P-38 Lightning vs P-51 Mustang: Which was the Better Fighter?

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by HealzDevo

That was the question I'm asking, whether it was transferred there to solve the problems by the climate being warmer...

And that it did - there is no denying there were heating problems with the P-38 but in my opinion this was part of a wider ranging excuse of some 8th AF brass who just didn't like the aircraft. What's colder, a P-38E cockpit, or the open waist of a B-17?!?!

[HealzDevo]

Good question that one I suppose.

[renrich]

The source I am quoting said " all problems concerning heating and defrosting were entirely cleaned up on the P-38L-5. It was a shirtsleeves aircraft in the Aleutians." The first combat deployment to Alaska takes place on May 29, 1942. They are P38Es and the planes are winterised and equipped with drop tanks. 25 aircraft of the 54th Sdn. 343rd FG, 11th AF go to Elmendorf Field at Anchorage. Maybe the pilots had electrically heated shirt sleeves.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by renrich

They are P38Es and the planes are winterised and equipped with drop tanks. 25 aircraft of the 54th Sdn. 343rd FG, 11th AF go to Elmendorf Field at Anchorage. Maybe the pilots had electrically heated shirt sleeves.

Or supply chain of these shirt sleeves didn't reach the ETO.

[Sgt. Pappy]

P-38L-5 of 1944 solved the heating problem. Like bombers, the pilots had electrically heated suits. The window defrost system was also a little better b/c of the electrical heating but not by much. In the warmer theatres, pilots often just stripped down into their skibbies since opening the side windows would cause severe buffeting.

As an overall fighter, I'd say the Mustang wins by a small amount. The P-38 Lightning's fowler flaps allowed it to turn almost as tight (some say even tighter) than Mustangs and then some believe even late Bf 109's. The P-38 had 2 engines and would climb better. Firepower was better b/c of the convergence. The P-38 was far more versatile and its counter-rotating props opened up a whole new world of dogfighting techniques for its pilots. The Lightning even had a longer maximum range.

The main reason the spam can wins IMO is b/c it was cheaper, easier to maintain, consumed up to 80% less fuel for a given distance and it was much easier to learn to fly in. As a dogfighter though, I'd say that the P-38 wins given that the pilots know anything about EVERYTHING in their respective planes.

[HealzDevo]

With these electrically heated suits, could the crews actually get burnt by their suits?

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by HealzDevo

With these electrically heated suits, could the crews actually get burnt by their suits?

No easier than you would in an electric blanket...

[pbfoot]

I have heard the suits were very tempermental and prone to short circuits . They would get hot spots. Can't find any proof but I've read it and heard it

[FLYBOYJ]

If you ever seen one, just wearing one would of done the trick.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Damn I would not want to be in that spot. I know how cold it can be sitting behind an open window on a gun in an aircraft and we flew at 50 ft but damn it can get cold.

[FLYBOYJ]

Yep! But I think a P-38 driver just wearing that set up in their "inadequately heated" P-38 should be plenty warm....

[renrich]

There were quite number of times the waist gunners and the radio gunner ( while they still used the radio gun) were hospitalized for frostbite.

[lesofprimus]

This is true, due to shorted out wires and whatnot, or if they had to unplug to help a crewmember...

[Soren]

German pilots were kept warm using electrically heated suits as-well (All the way out into the gloves), however short circuits were rare it seems.

[renrich]

Yes, the electric suits in the heavy bombers did have malfunctions but sometimes it was just a case of trying to operate too high and when the weather was exceptionally cold. That breeze blowing through the radio gunner's position out through the waist gunner's openings was mighty stiff.