Originally posted by brady
I looked into this a while ago and looked high and low for a defenate source that could confirm this, since I wanted to have the 2x 2k load option for the P38, howeaver about 3 books that I found stated that while thier were models that were produced that could do this non of them saw combat, it would appear that my sources may of been in erour. Tomarow I may have time to dig them out a post a list of them. If they indead were used in combat , how often, how many and whear would be my next ?, any input?
There is definitive data available. Eglin Field tested the Lockheed 2k installation in 1943. Testing proved highly successful and the test data was forwarded to 8th Air Force Fighter Command. Shortly thereafter, the 8th began using droop snoot P-38s as lead aircraft for Group-sized level bombing missions against hardened targets, such as submarine pens. Mostly, these raids were conducted by P-38J aircraft. This type of mission was considered to be of the "short-range" variety. This is because fuel load was limited to avoid exceeding max gross weight limitations. To extend the radius of combat, a different combination was tested. This employed a single 310 gallon drop tank and one 2,000 pound bomb. While this load-out was used several times in the SWPA, it was never used in the ETO or MTO. Generally, for long-range bombing missions (led by droop snoot P-38s), the typical load would be two 1,000 pounders. All P-38s would drop on command from the Norden equipped droop snoot.
Droop snoot P-38s occasionally carried two 2,000 pounders when operating as pathfinders for B-26 Groups during the days just preceeding the June invasion of France.
Be advised, however, that the installation of 2,000 pound bombs required a special kit, which was fabricated by the 8th AF from drawings supplied by Lockheed and the Engineering Department at Eglin. Included in the kit were anti-sway braces, which were required to stablize the bombs on the shackles.
So, while the use of 2,000 pound bombs was uncommon, they were carried into combat by run-of-the-mill P-38s for special missions and/or pathfinder sorties.
Tac: Note the stablizer braces fitted to the bombs. Yes, these are 2,000 lb. bombs.
My regards,
Widewing
