P38s and pilot wounds

[uptown]

I think it's just because you don't have an engine/prop infront of you to stop some bullets

that's my guess

[xtyger]

I think it's just because you don't have an engine/prop infront of you to stop some bullets

I was thinking the same thing, but didn't realize they were armored. Still, I would think and engine would do a better job of stopping a bullet than armor.

I agree with others that have said it seems like some days pilot wounds are more common than other days. Some days I get them all the time, others hardly any.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

30 or 50 cal?

Well, I really doubt the Japanese had a lot of 50 BMG equipped planes.

[CAP1]

IMO layer of armor is a poor substitute for having a fuselage in back and a large engine block in front.

agreed with the fuselage in back...but i'd have thought that the guns, cannon, and all the ammo belts would help deflect rounds from the front?

[CAP1]

Bong once rtb'd with 18 mg strikes on his seat armor after he had dropped in the middle of a tail chase as a decoy to allow the other P-38 (with one engine running) to escape.

how can we tell where the rounds hit our a/c? besides the ctrl-d, or looking? i'm not trying to be wise.....just asking.....

[Murdr]

30 or 50 cal?

The shooter was a Ki-43 on July 28, 1943.  My guess would be that it was a variant with the twin type 97s (7.7mm).  But I'm not familiar with Ki-43 deployment history.

[Murdr]

how can we tell where the rounds hit our a/c? besides the ctrl-d, or looking? i'm not trying to be wise.....just asking.....

We can't unless the shooter gives us their film to examine.  The damage graphics are canned, and just give an approximate area of hits rather than shot for shot locations.

Let me rephrase that...Your own film will show hits, but you can't be sure that you can extrapolate the trajectory that the shooter really saw.

[Shuffler]

I get wounded sometimes. Doesn't seem like alot though.

[daddog]

I think it's just because you don't have an engine/prop infront of you to stop some bullets

Someone said that to me a while back and it made a lot of sense.

I too 'feel' I get more pilots wounds in the P38 than other rides, and like others have just come to accept it. 

Still my favorite ride.

[GreenEagle43]

   ok ITS 1-17-09  5:06 EASTERN TIME.I JUST FLEW TWO P-38 MISSIONS TO A ROOK BASE TO TAKE OUT THERE ORD.ON THE WAY THERE ON MY FIRST RUN I GOT JUMP BY A SPIT.WOULDNT YOU NO IT. BEFORE I COULD BREAK OFF RIGHT THROUGH THE BACK OF THE HEAD PW.BLOOD ALL OVER THE CANOPY,THEN ON MY SECOUND RUN I FLEW ON THE DECK TO TRY TO GET TO THE ROOK BASE TO TAKE OUT ORD.AND A GAIN THIS TIME A NIKKI. AS HE WAS FIRING ON ME I GOT TO DIVE AND GET SOME SPEED AND AS I STARTED TO TURN RIGHT TO TURN IT GOT ME  PW BLOOD ON CANOPY FROM BEHIND SHOT.THATS NOT REAL...I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE SPEED FOR ONE.SECOUND THE ARMER BUILT INTO THE BACK OF THE P-38 SHOULD,NT HAVE TAKIN ME OUT THAT FAST.... GREAT PLANE BUT THE GAMES SPECKS ARE ALL WRONG.

[CAP1]

i actually thought i read somewhere, that out to about 1,000 feet or so, a 50 cal would penetrate the armour on most aircraft back then?

 i've also noticed in pictures, that the pilot does seem to sit higher in the P38 than other rides......

[Shuffler]

lol

[Banshee7]

snip

 

[CAP1]

lol

??

[Banshee7]

??

Think he was taling about Greeneagle's post