P-38 drivers - McGuire's Combat Tactics in the Southwest Pacific Arena

[Ack-Ack]

Here's a training manual that was written by Maj. McGuire for the new pilots entering the unit.  If you're a dedicated P-38 pilot like I am, then this is a must.  Covers everything from multi-ship formations, to bomber escort and interception tactics.  Also has a brief description of each Japanese planes along with their strengths, weaknesses and tactic on how to defeat them and if necessary escape from them.

After reading this, you'll find it a lot easier to beat planes like the N1K2 and Ki-61s (if those planes presented you with any troubles to begin with).


Combat Tactics in the Southwest Pacific Arena

To save the file, just right click on the link and select "Save As..." or "Save link as...".  You'll need Adobe Acrobat 5.x to read it.


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[Nublar]

Thanks AKAK, nice read.

-Nublar

[gofaster]

Thanks for posting!

[sonofagun]

Fascinating reading.  Now if the zeke drivers in AH would fly accordingly, I'd start flying a P-38.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by sonostudmuffinun
Fascinating reading.  Now if the zeke drivers in AH would fly accordingly, I'd start flying a P-38.

You want a sure fire way to kill a Zero or Zeke?  Don't turn with them, just use your superior speed to BnZ and then use your better climb/dive rate to extend past gun ranges and repeat.  Within a few passes you'll have the Zero/Zeke floundering because he had burned up his E trying to avoid your other passes that he'll be easy meet with a deflection shot.  Just like how McGuire says to kill them.


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[Drano]

Not generally a P-38 driver but I'll certainly give this a read--tomorrow when my eyes are open!  Thankee bro.

       Drano

[BadDuck]

Thank you for posting, great read

[bfreek]

considering the 4 ship flight is good for ground attack since its so unwieldy for fighter/counter fighter tactics makes you wonder about about the rest.

[Ack-Ack]

No offense bfreek but who's really going to know better?  A guy with over 30+ enemy kills or you, an arm chair jockey?

Here's what McGuire wrote about the 4 plane formation they used.

General: -- The standard squadron formation for P-38’s is sixteen planes in four four-ship flights , the flight being the basic unit for both attack and defense. Each man within the flight takes up a position on a line extending back at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees from the flight leader, the planes being spaced one to three ship-lengths apart. The wingman flies to the left or right and above the flight leader, usually on the opposite side from the wingman. The wingman for the element leader may fly either above or below the element leader, but whatever vertical variations there may be, the one to three ship-length distance on the horizontal plane and the angle in respect to the flight leader will be maintained.

This flight formation assures a maximum of visibility, a complete coverage of all angles of vision, for each man in the flight, allowing the flight leader to see that his flight is holding together and the others to keep the flight leader in sight. It is flexible enough to permit each man to maintain his throttle setting by playing the turns and crossing over when necessary, yet this freedom brings no decrease in support strength. It is also loose enough for the flight leader to maneuver freely without being overrun by his men or losing them by an unanticipated turn, dive, or climb a particularly valuable attribute in combat, when it is essential that the flight hold together as long as possible to gain the benefits of close support. A word of caution in this respect: it is entirely the responsibility of the wingman, element leader and the tail-end Charlie to keep out of the blind spot directly behind the flight leader. Flexibility is not synonymous with sloppiness and a momentary restriction of the flight leader’s line of vision may endanger the whole flight as well as hindering the leader’s tactics by making him uncertain as to the disposition of his men in respect to himself. No matter what type of cover is being provided, whether the mission happens to be escort, patrol, or search, the flight formation will hold to the same pattern. This is a purely defense formation designed for maximum strength, and will never change to line-abreast; nor will it change to line-astern except in combat.

It even says the formation was loose enough that it allowed the flight leader to move freely, so it wasn't a restrictive formation.  It obviously was a successful one as well.


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[keyapaha]

Very good read I fly for the Japanese side and I can confirm that there is no plane in the AH list of planes that out turns an A6M2/A6M5 when properly flown.The thing I see alot is that most pilots start off B&Z then quickly resort to a turn fight when they can score no quick victory but the patiant B&Zer's are the ones that worry me because sooner or later they will get me and it only takes a few hits to knock down a "zeke".

 I like the point brought up about when hit act as if out of controll to lure the enemy into thinking he got a kill,I do this from time to time doesn't work all the time but better than 50/50 it does.

 Also I didnt know that the Japanese had no real uniform flying formation they just fly in a gaggle so to speak.

In the "zeke" I feel more comfortable with an enemy behind my 3/9 line than in front of it (when in defence mode ofcourse) when in front its too unprdictable as to what they have on there mind,but when behind its all to predictable (turn a couple of times if they dont bug out there dead).

[najdorf]

Key is absolutely right about flying the IJN zekes.  You hope the allied plane gets dumb by slowing down to try and get the quick shot.  Fortunately for the AH zeke driver, there are plenty of impatient allied fliers.

If you are in the faster, more heavily armored and heavily gunned USN planes, your worst case scenario should be a draw neither killing or being killed.

If you get whacked by a zeke, somewhere you made a serious tactical or SA mistake.

[OIO]

Well you do have to consider the real WW2 zero went down with just a few rounds into it.. no armor meant lots of pilots killed by gunfire... and the lack of adequate self sealing fuel tanks made those things easy to light up.

In AH?

Pump lead into the things from dead 6 and watch it smoke all different colors...

it will keep turning and flying for a good 2 maybe 5 minutes more.

[Ack-Ack]

Tac is correct.  In RL, just a burst from a P-38 was enough to make the Zero or Zeke into a flying, flaming ball which pretty much ended the fight then and there.  I really don't think a Zero or Zeke pilot with his plane on fire would still turn around and try to engage, even with the Japanese willingness to fight to the death.  

ack-ack

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by najdorf
Key is absolutely right about flying the IJN zekes.  You hope the allied plane gets dumb by slowing down to try and get the quick shot.

Fortunately for me, the P-38 has an excellent instantanious turn rate, especially at high speeds that allows it to make some deflection shots you wouldn't think were possible against some planes, the Zero and Zeke being a couple of them.  Virtually all of my Zero/Zeke kills come during my first pass and only rarely does a Zero or Zeke live beyond a second pass.


ack-ack

[keyapaha]

Ack Ack you right about I have ran across so good p38 drivers usually leaves me scratching my head saying how did he do that at such a hi speed.But the sweetest kill is that of a p38 when you can zoom up right underneath em and light em up