Originally posted by Sweet2th
That is why the USAAF kept them in a ground attack role in the European Theatre.
I'm afraid that you are mistaking. P-38s were the primary long-range escort fighter of the 8th AF from October 1943, thru March of 1944. At their peak, four 8th fighter groups were equipped with the P-38. They didn't go over to general tactical combat until D-Day, where they provided fighter cover over the beaches and flew tactical support and interdiction. The last P-38 fighter group to surrender its P-38s was the 479th, which transitioned to P-51s in August and September of 1944. All 8th AF P-38s were transferred to the 9th and 15th Air Forces. In the 9th, they continued to fly tactical missions, but encountered enemy fighters as often as the other 9th AF fighter groups. Two groups of P-38s flew escort missions with the 15th AF until the end of the war.
We should also mention that the P-38 saw extensive combat in North Africa, Sicily and eventually Italy with the 12th and 15th Air Forces.
It should be noted that P-38s were extremely effective everywhere except those used by the 8th AF. Much of the P-38s issues in the 8th AF were related to extremely poor management by 8th AF Command. The P-38s had plenty of problems, some related to the aircraft, its engines, low quality fuel, a lack of training, a lack of logistical support, poor planning and a myriad of other screw-ups from command level down to squadron level. However, if we look across to Italy, we find the P-38 flying escort missions deep into Germany and they suffered few of the issues experienced by the 8th AF.
I could write 10,000 words on why the P-38 was so troubled in the ETO, yet excelled in the MTO. Suffice it to say that the 15th AF simply expended more time at training and developing solutions to the P-38's inherent issues.
Ultimately in the ETO, the P-38 suffered more from bad leadership decisions than from anything else. Issues with the P-38 itself were largely resolved with the introduction of the P-38L. However, by then the P-51 was the chosen means for several reasons. The Mustang was easier to fly and manage in combat for the average low-time pilot. It was easier and less costly to maintain (in terms of man hours). It allowed the 8th AF to standardize to a single type, reducing the burden on the logistic system.
As a fighter, the P-51 didn't have a significant performance advantage over the P-38L. It was faster by a bit, but the P-38L was certainly the better dogfighter. Range was nearly equal. Generally, the P-38 was a better gun platform and superior as a tactical fighter, being able to haul twice as much ordnance if need be (P-38s could and did carry two 2,000 lb bombs). Ultimately, the value of the P-38 can be determined by the huge diversity of roles it filled. It was THE do everything fighter of the AAF in every theater of the war, and the only true all-purpose fighter flown by the AAF in WWII.
My regards,
Widewing
