P38L loadout?

[killnu]

any chance of getting the 14 rocket loadout it came with?

[Raptor]

How about the 2000lb bombs as well

[Murdr]

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by killnu
any chance of getting the 14 rocket loadout it came with?

Now there's the 64 thousand dollar question.  I'd never thought about it, but went hunting through all the group histories, including the 1st and 82nd from the MTO, 379th from the 9th AF ETO and the 8th, 49th and 475th FGs in the PTO and not a single photo of a rocket equipped 38 shows up.  Lots of bombs hung on em, but no rockets that I could find.

80th and 475th for example were flying a lot more ground support from January 45 but despite loads of photos in their respective histories, no rockets.

The only images I can find of the rocket trees are on the Lockheed photos of L models showing the load out and the M models with the trees showing.

Wonder if there is an actual combat 38 image around showing them?

There must be, but I sure can't find one

Dan/CorkyJr
Very curious now

[Murdr]

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Murdr

Yep, saw that photo, but that's just a Lockheed image taken stateside.  Can't find an active combat squadron 38 with rockets on it.

THey must be out there though. Can't believe they wouldn't have use them

Dan/CorkyJr

[HoHun]

Hi Dan,

>I'd never thought about it, but went hunting through all the group histories, including the 1st and 82nd from the MTO, 379th from the 9th AF ETO and the 8th, 49th and 475th FGs in the PTO and not a single photo of a rocket equipped 38 shows up.  Lots of bombs hung on em, but no rockets that I could find.

Hm, did you look for a specific rocket type, or were you looking for rockets of any kind, on any P-38 variant? I'm asking because I've always thought the P-38 was using rockets regularly, based on its depiction in various simulation games.

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

[Murdr]

They were in ETO, when assigned to CAP.  I even spoke with an infantry vet last year who was telling me about waiting on a hill waiting to take a town watching the P-38s come in and soften it up with strafeing and rockets.

Worked on the guys house.  Nice to bump in to one that is willing to tell stories and show souveneirs.  Never had the fortune to run into Dick Winters, though Ive live within a few miles of him for the last 15 years.

[Guppy35]

Ok finally found reference to combat use in the 49th FG history "Protect & Avenge"

Quoting the book:

"Eight late model L Lightnings had been picked up by the more fortunate Blacksheep pilots gone on leave in Hawaii and were ferried all the way back to Linguyan via Pacific route through Wake and Guam Islands.  These particular P38s were fitted with detachable underwing racks, each of which could mount 5 60 pound high velocity rockets.  The Vee-shaped racks hung down nearly 24 inches from the underwing surface and were likened to an upside down "Christmas Tree".  The 20mm cannon ammo was not carried when the six-hundred plus pounds of rockets and racks were fitted.

The rockets were only used on a few operational sorties in late April and May and proved to be very lethel.  The weapons were aimed through the standard Lockheed gunsight and were most effective at a range of up to 500 yards.  Many times 49ers found the rockets could be fired right into a cave entrance or through the side of a fortified bunker that otherwise could not be hit with dive-bombing techniques.  However the Ops people considered napalm to be tactically more effective."

Not sure how many AH drivers want to give up their 20mm for rockets

Image from the book showing an operational P38 with the rocket trees.

Dan/CorkyJr

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Murdr
They were in ETO, when assigned to CAP.  I even spoke with an infantry vet last year who was telling me about waiting on a hill waiting to take a town watching the P-38s come in and soften it up with strafeing and rockets.

Worked on the guys house.  Nice to bump in to one that is willing to tell stories and show souveneirs.  Never had the fortune to run into Dick Winters, though Ive live within a few miles of him for the last 15 years.

If April-May 45 is the earliest, then it had to be the 474th FG as everyone else was out of 38s by March, but them in the ETO.  370th FG was second to last in 38s in the ETO and they didn't use rockets.

No comment at all in the 1st or 82nd FG histories of rocket use.

Now I wish someone would write the 474th history

And of course it still begs to question if it ever carried 14 rockets operationally.  Sounds like two sets of 5 was what was used.

Dan/CorkyJr

[straffo]

Originally posted by Murdr

tss tss the Stof caption is :

Above right: An experimental loading of 14 rockets.

[killnu]

dunno, i seen that same photo in a Janes, book of ww2 planes, and it said"the standard 14 rocket loadout"  with regards to the P38L in the photo above.

[thrila]

Didn't tiffies sometimes carry 16 rockets?

[Sikboy]

I think the real problem here is HTC's bias against American Aircraft.

-Sik

[Bodhi]

Guppy,

Check your email when you get the chance.