Nickname of P38?

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by jokeri
I have encountered many times that people are nicknaming P38 as an "Lightning"? Is it true nickname to that plane? I have always understand the word "Lightning" comes from the P38L model marking so P38J or P38G isin't really "Lightning"? What is correct nickname for P38 if it's not "Lightning"?

!S
Jokeri

The original name given to the P-38 by the US was "Atlanta".  Thankfully, the British renamed it the "Lightning" and it stuck.  Kind of the same with the Mustang, though I think Apache would have been a cool name too.


ack-ack

[cav58d]

My two favorites are taking N1K1 and calling it a NIKI...much easier to type in a hurry.....and KI-84=FRANK....WHO THE HELL IS FRANK?  Do you think there has ever been a jap pilot, let alone a single Japanesse feller in history named Frank?
Hmm what else....c-47=Goon....
Bombers-Buffs...(b-17/24)
F4u=Hog

[Ack-Ack]

C-47 Skytrain was nicknamed "Gooney bird" not "Goon".  Goon is a by-product of our flight sim world.

BUFF is in reference to the B-52 and is actually an acronym for Big Ugly Fat F***** and not in reference to bombers in general.  Again, "Buff" as a general reference to bombers again is a creation of our little flight sim world.

The male names that was used for Japanese planes is an entirely U.S creation.  A team of intelligence experts were tasked to "code name" the planes.  Japanese fighters had male names while Japanese bombers had female names.  


ack-ack

[justin_g]

WW2 Allied code names for Japanese planes in AH:

A6M - Zeke, Zero, Hap/Hamp(A6M3 w/clipped wings)
D3A - Val
B5N - Kate
N1K2-J - George
Ki-61 - Tony
Ki-84 - Frank
Ki-67 - Peggy

Also:

C-47(Nakajima L2D) - Tabby

Bf 109 - Mike
Bf 110 - Doc
Fw 190 - Fred
Ju 87 - Irene
Ju 88 - Janice

[Bodhi]

F4u's factory nickname was the U-bird.

[Debonair]

Art Buchwald, who was an F4U squadron 'erk' wrote the squadron newsletter The U-Man Comedy[/b].
'Buff' has been around since the 1st world war I think.  I dont know how or why

[Furball]

See Rule #5

[SMIDSY]

the sherman was not nicknamed the "zippo". but rather the ronson, after the lighter company whose slogan was "always lights up the first time". this was gallows humor on the part of the american tankers because the sherman was notorious for catching fire after only one hit.

it was nicknamed by the germans the "tommy cooker".


and furball, most of the american aces in WWII were P38 pilots and P47 pilots. so stuff that in your pipe and smoke it.

[Furball]

Originally posted by SMIDSY
and furball, most of the american aces in WWII were P38 pilots and P47 pilots. so stuff that in your pipe and smoke it.

i dont care and i dont smoke.

have a nice day.

[SKJohn]

See Rule #7

[cempa]

Richard I. Bong, the first U.S. WWII ace to surpass Eddie Rickenbacker's WWI kills, and the U.S. WWII ace with the most kills altogether was a P-38 pilot.

  The P-38 is a wonderful plane in AH2 for airfield attacks.  Is it a pure dogfighter?  Of course not.  If you try to turn and burn in a 38 as if you're in a spit,  then you're just asking to die.  But there is very little funnier than someone in one of those itty-bitty gnat planes trying to follow you down from alt and get on your tail when you turn at speed and watch his wings fall off as he tries to follow.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by cempa
Richard I. Bong, the first U.S. WWII ace to surpass Eddie Rickenbacker's WWI kills, and the U.S. WWII ace with the most kills altogether was a P-38 pilot.

  The P-38 is a wonderful plane in AH2 for airfield attacks.  Is it a pure dogfighter?  Of course not.  If you try to turn and burn in a 38 as if you're in a spit,  then you're just asking to die.  But there is very little funnier than someone in one of those itty-bitty gnat planes trying to follow you down from alt and get on your tail when you turn at speed and watch his wings fall off as he tries to follow.

Bong took years and two combat tours to reach 40 kills. David McCampbell shot down 34, with 3 probables and 6 damaged during a single deployment on a CV. This included 9 kills, 2 probables and two damaged during one sortie. Bong never even came remotely close to that accomplishment.

As the the P-38s in AH2; If you think the P-38 can't dogfight, then pray you never meet Ak Ak, KillnU, Fester, Kappa or even me for that matter. It has the ability to amaze...

My regards,

Widewing

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by cempa


  The P-38 is a wonderful plane in AH2 for airfield attacks.  Is it a pure dogfighter?  Of course not.  If you try to turn and burn in a 38 as if you're in a spit,  then you're just asking to die.  

Those inexperienced in the P-38 tend to have that misconception.



ack-ack

[Bodhi]

Also keep in mind that Bong was given priority assignements during his tour and often flew with whatever unit happened to be closest to the action.

That also attributed to his kill score.

I think had Sparks been allowed to stay in combat, he would have far surpassed Bong's kills if allowed.

[Kev367th]

Bringing it up to date -
NATO codenames for Russian aircraft start with the first letter of the aircraft type:

Fighters - Flanker, Foxbat, Flogger, Fulcrum etc
Bombers - Blackjack, Bear, Backfire, Badger etc
Helis - Havoc, Halo, Helix, Hokum etc
Cargo/Transports - Charger, Camel, Cooker
Miscellaneous - Mainstay, Midas