How Admiral Yamamoto was Shot Down by American Fighters - Historical Battle Simulation IL2 Sturmovik
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 เม.ย. 2020
- This is a historical cinematic simulation made using IL-2 Sturmovik that follows Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Japan's greatest military leader, in his final moments. In World War II, he was a prized target for the United States military. In April of 1943, the U.S. would get an opportunity to intercept his Betty Bomber escorted by Zeros with P-38 fighters. Step in the cockpit with Rex T. Barber as he makes history taking down Japan's most prized Naval asset.
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Credits to Wanganui Wildcat on the great Japanese skins used in this video!
As a Pilot who has flown in actual and direct aerial combat, what is amazing about this mission was the airmanship and navigation involved...no GPS...no Radar...no Hawkeye....just time...heading and distance. Amazing feat especially when you look at the distances involved.
its called being White's they can do anythang ! White's Man's gave us the interzones
And the only navigational device they had was one magnetic compass taken from a USN ship. The compasses in the aircraft were considered to be too inaccurate to use. They navigated hundreds of miles with a few pencils, a wristwatch, a map of dubious accuracy and one compass. Amazing indeed.
And it was like a tropical greenhouse in those cockpits.
@@Enid2Sacramento cant imagine how hot it is without ac lol
You spelled "feet" wrong......just kidding.
"Yamamoto might've survived if only he encrypted his transmissions...
Like with Nord VPN..."
U.S. intelligence services had broken the Japanese code.
That would have been a Linus class segway
Also, please note guys that some of these planes are indeed European aircraft painted in Japanese livery. There are currently no Pacific planes in the game, so I had to do my best with what I had! Credits to Lee Sherman who commented the idea for this video!
I just realize that the japanese's aircraft is not a6m zero😂😂...but its russian aircraft la5...😂😂
You only could work with what you have. Excellent job
Then get better game for correct aircraft!
@@scottgarrity989 stfu
I also own the 2011 movie about Yamamoto
Oh how the 1940's Americans would have loved to have seen this simulation! Well done!
Dale, I agree, but 1940s Americans lived it in reality, too...
I was glad you added that Yamamoto was found dead in his seat. Of all the the accounts I've seen it just says he was shot down, but not confirmed dead.
That's a nice and simple simulation ... Showing brave hearts and picture how a great soldier was ended up ....(Adm
Yamamoto)...in a pair of bullets....
My Dad DID love it !!! … he was there , serving with the 5th Army Air Corps … Barber didn’t actually know for sure that it was Yamamoto until days later when a radio broadcast by Tokyo Rose mentioned vengeance for what the 5th had done !!!
Nicely done. My grandfather served in Europe for over 2 years in a US infantry division. I will always be proud of him and for what he did. Thanks for taking the time to do something that is awesome with the technology of the day.
My father's cousin Besbiy Holmes was one of the pilots in this operation.. Great video presentation
Wondered why the Mitsubishi G4M Bettys were Junkers 88As!.And the A6M Zeros were Lavochkin LA5s!!
Because il2 didn't make Japanese fighters
Yeah they do, Pacific fighters expansion pack.
@@bryanscott9770 well not the historical battles one
Yeah, but there are G4Ms and Zeros in Il-2 1946
@@DC3_Yt sadly so my friend sadly so
Damn. This simulator has some damn good graphics.
Psyich number 1
The ground graphics are way off. The island was mountains, not plowed fields. If you do video, make it accurate. BTW. The second Betty crashed in the water and Yamamato's Chief of Staff survived and brought his ashes home to Japan.
It is war thunder
The P-38's flew 50 feet above the water for the entire inbound leg of the mission.
One hell of a good plane
Yes, they did...over open ocean for nearly 1,000 miles...incredible navigation and flying achievement
@@christopheredge2791 Down to the minute timing. Amazing.
Indeed they did and this simulation video shows none of that. This particular production gives you no idea about how this mission was really planned out and conducted. It seems rushed and I do not recommend it for anyone interested in actual history.
50 feet at almost 400 ? Miles a.hour is really fast. You would have half a nano second to correct a mistake. That generation of Americans was my parents generation. And I can imagine how they might feel today seeing what the political philosophy of the Democratic (communist) party has stabbed Us in the back and sold us out to. Could make them feel. I'm not sure of the numbers of volunteers compared to draftees, but the patriotism was 101%. Wich should make all appreciate our completely volunteer military more. Every American should be disgusted disappointed and inraged at not only what the Democratic (communist) party,the traitor Rino's, and the Gullible Stooges that support this either by want, or gullibleity needs to be checked more aggressively. Because those who wish to negate everything that every generation since the founding fathers have fought and died for. Are not only here they are in our government. And imbeded deeply.
Actually, no Zero aircraft in the escort were shot down though one was heavily damaged. While there was much debate on who shot down Yamamoto, only Barber's account matches the visual inspection of Yamamoto's aircraft as it lies in the jungle. Yamamoto was NOT found in the wreckage, he was found still strapped to his seat, head down and his white gloved hand still firmly holding his katana, beneath a tree
And they weren't in JU-88's either. From pictures I saw years ago in Air Classics, the Betty Bomber was still there. I'm surprised it was never recovered or restored.
@@rileycpo LOL, hardly a German plane
@@jefferyyounce5372 They're not Betty's. They are GERMAN JU-88s. Even the author said their program doesn't include most Japanese A/C.
@@jefferyyounce5372 IL-2 doesn't have japanese or any Pacific theatre planes so he had to use ju-88.
as long as he was dead, that's all that's important.
The simulation of this historic event is one I'm drawn to. My dad was aboard USS Raleigh CL-7 in Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. She was hit by an aerial torpedo in the first moments of the attack, then by an armor piercing bomb about an hour later. After repairs, Raleigh returned to service and did so for the duration of WWII. On one of my first cruises from Apra Harbor in Guam in the spring of 1964 we sailed toward Rabaul New Britain and the Solomon Islands. We moored overnight in Rabaul and the next morning an Aussie resident gave me a jeep ride through local villages. These people were of Melanesian descent. That visit was quite memorable to a young sailor who would turn 21 later that year.
My father's college roommate and my father joined up and served in the Army Air Corp. His roommate, Dick Reade of Haiti MO was in that squadron and in that fight to bring Yamamoto down. Dick's assignment that day was to fly a stripped down P-38 at altitude to film the shootdown. Another of the Greatest Generation.
A
This was a historic event. Equivalent to losing McArthur or Patton for the United States.
@Terry Blanton Would have saved a lot lives if it had been McArthur!
Patton isn't really equivalent and Mcarthur far from it. Eisenhower or Nimitz maybe.
Um didn't you forget Eisenhower?
@@jamespfitz
are you dumb?
it was macarthur who defeated the japanese. macarthur re-took the philippines, his forces smashed yamamoto, and the island hopping strategy that ultimately lost japan the war was his brainchild.
eisenhower had fuck all to do with the pacific front, and nimitz was nowhere near as significant as yamamoto. macarthur is the exact equivalent, if not greater.
@@larryhrh you’re dumb
If the Japanese had actually used the aircraft depicted Yamamoto might have had a better chance. That being said, nice vid.
I have seen other versions of this incident on TH-cam and this is by far the best one! Good work!
That was incredibly well done. My dad was there!
I flew Yamamoto plane!
I was the one who shot down Yamamoto
@@lamboempire4599 I was Yamamoto
I was the father of Yamamoto
@@donlove3741 What a coincidence! So did my uncle!
TJ3 Gamming, this is your best historical battle video yet! Your attention to detail is superb such as showing moving control surfaces, flames from exhaust manifolds and even spent cartridges being ejected from guns. Keep up the great work that you do Sir!!
all that stuff is done by the game he is playing, its called IL2: Great Battles Series
Hope you guys enjoyed this video! Please make sure to click subscribe above for more awesome historical recreations! It really helps support my hard work.
Hat mir nicht gefallen, denn es ist nur Unfug
Karma is a bitch
Dude, can you add some caption/subtitles please?
The P-38's flew 50 feet above the water for the entire inbound leg of the mission.
The 2nd Japanese aircraft went into the WATER. Cool video but get your damned HISTORY correct.
According to history, none of the Japanese fighter aircraft were shot down in this mission. Only the two larger bomber planes were shot down.
This is excellent TJ, thank you!
I saw a video (I think it was on national discovery) where Rex T . Barber shot down the betty (of Admiral Yamamoto)
said he didn't do it on purpose,
he wanted to shoot a burst to adjust his target,
but without expressing its burst was very precise
You're mixing up Lamphier's remarks with Barber's and both pilots fired on the plane so both were correctly given partial kills by the Army.
.
I think with what you had available, you did an excellent job. I have read the story in several war books and the presentation is very good. Congratulations!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Great work. Liked the effort that was put in.
Absolute Fantasm. Great work on this.
On Bougainville there is the Yamamoto Highway at the end of which the remains of the Betty were found. Now a shrine visited by,mainly, Japanese tourists.
After read about the some limitations you walked through , I jus can say good job.
The only thing I would tell you is that by 1942 , the red circle over the white star of US national insignia was quickly removed in order to avoid confusion with the Japanese fighters.
Regards
OUTSTANDING video!!! Five stars and a bucket of cherries!!! Thanks for your hard work on getting this done!!! VERY COOL!!!!
It is inexplicable that in such painstaking work, Ju 88 and La5 appear instead of the original Zero and G4M Betty!
Great video! Thank you for highlighting that "red-letter day" in WWII history.
This without a doubt is one of the BEST videos I have ever seen. F A N T A S T I C!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I concur. Captivating.
@@TJ3 what was 🇯🇵 even doing or going. Is this revenge on the very guy who created DEC 7 1941? 🇺🇸 day of infamous
Wiwiwii3isisisie8e7rurretyuutyf🏀🏅⛑️😢😂⚾🏢⚾⚾🇲🇨🇹🇼🇹🇼🇲🇨🇹🇼
@@mistylover2082 â🇯🇵🇧🇲🇯🇵🇧🇲🇯🇵
Everything is good no doubt. You had put all the efforts..
I'll be glad to see more
So awesome and well done! Thank you!
I looked it up and the Junkers company did send some JU-88 bombers to Japan although the plane Admiral Yamamoto was flying in was a Japanese Betty bomber. Excellent reenactment with what was a available. Great job 👍
The Lockheed P-38...thank you Kelly Johnson.
Nice job! Thanks for posting. Fascinating story.
The vintage audio over the flying is awesome!
Oh my, those graphics are really nice!
The other Betty, while damaged, made a water landing with a few survivors!
Another video says no Zeros were shot down but one was badly damaged.
Including Admiral Matome Ugaki chief of staff of the combined fleet. He survived the war and published his diaries of the remaining days of ww2. Valuable read out of print but not unattainable in trade paper. Titled FADING VICTORY.
Admiral Yamamoto's punctuality also helped in the interception by the p38's!! Never the less a spectacular job of navigating and airmanship!!
Thank you for creating this channel bro! I really love it.
Saw this and had to add .2, in ‘87 my wife and I met THE man who pulled the trigger that shot the plane down. In his words he stated their plane was coming around behind the plane the general was flying, they were in a downward turn coming from above and not yet aligned to take the shot. The man we spoke to said he wasnt actually aiming but was clearing his gun in a test fire. He was stunned and surprised then to see smoke from the plane and exclaimed “I hit it!” In his own words it was a lucky shot.
That would be Barber, then.
@@samuelharris4683 No. That was Lamphier who was high and to the right - Barber was attacking from the rear.
Both men fired on the plane and the Army correctly gave both men partial credit.
.
Credits:
The part of the G4M was played by a Ju 88
The part of the A6M was played by an La-5
Lol true.
Dornier DO-17
Good work, a real labour of love to make this video. Am not a plane enthusiast, more a mud and blood follower, but this is the first video about a significant event involving aircraft I have ever watched to the end. Sub'd and waiting for more.
The extraordinary verve of these men who flew a deadly mission against a war criminal. It is my understanding that Yamamoto was shot through the chest during the air attack, so was spared the terror of crashing. There is a picture somewhere of him perched in a palm tree, still strapped into his chair.
I hereby solemnly swear that I will never, ever buy anything from any of these extremely annoying advertisers here on youtube! Amen!!
Beautiful graphics.
Yamamoto from what I understand was against drawing America into the war. Some of his education was in the States and he respected America. He said if they wanted him to command the Pacific he'd only do it if they took out our major base in Pearl Harbor and he was reluctant to do it. He said Japan would rampage all over SE Asia wherever they wanted to for 6-12 months. But once American industrial might got up to speed it would be the beginning of the end for Japan.
I never knew it.
Their greatest nightnare when they bombed Pearl Harbor the US aircraft carriers wasn't there.
Conlusion: 2 atom bombs on the mainland Japan, Gen Doolittle bombed Tokyo, Japanese Naval forces suffered humiliating defeat at the Battle of Midway.
Lesson: "Wars are punishments for man's sins." - Our Lady of the Roses
Actually, the quote was like this:
"For a year or so I can run wild. After that, I don't know." - Isoroku Yamamoto.
The japs had to sttack pearl harbor or stop their war altogether.
Highly educational/informative, thanks for posting
Awesome job. Really enjoyed this piece.
Yamamoto was dragged into a war he knew the Japanese would lose and didn't want to fight but he served his country.
A nice comment!
There are so many who linger along with those who they consider their "saviours" and had every thing to loose and nothing to gain!
He was a brave human!
Almost like a Robert E. Lee, torn between loyalty to his country versus loyalty to his home state of Virginia.
I read a books years ago. And it said it is still isnt known for sure who shot down Yamamoto. And he was usually always on time as far as his schedule went. For what ever reason he was running behind and it was just sheer luck that p-38 just happened to come across his flight.
The credit belongs to all of the USAAF pilots on that mission.
It's teamwork that brought down Yamamoto.
Thanks Sir this is an excellent video!
A big thank you for your efforts to to this.
Certainly one of my better suggestions. Very well done I must say TJ3. The possibilities are endless. You sure made my day, thanks. LS
Nice video
Awesome video! Thanks a lot!
Great job! Brings it home!
The dams raid by Lancaster's inside the Ruhr might be a consideration for a new video. A most daring raid I must say. Barnes Wallis would just love it! ls
Yeah they could use b52s instead to completely annoy the viewers
@@mescalchapsmusicchannel3943 😂😂😂👍🏾👍🏾
Yamamoto's aircraft was not armed yet you show the Betty firing on the Lighting behind it
Excellent Presentation !!
SUPERB JOB!
THANK you
Great Video, despite of the limited plane, and map inventory in the game regarding pacific theathe. I believe that we can make our Globe better if we empasis the goodwilling, the effort and being thankfull for such work and the joy we got. Great work once more, and salute for the self devotion for all the soldiers fought in the great battle.
Great effort, very good historical simulation video.
One of the best videos I have ever seen.
Thanks! Nice work!
Indications were he was shot in the back of the head and was dead before the plane even crashed. The Japanese indeed exumed his body and found he was indeed dead before the plane crashed. I doubt he was upright. Japanese tend to exaggerate based on tradition and their beliefs. I am suprised they didnt say he killed himself.
I read an account by Yamamoto's Chief of Staff (survived the second Betty crash in the sea) that when he got to the crash site they found the Admiral in his seat thrown free of the wreckage and that he had been shot, probably by 50 cal. bullets. He further described the cremation of the Admirals body and the gathering of his ashes and the return of his ashes to Japan
Lockheed specifically sent Charles Lindbergh over to the Pacific to teach these P-38 pilots on how to set the mixture of their fuel to maximize their range in order to be able to intercept that Japanese flight. In the process, Lindbergh became the only civilian ace of the war by engaging enemy aircraft in his P-38 and shooting them down, I think it was 6 altogether before he was withdrawn so he wouldn't get killed. He was not on the intercept mission but did this during his training flights with those flying the P -38. Quite a remarkable individual was this Lindbergh. Also, those that performed the mission should all be remembered for a job well done.
Lindbergh was a vocal German sympathizer
The settings that Lindbergh used were ALWAYS right there in the pilot's manual supplied with the P-38.
The 8th AF also used the absolute worst settings for the P-38 until Tony Levier, a Lockheed test pilot, showed them what they were doing wrong
@@christopheredge2791 Before the war.
.
Loved it. Great job!!!!!!!
good job much appreciated and enjoyed
Nicely done. For historical accuracy I'd like to note that the bombers you depicted were not G4N "Bettys" but German JU88s. I don't believe Imperial Japan had any of those. Also the fighters you depicted were not A6M "Zeros". Looks more like a hybrid P40 with a radial engine. Good work though!
Simulator limits him to certain planes
This game is german, soviet, and american planes
Fighters are not hybrids of anything, they are very nice Russian La-5s
love the Japanese JU-88s!!!........
Yeah...that's kinda what I was thinking. But, I'm not gonna give the creator of the vid too much grief about it. I respect the effort.
As of now there isn’t much more that can be done, hopefully a pacific scenario will arrive sooner or later
So do I
I bet if they had JU88s, he might have stood a chance of escaping
yes its JU-88
Loved the video very well done!! 👍
Awesome video man
I like how accurate this is. Do one about the 332nd fighter group and how they never lost a bomber.
I know that there are controversies over who shot Yamamoto down, was it Rex Barber, or Tom Lanphier. I have a few books, and one Combat Aircraft Magazine that discusses this topic.
This is a great recreation of a fascinating subject, keep up the great work.
The consensus of those who were there is that Lanphier didn't get him, Barber did. Most of those there regarded Lanphier as a self-aggrandizing glory hound. My father was on the mission and agrees with the consensus.
Lanphier wrote the after action report solo, giving himself credit. Reports on the ground were that he claimed to have shot down Yamamoto as soon as he landed back at Guadalcanal. He could not have known which bomber the admiral was riding in. Evidence puts him too far away during the attack to have participated, and his claims about where he shot the bomber are evidenced by the wreckage, still there as of just a few years ago, and a tourist attraction. Read Operation Vengeance for the full story.
@@billsmith3471 Did you meet Lamphier? I did and he didn't seem at all like a self aggrandizing glory hound to me. He was modest and humble. It was clear he believed his version of the story.
I'm glad your father is still alive. He must be about a hundred now.
.
@@samuelharris4683 Lamphier was the flight leader so he would be writing the report.
I heard Lamphier speak - and he believed his version of the story.
As to claims that Lamphier - after engaging the Zero - could not have turned a P-38 fast enough to go after the bomber - this is not so. Lamphier was a good P-38 pilot who was very aware of it's capabilities - what he said he did - was not turn horizontally - but vertically. The P-38 could Loop better than most aircraft because of that massive horizontal stabilizer it had. Lamphier told another story about the ability of the P-38 to loop - so this was something he was well acquainted with - that others who were not P-38 pilots would not be aware of. Even pilots who were P-38 pilots might not have been aware of it.
Another factor people don't know about P-38's is that they had a superb roll rate - if you knew how to do it. This roll Rate was NOT achieved by the sole use of the ailerons but by _"Blitting"_ the engines. Because it had counter rotating propellers if you rev'd one engine and not the other - the _torque_ of the rev'd engine would rotate the aircraft rapidly in the opposite direction. Blitting the Port Engine would rotate the aircraft to the right and doing the same to the starboard engine would rotate the aircraft to the left. Your biggest problem here - was that you didn't want to roll to far - so you had to cut the rev'd engine back quickly. There was some real skill involved in doing this - and most P-38 pilots didn't know you could do it.
The downside to this characteristic - was that if you lost an engine on take off - and increased the throttle on the remaining engine - it would rotate the plane up side down and plunge it into the ground. A lot of junior P-38 pilots died that way. Same thing with the torque on a Corsair. Increasing the throttle on a Corsair would rotate the aircraft instead of just turning the prop faster - and if they did that taking off - right into the ground it would go.
WWII pilots got killed all the time because of engine torque and not knowing how to handle it.
B-26's did that - _"One A Day In Tampa Bay"_ . The first B-26's went to experienced groups - who had no problems with it - but - when they started trying to ramp up new groups with new pilots and new machanics - the Mechanics didn't fix the engines right - they'd lose one on take off - and the inexperienced pilots would put to much throttle to the one they had left - and into the water they'd go.
So - those who claim that he could not have turned his plane fast enough to engage the bomber - don't know what they are talking about. This could include pilots - as not all the pilots knew you could do this - and a lot of them were afraid to try it. It was easy to be killed by your WWII aircraft if you tried something you didn't know how to do.
P-38's were some of the most maneuverable aircraft in the air - but - you had to know the tricks to get them to do that - and - you had to be able to do the trick without screwing it up. There were P-38 pilots who beat RAF Spitfires in mock dog fights - because they knew how to do these things.
It is my understanding that he did a half loop and then rolled right side up which could have used both these techniques.
One thing about this - is that Lamphier didn't know that Barber was there at all.
Lamphier was high and to the right - he said he fired his guns to clear them - and the bomber flew into it.
Barber was coming up behind the bomber so Lamphier didn't see him - but - he did see Lamphier.
Barber's Home Town Historian wrote an article saying Barber got the kill - and - Barber's Home Town sponsored an expedition to the wreck. You can see the wreck on TH-cam.
Anyone believing the report of this expedition or the article by this Home Town Historian - is just stupid.
There are bullet holes in the tail of the wreck that could have been caused by Barber's fire.
Lamphier's fire would have hit the front of the plane - but - there is no front to the wreck - as it was destroyed in the crash. So - the wreck doesn't prove anything one way or the other.
When Lamphier landed - he reported that he had shot the plane down. When Barber Landed he thought he had shot the plane down and was furious at Lamphier's claim. Lamphier thought that _Barber_ was trying to steal _HIS_ claim.
Barber knew Lamphier had fired on the plane - but Lamphier didn't know that Barber had - and doesn't seem to have ever given him credit for that. Barber was originally willing to accept half credit but when Lamphier left him out of his published works - he was really unhappy about it. He would seem to have become very bitter about it - as Lamphier was popularly thought to be the one who shot Yamamoto down.
The Army had this kind of thing happen all the time and correctly gave both men partial credit.
The best comments on this - is that there were 18 planes that took part in the mission - 16 were planned but 2 of them had problems, turned back - and were replaced by extra aircraft that had been included for that reason. All of these pilots made the mission a success, especially the Navigation by Mitchell.
Thanks for citing your source. There are a bunch of other books on Amazon as well.
.
Oh ... one thing you need to watch out for - is Revisionist Historians.
The way this works - is that if someone writes a history that just says the same thing as the preceding histories - why would you buy their book? So - Revisionist Historians change things up.
_"New!"_
_"Undiscovered!"_
_"Unknown!"_
_"Untold!"_
If you see these kinds of remarks in the title - read them with caution - or - don't read them at all.
With Lamphier regarded early on as the person who shot down Yamamoto - Revisionist Historians have had a Field Day - reporting Barber's version of things.
The *_TRUTH_* is
This happened all the time.
The Army would deal with it by giving partial credit.
Barber and Lamphier each received partial credit for the kill.
That was the case in *_WORLD WAR TWO_* and nothing has changed since them - despite what the Revisionist Historians - who want you to buy their books - would have you believe.
.
Nicely done!
Awesome animation! Great job.
The irony of Yamamoto's death is that he cautioned about "... waking the sleeping giant..." If I recall correctly he attended Harvard university.
To study English.
The US Army Air Corps aircraft insignia is incorrect in this reenactment. The white five pointed star with a red circle in the middle was officially discontinued on 15 March 1942, a year before Yamamto's plane was shot down. The red circle was removed to avoid confusion with the Japanese red "meatball" insignia.
Pretty good job. I enjoyed it.
Fantastic job. Thanks
That's what it can be named a "great job" !
Congratulations !
The scenery doesn’t seem to look much like Bougainville. But still well done.
European based flight sim, unfortunately no island jungles in the game maps yet!
Great simulation video now these is films worth watching
Excellent.
Thank you so much
Thank you for doing your best with what you had. Ignore the ignorant, unappreciative, self-centered people who think they are perfecttt. (Opps, I made a mistake. So what.) Offering constructive criticism is one thing, Being a flea brain jerk is another.
It’s oops, not opps .
Kinda like yours, huh
No zero's were lost only the 2 betty's...
One was heavily damaged but no losses
Great work... thanks!
Mission accomplished!
Cool video recreation 👍
You'll never learn about this in public schools, kids
I actually learned about this in public school, I wonder if they still teach it.
@@kingboagart899 not any more
That's a shame, history is important.
Ju 88s instead of Bettys, La 5s instead of Zeros, Lightings with stars from 1941, whats the...?
Dornier DO-17
Great video
P-38 and Mustang fighter planes are as cool and macho as it gets.
My Dad was a Airplane mechanic in WWII and he knew some P38 pilots. He always said they were some crazy pilots. Mainly because the didn't fight in a horizontal dog fight. Especially against Zero's, because a Zero could out turn them easy. He told me they fought vertically. Out climbing their advesary was a lot easier because of their speed straight up. They would get their opponent to chase them in a climb, and once the Zero, or what ever, stalled out in their climb and started going down the P38 Pilots would kick their planes over out of their climb, and catch them going down. The P38 was the fastest plane in a dive, and once they figured out the Compressability Issue, they were a real threat. Once the Designers figured that issue out they started building the P38's with speed brakes they could dive hard, shoot their prey in their dive, throw out the speed brakes to get turned around and climb straight up. Then repeat. Going too fast in a dive meant the air going past the wings was going so fast the controls were useless. They lost a lot of P38's before they figured that out.
He told me that's how they fought Yamamotos Flight. The Protecting Zero's didn't see them until it was too late. The P38's flew over the water really low until they got to where they were expecting Yamamoto, then they climbed as high and as fast as they could. Once they saw the prey they pushed over and dove at them.
My Dad was a Veteran of 3 Wars and kept a lot of Airplanes flying. He ws never one to exagerate. In fact I had to pry war stories out of him after I was an adult.
That’s very informative. Thanks for sharing that knowledge. P38s were my favorite plane growing up. Very unique design and as you illuminated a unique fighting style too. Much respect to that generation.
From what I have read Americans enforce their planes with heavy armor to withstood machine gun fires from the Japanese Zero's or any planes.
Japanese Junker Ju 88's ?
Dornier DO-17
I always wonder how Operation Vengeance went down. Now I know. Thanks. You do great stuff here.
Well done. Thank you so much.
imagine dying in a war you tried to prevent
This was known as the beginning of the end for the Japanese empire
Midway... That was the beginning of the end.
The plane carrying Yamamoto had its wing torn off aswell. If you visit the jungle, you pass the wing that broke off. A few minutes later you reach the bomber then.
Thank you for this