Should this P38 still be flying...

[Guppy35]

Flying last night and at some point my P38 started flying differently.   I didn't hear a hit, although I was near an enemy airfield so I suppose it could have been flak.

I looked out and the right wing outside of the engine was gone.

It explained why the right wing wanted to drop, but it was still flyable.

I immediately thought of the picture included and figured it was my turn to try and nurse the bird home.  It was a long flight, sitting on the rudder to try and keep the wing up and the nose in the right direction.  I came in hot and rolled it into a ball but walked away.

Glad I wasn't the guy in the real photo.

Dan/Slack

[storch]

I recall reading of a 475th squadron P38 skip bombing a Maru and hitting the mast removing something like 6 feet of the wing and RTB'n.  I read it so long ago that I don't recall where I read it but it seems that they were actually quite robustly constructed.

[DREDIOCK]

Looking at those two pics I'd say the real pilot would prefer his own damage to yours LOL

[streetstang]

I can't be looking at this crapola. Makes me want to fly....

Someone post pics of 38s with lots of holes in it tho. And leaky 1 engined ones too. And some with missing stabs and stuff.

Err i mean never mind.

[Ack-Ack]

Who has a picture of the P-38 with a Halifax stabilizer in the Lighting's wing?


And +Tiff, being a +Nomad you should already be used to cutting yourself out of the wreckage after you've landed

ack-ack

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Who has a picture of the P-38 with a Halifax stabilizer in the Lighting's wing?


And +Tiff, being a +Nomad you should already be used to cutting yourself out of the wreckage after you've landed

ack-ack

Who as the picture he asks.....

Added another one of a 475th FG P38 that brought home a runaway B24 prop jammed between the fuselage and engine.

Ack-Ack, did you get the 479th history?  Got my copy in the mail today.  That sucker is huge!  Great stuff and loaded with info and photos.

No G models for the 479th though outside of training in Palmdale.  Wondering where you saw  they had those?  Js and Ls once they got to Europe.

Dan/Slack

[Ack-Ack]

Did I say the 479th flew Gs?  If I did, it was an obvious error on my part.  

Do you by any chance have any pictures of Old's Scat II?

And nope, haven't gotten my 479th history yet but I did get a notice saying that due to the increased holidy business, there is a chance I might not receive my copy until after the holidays.  Grrrr.



ack-ack

[DREDIOCK]

Olright now some of you guys got me doing it now.

Now you have ME noticing minuscule discrepancies between real WWII aircraft and the graphical interpretation in our AH counterparts

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Did I say the 479th flew Gs?  If I did, it was an obvious error on my part.  

Do you by any chance have any pictures of Old's Scat II?

And nope, haven't gotten my 479th history yet but I did get a notice saying that due to the increased holidy business, there is a chance I might not receive my copy until after the holidays.  Grrrr.



ack-ack

Hmmm, ordered mine last Thursday and got it today.  500 pages of P38 heaven btw.

Here's the Scat II images from the book.  Another pilot wrecked it

Interesting to note the Osprey book on P38 Aces has a profile that claims Scat II was OD/Gray.   Clearly it wasn't

Dan/Slack

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Guppy35
Hmmm, ordered mine last Thursday and got it today.  500 pages of P38 heaven btw.

Here's the Scat II images from the book.  Another pilot wrecked it

Interesting to note the Osprey book on P38 Aces has a profile that claims Scat II was OD/Gray.   Clearly it wasn't

Dan/Slack

That burned picture of Scat II was flown by some Lt that died, correct?  And yes, it is a surprise to see Scat II in metal finish.  Everything I've read that mentioned the plane described it as being olive drab/grey.  Even Fidd skinned it that way for AW.


ack-ack

[Ack-Ack]

Found this.





ack-ack

[Ack-Ack]

ack-ack

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
That burned picture of Scat II was flown by some Lt that died, correct?  And yes, it is a surprise to see Scat II in metal finish.  Everything I've read that mentioned the plane described it as being olive drab/grey.  Even Fidd skinned it that way for AW.


ack-ack

Lt. Carl Peterson escaped with minor burns after crashlanding Scat II, according to the history.

That book is a heckuva resource.  Color artwork in the back too Ack-Ack so the skinners can go to work with accurate info

Dan/Slack

[eilif]

speaking of p38 damage, i cut my 38s wings down to the length guppy has his, just for both sides against a hanger and was able to take off and fly defensively in a combat zone with just rudders and elevators.

[mechanic]

lol, i too had a lucky escape recently.

Flying the 40jug, i lost my left wing tip to field ack.

whilst rtb'ing, i was chsed down by a FW190. as the bandit closed to 1.5k i noticed a friendly trying desparately to help me although he could not catch the FW. I then cut my power and tried by best to scissor with the damaged bird. the FW closed and shot at me, taking of my right wing tip before the friendly was able to catch him and shoot him down.


now clear, but mising 45% of my wings, i trimmed out the rudder to counter the tourqe and flew 30 miles home using only rudder and elevators.  i bumped it down on the grass of our airfield and rolled to a stop on the runway, 'succesfully landing' 2 kills