And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
No armour protection behind the pilot? Most WWII fighters protected the pilots head with a bullet proof windshield and an armour plate behind the seat. Al_in_Ottawa
The A6M Zero was the P-38's nemesis. When encountering the zero, the lead P-38 would enter into a shallow climb, a climb rate slow enough to entice the zero to follow. Following P-38s would split wide into level turns to roll out on the zero's tail. That is from the P-38 pilot manual for tactical advantage against the zero. This tactic was effective against a flight of up to six zeros Vs four -38s.
The zero could out turn but not keep up in a climb or descent.
This is an L model. The dive flaps are on the bottom of the wing.
Pudgey V was flown ny Thomas McGuire. Jan 45 he was declared MIA. He was flying a different aircraft on that mission. McGuire actually did have 38 kills in P-38s.
McGuire entered his last combat with his drop tanks attached and that may have been his undoing. A fellow P38 pilot did the same while playing with a couple of P 39's in North Africa and found the handling changed and the aircraft stalled when it wouldn't if clean. He thought the fuel pooled in the rear of the tanks and changed the COG or airflow buffeted the elevator leading to loss of control. The guy in North Africa had plenty of altitude so recovered but McGuire was down low and didn't.
I have been told that one reason for the P-38's success was the CONCENTRATION firepower from the "nose only" gun platform. It didn't need the angling to ensure the rounds "converged" 400 yards out - they were concentrated from the get go. Again, I was told this by a senior know it all - I am almost junior at best...
No armour protection behind the pilot? Most WWII fighters protected the pilots head with a bullet proof windshield and an armour plate behind the seat.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Don’t put yourself in a position to be shot at. 🤷🏻♂️
DeleteThe A6M Zero was the P-38's nemesis. When encountering the zero, the lead P-38 would enter into a shallow climb, a climb rate slow enough to entice the zero to follow.
DeleteFollowing P-38s would split wide into level turns to roll out on the zero's tail.
That is from the P-38 pilot manual for tactical advantage against the zero.
This tactic was effective against a flight of up to six zeros Vs four -38s.
The zero could out turn but not keep up in a climb or descent.
correction
Delete... following P-38s would initially roll into level turn but would then enter a climb while maintaining the turn.
I don't see the dive brakes on that model.
ReplyDeleteThis is an L model. The dive flaps are on the bottom of the wing.
DeletePudgey V was flown ny Thomas McGuire. Jan 45 he was declared MIA. He was flying a different aircraft on that mission. McGuire actually did have 38 kills in P-38s.
McGuire entered his last combat with his drop tanks attached and that may have been his undoing. A fellow P38 pilot did the same while playing with a couple of P 39's in North Africa and found the handling changed and the aircraft stalled when it wouldn't if clean. He thought the fuel pooled in the rear of the tanks and changed the COG or airflow buffeted the elevator leading to loss of control. The guy in North Africa had plenty of altitude so recovered but McGuire was down low and didn't.
DeleteI have been told that one reason for the P-38's success was the CONCENTRATION firepower from the "nose only" gun platform. It didn't need the angling to ensure the rounds "converged" 400 yards out - they were concentrated from the get go. Again, I was told this by a senior know it all - I am almost junior at best...
ReplyDelete