Originally posted by GScholz
Why don’t you find some quotes? If you can find them (I’m sure you can). The fact still remains that the P-38’s service was unsatisfactory and was largely withdrawn from fighter service in the ETO when the P-51 became available in numbers. Comparing LW losses in Africa (which include bombers, Bf110 Jabo’s and transports) to P-38 losses is meaningless.
Fact is that the P-38 and I dare say ALL other aircraft modelled are “easy mode” compared to real life. The P-38 had some serious vices that are not modelled, and the same goes for the 109, 190, P-51, Spitfire etc. AH is pretty accurate and realistic for a game, but it is still just a game.
Not a fair assessment GScholz. There is enough evidence around that the 'politics'within 8th AF early on had a lot to do with the 38 being shipped to Africa. The bomber guys had something to prove, and had to backpeddle like crazy when the bomber losses got so bad and the need for a long range fighter escort was finally acknowledged.
Certainly the 1st, 14th and 82nd FGs used the 38 well until the end of the war flying out of Italy. The 474th FG 9th AF requested to stay on 38s instead of transitioning to P47s as they preferred them. The 370th FG certainly employed them successfully as well with the 9th AF. I think it would be hard to find fault with the 8th AF groups that used it such as the 20th, 55th and 479th.
I have a copy of the 436th FS, 479th FG wartime history. This would be what was written daily while the war was going on. There are some interesting comments about the transition to the 51 from the 38. One is that the replacement pilots were P51 trained so they didn't have the experience in the 38. Another, and I'll quote it, regards the oldtimers finishing their tours:
"The first pilot to finish his missions this month was Lt. Herman Hoversten, strictly a P38 boy with an intense dislike for the P51 Spam can".
Those who flew it, liked it and often preferred it, even to the 51. But lets face it, you could produce a lot more 51s faster and it was less of a maintenence headache. It made sense to use the 51.
Dig out the histories of the 1st, 14th and 82nd. They don't bash the 38 but employed it very successfully. I talk to a 1st FG 38 pilot on occasion. He is the first to admit the cockpit was way too cold. They'd wrap copies of Yank or other magazines around thier legs to help with the cold. Yet they were more then happy to go up to England to get the 8th AF cast off 38s. And there were definately 51s in the MTO too.
To say it was unsatisfactory in its operations against the LW is unfair and untrue.
Dan/Slack