The following article is excerpted from the book Aces In Combat: Vol.
V, The American Aces Speakby Eric Hammel. The book is currently available in
a $29.95 trade hardcover edition published by Pacifica Military History
DESCENT INTO HELL
by Eric Hammel
Copyright 1998 © by Eric Hammel.
I have never encountered a pilot who flew the P-38 in combat who didn't love
the plane, and that included many who also flew the P-51. In fairness, I
must say that the P-38's engines were very touchy and needed to be handled
with kid gloves. Most writers overlook the fact that the P-51 was originally
the A-36 ground-support fighter, and that the A-36 used the same Allison
engine the P-38 used. The A-36 was certainly no great shakes as a fighter. I
've always wondered what the P-38 could have been with two Merlin engines,
the same engines the P-51 finally received.
The flying characteristics of the P-38 were superb. It was gentle as a lamb,
gave plenty of notice of a stall, and could turn with any fighter except the
Spitfire and the Zero. Plus, its counter-rotating props eliminated the
problem of torque so common to single-engine fighters. Very early in its
operational history, the P-38 developed a reputation for being very
difficult to fly. This wasn't the case, but being the first really
high-performance fighter to enter service in the Army Air Forces caused it
to be feared by many people who felt it was too complicated for one man to
fly.
