Author Topic: The P38 "Cloverleaf" Maneuver ?? (Read 1163 times)

Westy · « **on:** February 25, 2000, 10:34:00 AM »

With this plane coming soon it reminded me of this bit of ACM and I've always been curious as to what this was.
I'm drawing a blank on the details but if I remember some of it correctly it was a favorite maneuver by one the the USAAF aces in Europe that was pretty hard to counter.
Anyone care to shed light on this maneuver and maybe even some history on it's use?
Thanks!

-Westy

Kieren · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2000, 12:19:00 PM »

Would that involve throttling back one engine over the top of a hammerhead?

Pongo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2000, 01:52:00 PM »

pull the four leafed clover and chant "please let me live please let me live"
while rubbing it briskly

This is just a variation of ACM I use in all planes why is the 38 special

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Pongo
The Wrecking Crew

Lephturn · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2000, 03:51:00 PM »

I didn't know anything about this, so I consulted my squad. My legendary squad-mate Worr came up with the following:

"Captain John Lowell of the 364th FG made reference to it in a now famous
fight with Adolf Galland. I do not believe he was using standardized
vocabulary here...anything that survived the war. Best guess is series high
and low yo yos...which the 38 would do well in against the dora.

Worr, out"

Viewed from the top a series of yoyo's would indeed resemble a clover leaf.

------------------

Lephturn - Chief Trainer
A member of The Flying Pigs
Visit Lephturn's Aerodrome for AH news, resources, and training data.
http://users.andara.com/~sconrad/

"MY P-47 is a pretty good ship
And she took a round coming 'cross the Channel last trip
I was thinking 'bout my baby and lettin' her rip
Always got me through so far
Well they can ship me all over this great big world
But I'll never find nothing like my North End girl
I'm taking her home with me one day, sir
Soon as we win this war"
- Steve Earl

[This message has been edited by Lephturn (edited 02-25-2000).]

MiG Eater · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2000, 11:00:00 PM »

The P-38 was particularly capable of flying low speed turns to the right (like at the top of a high yo-yo) since it did not have the torque problems a single engine fighter would have. Jeff Ethell described a similar maneuver in his last article published in Flight Journal. He remarked how effective it would be against an Me-109 with its tendancy to snap roll while turning to the right.

MiG

Westy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2000, 11:04:00 AM »

Thanks guys. I appreciate it. I'm going to have to try and see if any of this is "do able" when we get the airplane

-Westy

blur · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2000, 06:56:00 AM »

The "Cloverleaf" maneuver came about because after the P-38 weenie is inevitably shot down and buried, he then pushes up cloverleaves in addition to daises.