P-38
The P-38 was the first American fighter to escort bombers all the way to Berlin and back! They had plenty of range, but took a lot more fuel then the P-51s to go the same distances. As mentioned the heaters were not very good, and no hot engine sitting in front of the pilot. The late model P-38Ls remedied these problems, and with the maneuvering flaps, could turn inside a Zero. Thats what got Tommy McGuire, when he went to the aid of one of his underlings, and forgot he still had his drop tanks! The pilots I talked to called them Cadillacs! I new Bill Gates, [no relation]. he flew with the 8th, they put them in the back, and he said "you couldn't get any thing back there"! He later flew a P-80 at the Cleveland air race came in a predetermined 4th. He said they had no leave tubes, so he would crack the left canopy window and lean up a little, the slipstream took care of the rest! All was well until he was doing it again and his wing man yelled over the radio, "check 6", so he swung his head around, urine all over the canopy and frozen, miserable flight home. I was told the P-51J powered by an Allison was the fastest because North American matted a Merlin supercharger, giving the Allison what it had always needed, high altitude performance! On a side note I know the Allison has a much better time between overhaul then the Merlin. However neither hold a candle to the king, Pratt & Whitney R2800, 1000 plus hours! Remember, "if god had intended man to fly behind in line engines, then Pratt & Whitney would have made them"!
The P-38 was the first American fighter to escort bombers all the way to Berlin and back! They had plenty of range, but took a lot more fuel then the P-51s to go the same distances. As mentioned the heaters were not very good, and no hot engine sitting in front of the pilot. The late model P-38Ls remedied these problems, and with the maneuvering flaps, could turn inside a Zero. Thats what got Tommy McGuire, when he went to the aid of one of his underlings, and forgot he still had his drop tanks! The pilots I talked to called them Cadillacs! I new Bill Gates, [no relation]. he flew with the 8th, they put them in the back, and he said "you couldn't get any thing back there"! He later flew a P-80 at the Cleveland air race came in a predetermined 4th. He said they had no leave tubes, so he would crack the left canopy window and lean up a little, the slipstream took care of the rest! All was well until he was doing it again and his wing man yelled over the radio, "check 6", so he swung his head around, urine all over the canopy and frozen, miserable flight home. I was told the P-51J powered by an Allison was the fastest because North American matted a Merlin supercharger, giving the Allison what it had always needed, high altitude performance! On a side note I know the Allison has a much better time between overhaul then the Merlin. However neither hold a candle to the king, Pratt & Whitney R2800, 1000 plus hours! Remember, "if god had intended man to fly behind in line engines, then Pratt & Whitney would have made them"!
