Author Topic: P38, All I Need (Read 1043 times)

Raptor · « **on:** August 01, 2006, 11:57:28 PM »

Air Supremecy
The G, J and L are capable air to air fighters with their long range and powerful gun package.

JABO
With the current ord loadout, it has one of the best attack ord loadouts.

Recon
High Alt Recon

GV
With the tricycle landing gear, it has a good level firing position with it's nose guns and rockets.

Torpedo Bomber
P38's were able to carry two 2,000lb torpedos, puts the TBM, B5N and Ju88 to shame.

Airborne Warning and Control System
The P38L had a radar fitted to it's tail!

Level bombers
Just give us the P38J "Droop Snoot" with nose guns replaced with glass nose and bombsight. What would be sexier than a formation of P38 Droop Snoots dropping from level flight.

Troop Transport
Who needs a stinkin C47? Just use the modified P38 "Ambulance" containters. Instead of carrying wounded soldiers to hospitals, carry troops to towns!

Naval Fighter
There were plans brought to the drawing board for a P38 capable of landing on a carrier!

General Transport
According to Eilif the general had a lawn chair strapped to the nose.

(Wonder how many will take me seriously)[/COLOR]

Edited

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** August 02, 2006, 12:11:01 AM »

It's true and has been proven on these boards many, many times.

The P-38 was the greatest fighter of WWII.

Kurt · « **Reply #2 on:** August 02, 2006, 12:34:18 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
The P-38 was the greatest fighter of WWII.

But somehow... Still... YAWN... Gnite.

eilif · « **Reply #3 on:** August 02, 2006, 12:48:00 AM »

Hey raptor, been a while;) I hear that a version of the p38 was used for transporting high ranking officials with a special cockpit in the nose, basicly a chair was placed where the guns were soposed to be. I once saw a cartoon that had the p38 droping troops in some sort of drop tank:lol

Raptor · « **Reply #4 on:** August 02, 2006, 01:06:00 AM »

at Diablo and Kurt

Eilif I know what you are talking about, and thats what I meant for the "Ambulance"

DiabloTX · « **Reply #5 on:** August 02, 2006, 01:10:42 AM »

Pssssssssssst, Raptor...I DID read the fine gray print of your initial post.

Wolfala · « **Reply #6 on:** August 02, 2006, 01:31:01 AM »

viper215 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2006, 03:00:44 PM »

eilif · « **Reply #8 on:** August 02, 2006, 10:23:02 PM »

those are the ones

kamilyun · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2006, 11:22:40 PM »

I don't get the joke about the P51 not being able to pull full power?

Something about the engine falling apart/exploding? Airframe/mounting couldn't handle it?

Wasn't the Merlin used in spittys?

<------- clueless dolt

Tails · « **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2006, 11:38:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by kamilyun
I don't get the joke about the P51 not being able to pull full power?

Something about the engine falling apart/exploding? Airframe/mounting couldn't handle it?

Wasn't the Merlin used in spittys?

<------- clueless dolt

More like the engine exploding. When high quality fuel was in short supply, they went to lower quality (read, lower octane) fuels. Low octane fuels detonate (explode) in those high compression engines at the higher power settings. This causes the cylinder walls and pistons to be burned through, and eventually the engine fails (often spectacularly).

Treize69 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 02, 2006, 11:59:16 PM »

Which was one reason for the P-38s engine problems over NW Europe- especially in the P-38H, which had problems already (same engine as the J with the cooling system from a G).

Read lots of accounts of engines exploding "like grenades" or "seizing and throwing pieces" while flying out of England.

Why they would have problems with English fuel and not with the fuels in Italy, the SW Pacific or Alaska is beyond me.

cav58d · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2006, 12:20:26 AM »

Droop Snoop

Ambulance :

Only way i'd ride in this is full of morphine, if not dead already!

cav58d · « **Reply #13 on:** August 03, 2006, 12:21:37 AM »

LMAO...This could essentially be an Officer/Pilot's way of "fragging" the enlisted! lmao (i know its cynical and not very funny, but it is in a sick way.....)

Widewing · « **Reply #14 on:** August 03, 2006, 07:44:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Treize69
Which was one reason for the P-38s engine problems over NW Europe- especially in the P-38H, which had problems already (same engine as the J with the cooling system from a G).

Read lots of accounts of engines exploding "like grenades" or "seizing and throwing pieces" while flying out of England.

Why they would have problems with English fuel and not with the fuels in Italy, the SW Pacific or Alaska is beyond me.

Well, the P-38H was a model of reliability compared to early P-38Js...

Those leading edge, internal intercoolers limits MAP rating for the P-38G and H, but only above "critical altitude".

In Italy, the AAF used American avgas, which was of a different formulation than Brit gas used by the 8th and 9th Air Forces. Shortly after Doolittle took over the 8th AF in January of 1944, he ordered special fuel blend for the P-38s that helped to substantially reduce fuel related engine failures.

My regards,

Widewing