Author Topic: P-38 dive flaps and buffeting (Read 1102 times)

FLS · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2002, 11:32:36 AM »

Oops that's correct. The 37 mm was installed but never used in combat. There are even pictures of D models flown to protect the US with the cannon removed and only the 4 machine guns installed.

--)-FLS----
Musketeers

Tac · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2002, 03:55:36 PM »

*SLAP*

The 38D was the first US fighter to score a LW kill.

That Fw200 made a nice mess after it got whacked with a 37mm round im sure hehe.

FLS · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2002, 07:27:18 PM »

The first LW kill in the ETO by the AAF was a FW-200 attacked by 2 P-38F's and a P-40C. The lead P-38 was flown by Capt John Weltman who got hits on the Condor but rtb'd with damage.The second P-38F flown by Lt Elza Shahan, 27th fighter Squadron who shared the FW-200 kill with a P-40C from the 33rd Fighter Squadron flown by 2nd Lt Joseph Shaffer.

--)-FLS----
Musketeers

BigCrate · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2002, 07:49:49 PM »

Well look at Mr. knowitall

. Anyway the dive flaps on the 38 stopped the buffeting I have film of a wind tunnel test and dive test of a 38 with dive flaps deployed. I just gotta find it. It was a WINGS program the discovery channel played for years but stopped
why I dunno it was a damn good show.

Cw
=Twin Engined Devils=

Tac · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2002, 07:58:32 PM »

Guess we were both wrong. It was an E that got the first kill, but the D got the FW200

"The first Lightnings to see combat operations were the photorecce F-4s of the 8th Photo Group, based in Australia, flying recce sorties over New Guinea and the Coral Sea. Initial deployments of P-38D and E models saw units stationed in the Aleutians and Iceland, with the first combat kill credited to a P-38E in the Aleutians in August 1942, downing a H6K Mavis recce aircraft, soon followed by the killing of a Fw200 Condor off Iceland, by a P-38D"

http://home.att.net/~ww2aviation/P-38.html

PURTY!

FLS · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2002, 08:53:12 PM »

My source, Bodie's P-38 book, says they were P-38F's and quotes Capt Weltman who told him the story. I expect it's accurate. I didn't say it was the first P-38 kill, that was the 2 P-38E's in the Aleutions. The Condor was the first LW kill in the ETO by P-38's.

Btw that pic looks like a D model with the cannon removed.
Edit: I realize it's a P-38H-5-LO, AC42-66979 it just looks like a D since the angle of the shot makes the upper guns look like they aren't staggered and the shadow makes it hard to see the cannon barrel.

--)-FLS----
Musketeers

BigCrate · « **Reply #21 on:** February 21, 2002, 09:07:44 PM »

Thats what I want is a early model 38!!!!!! Even tho they didn't have all the goodies the L models had. They were more stream lined and just plained looked better

Bring the P-38H to AH!!!!!

Cw
=Twin Engined Devils=

BigCrate · « **Reply #22 on:** February 21, 2002, 09:18:49 PM »

Oh btw that pic bring a big toejam eatin grin to my face

Cw
=Twin Engined Devils=

Bodhi · « **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2002, 12:59:32 PM »

The first kill scored by a P-38 was over a Jap flying boat off the Aleutian chain in early 1942.