P-38 turnfight

[mthrockmor]

When I see a -38 I first lick my lips, all the while wondering if they are with the 80th. The Headhunters as a unit have come to grips with the -38. There are some incredible -38 sticks to include my squadie 8Spade. He will embarrass most pilots. Also, Soulyss. You will think they are cheating. If you want to learn the -38 look those two up. A few others will be mentioned but learn from the best.

Boo

[df54]

 

  "P-38 details: data and information pertinent to virtual modeling"
by David C. Copley, last updated 30 May 2009


      google this site.

[Widewing]

Widewing,

Correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn't the dive recovery flaps on the J and L behave exactly the same?

The J doesn't have them....

[Karnak]

The J doesn't have them....

Ah.  I was unaware of that.  I thought they were pretty much the same plane other than the boosted ailerons on the L.

I make no pretenses of being knowledgeable about P-38.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Ah.  I was unaware of that.  I thought they were pretty much the same plane other than the boosted ailerons on the L.

I make no pretenses of being knowledgeable about P-38.

Our P-38J is probably a P-38J-15-Lo, it could be a P-38J-5-Lo, or even a P-38J-20-Lo, Pyro would have to give us the exact model, he may have already somewhere. The first P-38J with dive flaps from the factory was the P-38J-25-Lo, which for AH purposes is considered equivalent to the P-38L-5-Lo we have, because AH II does not model the Allison Lockheed power settings for the -30 Allison in the P-38L, which would be 64" of manifold pressure, and 3200 RPM.

[Guppy35]

Widewing,

Correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn't the dive recovery flaps on the J and L behave exactly the same?

The J doesn't have power assisted controls either for what it's worth.  The L has all the bells and whistles.  In the end the L got there for the most after the air to air war for the 38 was over.  In the PTO, MTO and ETO the 38s spent their time ground pounding and lacking air to air targets from October 44 on when the Ls showed up.

[TwinBoom]

The J doesn't have power assisted controls either for what it's worth.  The L has all the bells and whistles.  In the end the L got there for the most after the air to air war for the 38 was over.  In the PTO, MTO and ETO the 38s spent their time ground pounding and lacking air to air targets from October 44 on when the Ls showed up.

All the more reason to add the 38-H as its the most common Bird in combat

[Guppy35]

All the more reason to add the 38-H as its the most common Bird in combat

Actually the G was, but whose counting

[TwinBoom]

Actually the G was, but whose counting

Shhhh you are salting my game 

[Ack-Ack]

Ah.  I was unaware of that.  I thought they were pretty much the same plane other than the boosted ailerons on the L.

I make no pretenses of being knowledgeable about P-38.

At least the J model we have doesn't have the boosted ailerons or dive flaps. Late model Js, starting with the P-38J-25-L0, did receive the boosted aileron and dive flap upgrade. 

ack-ack

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Actually the G was, but whose counting

Really? Was that in the Pacific, and the Mediterranean?

I thought the 20th and 55th started with the H model in October of 1943.

[Guppy35]

Really? Was that in the Pacific, and the Mediterranean?

I thought the 20th and 55th started with the H model in October of 1943.

The H's were the first in the ETO, but were quickly replaced by the Js.

In the MTO they got the ETO hand me down Hs.  They were still flying G models well into 44 in the MTO.  The 82nd FG had a 38F named "Sad Sack" that was in combat for 17 months, flew 184 missions and had 16 planes to it's credit, finally being retired at the end of May 44 after taking a flak hit to the nose.  About 1100 G models built with about 600 Hs, 600 Fs.  In terms of air combat in the Pacific, it really was prime time in 43.  They certainly were still shooting stuff in 44 but not at the rate they were claiming in 43.  This is the same in the MTO.

I suppose in were talking about ground attack too, it might be closer, but the air to air stuff was the early birds and the G had the largest production run

[drgondog]

The J doesn't have them....

Corey - IIRC the J-25 and above had them but if you are referring to AH version I have no clue

[Guppy35]

Corey - IIRC the J-25 and above had them but if you are referring to AH version I have no clue

The AH J doesn't.  They were retrofitted to some J-15s too I believe and standard with the J-25 on.  I believe the AH 38J is a J-10

[drgondog]

The AH J doesn't.  They were retrofitted to some J-15s too I believe and standard with the J-25 on.  I believe the AH 38J is a J-10

I believe you are correct - the ill fated loss (ship?) had kits for service Centers at 8th AF designated for -10 and above and the -25 was first production block change with the flaps.