Definitive proof of origin of "Fork-Tailed Devil"

[RJH57]

Is there a German plane with a tail similar to the P-38? If so, how is it described?

Three come to mind right away. Unfortunately I do not know the German aeronautical term for "twin boom fuselage".

Fw-189 reconaissance


Blohm und Voss Bv 138 flying boat:



the Gotha Go 242 transport glider; Gotha Go 244 was motorized version

[GScholz]

The German wiki page on the P-38 describes it as "doppelten Leitwerksträgern und einer zentralen Rumpfgondel".

The FW 189: "zwei in separaten Gondeln".

The Go 244:  "zwei Stabrümpfen".

Leitwerksträger = Engine housing/carrier.
Gondel = Gondola.
Rumpf = Hull.

[Zimme83]

German is probably the most awesome language in the world...

"Fingerspitzengefühl"   

[RJH57]

The German wiki page on the P-38 describes it as "doppelten Leitwerksträgern und einer zentralen Rumpfgondel".

Thank You ATTENTION Brooke: rather than wasting time trying to find non-existent GERMAN wartime references to a "Gabelschwanz Teuffel" you need to try and find  "doppelten Leitwerksträgern und einer zentralen Rumpfgondel Teuffel". 

[RJH57]

German is probably the most awesome language in the world...  "Fingerspitzengefühl"   

Fahrvergnügen! 
ErprobungsSchnorkelflammenpan zerkampfwagen ! 

[GScholz]

[Arlo]

Thank You ATTENTION Brooke: rather than wasting time trying to find non-existent GERMAN wartime references to a "Gabelschwanz Teuffel" you need to try and find  "doppelten Leitwerksträgern und einer zentralen Rumpfgondel Teuffel". 

Actually, Brooke merely started the thread by reflecting a mere reference that dated it's use. You're the one that shifted focus to how terribly unfair this all is to your Luftwaffe heroes (which seems more of a waste of time). Just sayin'. 

[oboe]

Danke schoen, Gscholz.   That had me laughing - a good way to start the day.

[earl1937]

Actually, Brooke merely started the thread by reflecting a mere reference that dated it's use. You're the one that shifted focus to how terribly unfair this all is to your Luftwaffe heroes (which seems more of a waste of time). Just sayin'. 

I hate to be the one to "de-bunk" the story here about the Germans naming the 38 with a slang nick name, but I think if you dig deep enough, you will find that the Japanese were the first ones to call it a "fork tailed devil", in mid 1943, the story of the "shoot down" of their big shot admiral in the islands is the first account you will see of it being called that. The wire back to the homeland described the attackers of being "fork tailed devils". I personally don't know who should receive credit for the name, but I suspect Richard Bong had a lot to do with convincing the Japanese that it was a "super" fighter, no matter what the name!

[Ack-Ack]

I hate to be the one to "de-bunk" the story here about the Germans naming the 38 with a slang nick name, but I think if you dig deep enough, you will find that the Japanese were the first ones to call it a "fork tailed devil", in mid 1943, the story of the "shoot down" of their big shot admiral in the islands is the first account you will see of it being called that. The wire back to the homeland described the attackers of being "fork tailed devils". I personally don't know who should receive credit for the name, but I suspect Richard Bong had a lot to do with convincing the Japanese that it was a "super" fighter, no matter what the name!

I don't recall the IJN/IJA pilots using that nickname for the P-38.  In an interview with Sakai, he referenced the P-38 as the "P-38" and "Lightning".  The IJN/IJA pilot supposedly called the F4U "Whistling Death" due to the sound the Corsair made when in a dive but that is most likely the invention of another journalist trying to sell a copy and raise morale on the home front.

[Randy1]

The German wiki page on the P-38 describes it as "doppelten Leitwerksträgern und einer zentralen Rumpfgondel".

The FW 189: "zwei in separaten Gondeln".

The Go 244:  "zwei Stabrümpfen".

Leitwerksträger = Engine housing/carrier.
Gondel = Gondola.
Rumpf = Hull.

Zwei is two in the German language.  There you have it.  The likelihood of German pilots using the term "fork tail" may be very slim.  Fork is just a poor choice of words for the twin boom P-38.  One German may have used the term but to imply it was a common term is a very long stretch.

Lockheed would have loved the nickname. 

[bustr]

Is Teuffel an older archaic version of Teufel?

In German I can only find the single f spelling for devil.

[Mister Fork]

I hate to be the one to "de-bunk" the story here about the Germans naming the 38 with a slang nick name, but I think if you dig deep enough, you will find that the Japanese were the first ones to call it a "fork tailed devil", in mid 1943, the story of the "shoot down" of their big shot admiral in the islands is the first account you will see of it being called that. The wire back to the homeland described the attackers of being "fork tailed devils". I personally don't know who should receive credit for the name, but I suspect Richard Bong had a lot to do with convincing the Japanese that it was a "super" fighter, no matter what the name!

That's what I remembered too Earl - I thought it was the slang the Japanese fighter pilots had for the P-38. BWTFDIK.

[Brooke]

Oh I see it's in June? If so then I might be back by then. We'll see!

Sweet!  I hope so!

[Brooke]

GScholz and RJH57:

Whether or not we agree on this particular topic, you guys obviously have a lot of enthusiasm and energy for WWII aviation.

I know that this is not on topic, but it occurred to me, and while I am thinking of it:  would you guys be willing to fly in the next Scenario, The Battle of the Dnieper?

RJH57, what do you say?  Are you up for it?  It has no Gabelshwanz-Teufels in it.