Author Topic: K-14 gunsight in P-38L's (Read 617 times)

38ruk · « **on:** March 16, 2006, 02:03:27 PM »

Can Widewing , Dan , or any other 38 guy comment on a little caption i read in a WALKAROUND P-38 book that states, "the K-14 GUNSIGHT was used in the P-38L-05's and latter replacing the N-9 gunsight used in earlier models .

I know that some of these books are pretty well researched in some areas , while they may be poor in others , i'm just curious to see if any 38's used them . THX
38maw

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2006, 04:40:57 PM »

This guy is asking the same question.

K-14 on P-38L?

I haven't been able to find anything that the K-14 gyro sight was on the P-38L. If it was then most likely on the Ls that served in the PTO.

ack-ack

Guppy35 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2006, 05:27:14 PM »

Hadn't really thought about it before but I went through the 38 group histories I have that include most of the ETO/MTO and PTO groups and I can't find any photo evidence of a K-14 on a 38 in any of them.

That doesn't mean they didn't show up ever, but I can't find any photo to back it up and that includes postwar photos of 475th and 8th FG 38s.

Widewing · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2006, 06:03:17 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Guppy35
Hadn't really thought about it before but I went through the 38 group histories I have that include most of the ETO/MTO and PTO groups and I can't find any photo evidence of a K-14 on a 38 in any of them.

That doesn't mean they didn't show up ever, but I can't find any photo to back it up and that includes postwar photos of 475th and 8th FG 38s.

I can find no evidence that any P-38s were manufactured with the K-14 installed as standard equipment. Might there have been some converted in the field? Possibly, but I have not seen any photos to establish that as fact.

My research shows the following gun sights being used in the P-38.

P-38F-1: N-3
P-38F-5 thru P-38J-5: N-3B
P-38J-10 and beyond: L-3

K-14s were field upgrades initially, especially in the 8th AF. However, there were no P-38s remaining in the 8th AF when the K-14 refits began. I doubt that the 9th AF got any, ditto for the 15th AF in Italy.

In view of the K-14 being a quite bulky sight, I'm not sure it was readily adaptable to the P-38.

Production aircraft getting the K-14A included the P-47D-35-RA, P-47M, P-47Ns, P-51D-20-NT and P-51D-25-NA.

My regards,

Widewing

38ruk · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2006, 07:18:45 PM »

Thanks guys , I have one picture of a K-14 in a P-38 , but it isnt in the field , could be at a test site for all i know . Ive looked threw all my books as well , and havent come across any that i can prove are K 14's . Not that it would make any difference in AH , i was just curious . Thx again .

38maw

Bodhi · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2006, 11:00:35 PM »

widewing,

just an fyi:

our 38f-5 had an L3 when it was buried.... atleast the mounting holes say that...

I think it was a theater or other mod...