random stats

[Nath-BDP]

The P38 was a good aircraft during the early stages of the daylight bombing offensive when there were no other planes to escort the bombers to Germany, however, once the P51 arrived along with more drop tank capability for the P47, the P38s engine freezing at high altitudes and some other flaws caused it to be outclassed by the other aircraft the US could operate.  The P38 was not suited for ETO air to air combat, except of course, air to ground work.

Last I checked the 109 compressed at around the same speed that the P38 does, and the 190 is a great diver and has excellent controlability at high kinetic. You must keep in mind that the only P38s the LW faced in large numbers was the F, which was hardly a match for the 109G or Antons, not to mention the D9.

Twin engined day fighters were not needed past 1941, the obsolensence of the Me 110 after the BoB were apparent and the obsolensence of the P38 was realized in late 43 when there were other options for the USAAF.

If the P38 was such a great aircraft, as you stated Citabria--then it would have stayed in service, I beleive that the P38 FM is correct. After all, the second highest-scoring P38 ace, Thomas McGuire was killed from spinning his 38. It was never renowned as a great turner.

[Nath-BDP]

Any aircraft can operate how you think it should--it just depends on the pilot.

[LJK Raubvogel]

Awww, c'mon guys, where's all the "show me film", or "give me data" posts? If this involved a LW plane or hispanos, there would have been at least 5 of 'em already. Not to mention at least 10 pairs of burnt pom-poms.  

------------------
LJK_Raubvogel
LuftJägerKorps

 

[This message has been edited by LJK Raubvogel (edited 12-18-2000).]

[RAM]

To be fair, is true that some high-scoring LW aces said that the most dangerous american plane was the P-38. Steinhoff said that he didnt understand how did Galland compare the Me110 with the P38.

Said that, is true that the P38 was not a good fighter on the ETO. German iron was simply too good compared with Japanese planes. It's not the same to fight an air force of Fw190s and Me109s than to fight an air force of Ki43s, Ki44s and Zekes with the ocassional Ki84 or N1K2, thing that the P38 did until the end of the war on the PTO.

[Replicant]

Hey Citabria

I used to fly the P38 quite a bit in previous tours but since 1.04 I find it has got worse whilst all the other aircraft have got better.  Call me no expert but I struggle in that plane now...  sniff.

BTW... all the P38 kills against various aircraft, now you didn't have to display all of your kills!  

Regards

Nexx

[Citabria]

galland was outmaneuvered by a p38 and nearly killed by them twice.

the AH Luftwobbles are obviously scared to death of this plane getting better...
look at them whine about it and how it should be porked and easy to kill.

[Citabria]

 

If the P38 was such a great aircraft, as you stated Citabria--then it would have stayed in service, I beleive that the P38 FM is correct. After all, the second highest-scoring P38 ace, Thomas McGuire was killed from spinning his 38. It was never renowned as a great turner.

nath he was turning with a ki43 and actually staying on its tail with drop tanks ON AND WITH FULL INTERNAL FUEL AND AMMO!




[This message has been edited by Citabria (edited 12-18-2000).]

[Nath-BDP]

Yea I'm scared of you citabria... laff.

[Nath-BDP]

Poor opportunist, too greedy for kill.  

[Citabria]

Nath you would die a thousand deaths if you tried to fight with the lightning. (try flying a tour in it   )

and I didn't say you were scared of me.
I said you are scared that if this plane gets better you wont have a free meal when you find one.

[Nath-BDP]

How could Galland be nearly killed by P38s twice and outmaneuvered once?

Just for your information, Galland was promoted to Genral der Jagdfleiger in November 1941 (no P38s in ETO at this time) after Udet killed himself. Galland did not fly operational sorties against the allies until early 1945. During this time in April when he was flying with Jagdverband 44 he was wounded in his right leg by P51s. He managed to land his Me 262 and evade strafing P51s while wounded.   That was the end of his WW2 career.

Dunno where you got the outmaneuver thing, but that could have rarely happened when he was flying the 262, not many P38s were over Germany at this time. Also, 'outmaneuvering' an Me262 in a P38 is no big feat.

As for nearly being killed by P38s twice, that's just unadulterated fiction.

------------------
Nath_____
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
 

"It felt as if an angel was pushing..."
-Reponse of Gen. Adolf Galland after flying the fourth prototype Me 262 in May 1943.

[This message has been edited by Nath-BDP (edited 12-18-2000).]

[Nath-BDP]

The P38 is one of the best opportunist platforms in the game, if I could get 40 kills and 0 deaths in the A8, why couldn't I do it in a P38?

If if flew allied I would fly the P38, but I don't so I won't.

[maik]

Cit (and Nath  ),

Before u guys start a unusual personal war again, i'd like to say this.

I know how it feels when ur favorite plane handles like a brick  , you know what i fly Cit.

I dunno anaything about th p38 or it's FM, but plz keep this discussion in a technical aspect and stay calm.

no offense Cit, but Nath is right with his Galland-Issue.

My Problem isn't the FM of my favorite plane, IT IS my favorite plane  .

Maik

[Jigster]

Go look up how the P-38's did over Italy, Sicily, and Africa.

Conscripts vs numerically superior LW and they still managed to kill G-6's and 190's without to much trouble  

[juzz]

Get HTC to put 4x20mm HS on the P-38L - then watch as it will suddenly retain E, turn, zoom, dive and run better than ever before!

WTF am I talking about?

Look at the F4U-1D stats - if anything, worse than the P-38L. Yet the F4U-1C wipes the floor with everything, according to the stats.

At least the P-38L has a +ve k/d over the mighty A6M5b...