PM
Reading the paragraphs in the pics you posted, even those used in daytime had radar in the nose, shown by antenna. This differentiated them from the all-silver daytime planes (so it says).


Yes again your reading about the 6TH NFS set up these were used at night. Radar was not mounted in the nose the antenna was. Radar was in the drop tank along with the other equipment.
Now if you read the 418TH profile you will see it states that This converted night fighter is profiled as it appeared? Now going back to the 6TH NFS set up,out side of the antenna & the extended muzzle flash guards the profile of this plane is the same as any P38g even with the drop tank set up added.
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Offline StokesAk

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2009, 10:03:05 PM »
D00D i want that.  :aok
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Strokes

Offline Guppy35

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2009, 09:51:05 PM »
Quote from: StokesAk on March 31, 2009, 10:03:05 PM
D00D i want that.  :aok

LOL why?  No color at all.

As for the P38Js there were 2 along with 2 P51Bs that flew Operational sorties to test night intruder potential.  They operated under the control of 100 Group RAF at Little Snoring, England  This was in late March 1944 and the unit was commanded by Major Tom Gates.  After a number of operational sorties they were deemed unsuitable for that kind of work and the unit was disbanded.

They were regular P38Js with OD tops and black undersides.  The yellow lightning bolt was an unofficial unit insignia.
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Offline lyric1

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2009, 09:57:28 PM »
Quote from: Guppy35 on April 01, 2009, 09:51:05 PM
LOL why?  No color at all.

As for the P38Js there were 2 along with 2 P51Bs that flew Operational sorties to test night intruder potential.  They operated under the control of 100 Group RAF at Little Snoring, England  This was in late March 1944 and the unit was commanded by Major Tom Gates.  After a number of operational sorties they were deemed unsuitable for that kind of work and the unit was disbanded.

They were regular P38Js with OD tops and black undersides.  The yellow lightning bolt was an unofficial unit insignia.
Cant we have both  :aok
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Offline Guppy35

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2009, 10:02:40 PM »
Quote from: lyric1 on April 01, 2009, 09:57:28 PM
Cant we have both  :aok

As the only 38G driver in Aces High, I say no! :)

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Offline lyric1

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #11 on: April 02, 2009, 12:02:24 AM »
Quote from: Guppy35 on April 01, 2009, 10:02:40 PM
As the only 38G driver in Aces High, I say no! :)


Well sorry Larry your going to have to scrap the black J skin as Guppy35 has voted it off the island. :D
« Last Edit: April 02, 2009, 12:36:58 AM by lyric1 »
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Offline lyric1

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #12 on: April 16, 2009, 12:16:22 PM »
The microfilm on the 418TH night fighter squadron arrived & after going through it all regarding the P38's. The only things that mentions these two planes is this one page,as well as combat reports of missions flown.



There is many combat reports pertaining to all of the P38's in the squadron & subsequent P38 losses as mentioned in the previous posted profile. There is no mention of colour of any planes in the squadron as well.



Eventually all mention of the P38's just disappear as newer aircraft start showing up on the reports.
Any ways that is what I have I did not print out combat missions as of yet as there is a bunch of them & the library charges a quarter for each.
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Offline Dan216TH

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #13 on: April 21, 2009, 07:08:24 PM »
bump
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Offline Larry

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Re: Black p38g.
« Reply #14 on: April 21, 2009, 07:46:48 PM »
Why are you bumping these threads?
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