A Fork-Tailed Devil: The P-38 Lightning

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ต.ค. 2021
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ความคิดเห็น • 694

  • @WOLF167h
    @WOLF167h 2 ปีที่แล้ว +268

    Maybe skip using B-25 footage when describing the P-38 would have been a good idea?

    • @merlynjep
      @merlynjep 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      The P-38 was an aircraft of many talents-some moonlighted as b-25s.

    • @howardrsims
      @howardrsims 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      I found that distracting too. How can anyone confuse the two?

    • @stevenborgogna
      @stevenborgogna 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Thank you. I came here to say this.

    • @minemineminemine404
      @minemineminemine404 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      This all day long. What was that about?!

    • @rafaucett
      @rafaucett 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Yeah, it makes me question the credibility of the channel.

  • @James-ho5te
    @James-ho5te 2 ปีที่แล้ว +187

    Those are B-25 Mitchells in the beginning there..

    • @mikeyoung9810
      @mikeyoung9810 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Later on as well but twin tails so almost!

    • @simonbest563
      @simonbest563 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I noticed that too… maybe a whoops?

    • @keithmoore5306
      @keithmoore5306 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      yeah more than you picked that up!!!

    • @Cemi_Mhikku
      @Cemi_Mhikku 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@thiswasnoboakingaccident6368 Simon doesn't do his own editing, but I know fuckups out of laziness seem to annoy him... "Do your damn job" is a pretty common refrain in a lot of his work, lmfao

  • @ZOB4
    @ZOB4 2 ปีที่แล้ว +351

    Can we all take a moment and recognize the glory of the name of “Dick Bong” who was an ace fighter pilot? An absolute legend if ever there was one.

    • @newman977
      @newman977 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Credit where credit is due, my hat is off to him for his outstanding contribution to the war effort. Just to clarify though, he was the highest scoring US ace, but nowhere near the highest scoring ace of the war.

    • @danielbretall2236
      @danielbretall2236 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I believe he had 39 or 40 confirmed kills. Even when they took him out of combat, he still snuck back in. He unfortunately died at a young age in an air accident (shocker).

    • @All_Hail_Chael
      @All_Hail_Chael 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Great video about him from The History Guy
      th-cam.com/video/C7NBU_3IZWM/w-d-xo.html

    • @newman977
      @newman977 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@All_Hail_Chael The History Guy is a fantastic channel.

    • @Duececoupe
      @Duececoupe 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      He had Swedish heritage, his family still lives not too far from where my family and friends still lives in Sweden....

  • @dialaskisel5929
    @dialaskisel5929 2 ปีที่แล้ว +76

    Ah, yes, the most notable and undermentioned utility of the P-38 Lightning - The ability to transform into a B-25 on command when extra bombers were needed. Truly the unsung hero of the war.

    • @jacktattis
      @jacktattis ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Baloney it was behind the Mossie in everything except as a fighter

    • @javabean215
      @javabean215 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I noticed that about half the aerial footage was showing a B-25 rather than a P-38, and was about to make my own snarky comment....

    • @jacktattis
      @jacktattis ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I am sorry I posted here and not at the start.

    • @phil562
      @phil562 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The P-38 could carry 4,000 lbs of bombs, the B-25 only 3,000.

    • @jacktattis
      @jacktattis ปีที่แล้ว

      @@phil562 B25J 4000lb internally P38 4000 lb on racks which hugely effected its performance

  • @snowballsimpson3887
    @snowballsimpson3887 2 ปีที่แล้ว +212

    "The P-38 sports an unmistakable, distinctive, twin boom and a central nacelle configuration" *shows video of a Mitchell*

    • @fishjohn014
      @fishjohn014 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      All of these "history" channels (like Dark Skies) are the McDonald's of documentaries.
      They crank out cheap low quality products, but most of us are fine with it

    • @B4D_5USHI
      @B4D_5USHI 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      True. I just wish they did better research. Nobody is knowledgeable enough to make the kind of diverse content you tube audiences demand. You cannot be a historian, a tactician, a weapons expert, an engineer, a philosopher all at the same time. So you have to rely on others to research and get your info

    • @newman977
      @newman977 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I feel like they showed more footage of the Mitchell than the Lightning.

    • @fishjohn014
      @fishjohn014 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@B4D_5USHI I think there are people who start as experts and then move towards TH-cam who do a much better job.
      Such as:
      Forgotten Weapons
      The Tank Museum
      Greg's Airplanes

    • @newman977
      @newman977 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@B4D_5USHI Ed Nash's Military Matters is exceptional. He researches and presents lots of obscure and interesting aircraft and is one of the best of the bunch.

  • @daveallen8824
    @daveallen8824 2 ปีที่แล้ว +74

    Could have noted that P-38's shot down and killed Yamamoto.

    • @finscreenname
      @finscreenname 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      and Charles Lindbergh came up with a procedure to extend the range of the P-38s by cutting back the rpm and increasing manifold pressure so they had the range.

    • @thomasmcroberts5145
      @thomasmcroberts5145 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Right

    • @Tuberuser187
      @Tuberuser187 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Was going to make a comment about it, saw yours when I checked to see if someone else posted before leaving mine.

  • @steveakers3322
    @steveakers3322 2 ปีที่แล้ว +90

    Kelly Johnson probably deserves his 15 minutes on this show somewhere. P-38, U-2, SR-71.

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      And that's what we know about.

    • @fredkruse9444
      @fredkruse9444 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      And P80 and F104. He even assisted designing the Electra (Earhart's plane).

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Don't forget the A12 Oxcart, which is really the fastest air breathing aircraft of all time, not the SR71 which the A12 driver's tease the SR71 pilots and tell them they drive the family model.

    • @pozzowon
      @pozzowon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I think he's got a biographics and Skunk Works a megaprojects video

    • @speedy97979
      @speedy97979 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There has already been a biographics on Kelly Johnson from P-38 to B-2

  • @robertphillips6296
    @robertphillips6296 2 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    Charles Lindbergh was allowed to visit the Pacific Theater during World War Two. He was only to observe and assist with operations. He helped increase the P-38s range. When Washington, D.C. found out that he had been flying missions and had actually shot down a Japanese Aircraft, they immediately recalled him back to the USA.

    • @christobalcolon6601
      @christobalcolon6601 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Don Rickles is the only one to lose more pilots than the Japanese Navy.

    • @kevinbarry71
      @kevinbarry71 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      He did visit. And fly combat without permission. It's nonsense that he managed to extend the range. What he did do however, later, was disparage horribly the pilots that he flew with. He was an exceptional pilot, but a terrible human being

    • @barbarabutterbaugh9721
      @barbarabutterbaugh9721 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      He increased the range by using mercury mixed witb the fuel

    • @spannagattinara4970
      @spannagattinara4970 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Lindbergh was an American icon. He was also a Nazi sympathizer….

    • @robertphillips6296
      @robertphillips6296 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@spannagattinara4970 I guess that’s why they sent him to the Pacific during the war.

  • @SteveGillow
    @SteveGillow 2 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    I would have liked to have heard about Lindberg's work enhancing the range of the P-38 and the Yamato revenge mission.

    • @alfredlear4141
      @alfredlear4141 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Definable
      The P 38 was a true monster and could have contributed more in Europe if it had been deployed correctly.
      IMHO the best ww2 plane

    • @matchrocket1702
      @matchrocket1702 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I read a book about the P-38 in the Pacific. Lindberg was there for a brief period as an advisor and would fly with them on training missions. On one such mission they were jumped by some Zeros. It is said that Lindgerg bagged a couple of them but being a civilian no mention of the event could be allowed to be leaked to the press. And like you said, he showed them how to run their engines lean without burning them out. That gave them the range to get to Yamato.

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      What Lindbergh did to increase the range was pretty simple actually but I've seen people overly complicate it on TH-cam posts claiming things like he was eliminating pumping losses and other erroneous statements like that.
      First thing you have to understand is that what removes more heat from an engine than anything else whether it's an air cooled or water cooled engine is unburnt fuel leaving the cylinder, an overly lean condition means that the combustion chamber is absorbing more heat than an ideal running mixture, WW2 pilots had a chart inside the cockpit telling them how rich or lean to run the engine based on throttle settings and other factors, they were strictly prohibited from running the engine outside of those parameters, if they did it would wind up showing in maintenance reports and they'd wind up standing tall in front of their commander's desk (aka get their ass chewed out) the engine manufacturer is the one that originally determines these settings.
      What Lindbergh did was show the pilots how to lean out the mixture and watch the prop speed, the reason he'd have them watch that instead of the engine's tachometer's is because any change in engine RPM would show up in the prop speed first because the gear reduction made it more accurate, he taught them to pull the mixture control leaner until the prop speed just started to drop and then push it back foreward just enough to where the prop speed returned to where it was, at this point the engine was running as lean as possible without causing damage from getting too hot from an overly lean condition, that extended the range a good bit.
      Now he wasn't allowed to just take it upon himself to do this, when he first approached the USAAF high command about doing this they had a team of engineers and techs from Allison flown to the Pacific to tear down and inspect an set of engine's he'd flown under those conditions to verify that it wouldn't cause engine damage, after getting their seal of approval he was cleared to go around to the different P38 Fighter Groups in the Pacific and teach them his technique.
      The reason that you don't hear about him doing it with fighter units that used air cooled radial engine's is because trying that with an air cooled engine is really flirting with disaster, I've been working as a mechanic on automobiles and motorcycle's for 40 years now including performance work, you can get away with more of that sort of thing with a liquid cooled engine than with an air cooled but even then I've seen liquid cooled engine's run so lean they've melted a hole right through the top of a piston or burned a valve or valve seat, and it'll happen that much easier with an air cooled engine because there's less room for error, I've seen more than one Harley that's sat for years and had the rubber intake seals rot away in a shed or some place like that causing an intake leak and unfortunately someone managed to get it started and attribute it's rough running to needing the "carb blown out" so they start hammering on it thinking that the jets need cleared out by running fresh gas through them or some other idiot idea like that and they wind up torching a hole right through a piston.

    • @mbryson2899
      @mbryson2899 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @Steve Gillow @Matchrocket
      Admiral Yamamoto. Yamato was a battleship, sunk by Navy planes.

    • @matchrocket1702
      @matchrocket1702 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@mbryson2899 Ha! You are so right. Yamato is also the historic name used for Japan.

  • @stucook8622
    @stucook8622 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    P38's are my one of my favorite planes. Always love your videos Simon. Thanks to your whole crew. One thing though...the planes you showed in the opening were Mitchell B25's. Much love to all across the pond.

  • @chrislong3938
    @chrislong3938 2 ปีที่แล้ว +288

    Simon, as smart as everyone thinks you are, couldn't your producers show P-38s instead of B-25s?
    I also have a hard time believing that P-38s took more recon photos than the Mossie!

    • @airborncamel
      @airborncamel 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

      Came here to say the same about the B-25 footage!

    • @derekaldrich330
      @derekaldrich330 2 ปีที่แล้ว +47

      Simon should question his editor. Nothing wrong with the script, but film of a B-25 in lieu of a P-38 is a travesty. The downside for his crew is the relative lack of P-38 footage.

    • @kevintemple245
      @kevintemple245 2 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      The P-38 took far more photos than the Mosquito. The Lightning came out several years earlier, the specifically made recon version even came out sooner. Also, the recon P-38 served in both the Pacific and Europe simultaneously, whereas the Mosquito never really made it to the Pacific.

    • @adamtruong1759
      @adamtruong1759 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      They could be trying to emphasize the "first US aircraft to be built out of smooth Aluminum" part, but that seems like a far stretch.

    • @mred7375
      @mred7375 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Same here... Why do they keep showing a B-25? Is he trolling us?

  • @ericwarmath1091
    @ericwarmath1091 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    It was a squadron of P-38s that wacked Yamamoto. It was a G model of 339 squadron.

  • @seanbrazell6147
    @seanbrazell6147 2 ปีที่แล้ว +156

    I think It's quite clear to everyone here that we need a Dick Bong episode as soon as possible...

    • @chikato7106
      @chikato7106 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      yes that would be incredible

    • @dunbar9finger
      @dunbar9finger 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      In Wisconsin where he's from, there's a State Park made out of a decomissioned air force base that used to bear his name. The sign along I-94 declares in giant letters for all drivers to see that there's a "Bong Recreational Area" at the next exit.

    • @Sk1m_Beeble
      @Sk1m_Beeble 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@dunbar9finger I'll bet that gets stolen a bit

    • @adamwhite2364
      @adamwhite2364 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He grew up in Poplar, Wisconsin, first saw lots of planes carrying mail to Superior, WI, where Calvin Coolidge had set up a temporary office while he spent the summer in northern WI fishing.
      While attending what would become the University of Wisconsin-Superior, he started taking flying lessons, enrolling in the ASAAC in the spring of 1941 and had some further flight instruction from Barry Goldwater.
      He buzzed the house of another pilot, which forced his command to ground him, causing him to miss his deployment to England. He therefore had to transfer to the Pacific theatre. He kept close to his targets because he felt his accuracy was poor, which at least according to the old timers who knew him, said this was the most effective way to use P-38s. He kept shooting down Japanese planes and getting promoted until he made Major rank and broke the WWI record for planes shot down. He then was pulled home, married his college sweetheart, did war bond tours, and began test flying the new jet fighters. Again, it might be local lore, but he supposedly realized he was not going to be able to keep the plane in the air and stuck with it too long to survive, but the story went that he kept it from hitting a nearby populated area. He was apparently popular enough that his death shared front page space with the first atomic bombing.
      His sister was still teaching when my brother got to kindergarten, so she was his teacher, but she was just substituting now and then by the time I was in school
      en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bong

    • @patrickscalia5088
      @patrickscalia5088 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I suspect that somewhere there's a gifted glass blower working on a new phallus-shaped smoking implement after reading these comments.

  • @Stucc0Dude
    @Stucc0Dude 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Lots of vids there were not a P38 in the intro.

  • @jamesharrington001
    @jamesharrington001 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    My favorite bird of the second world war, when I was younger I was out at an air show and I got the chance to see one of these girls fly, a sight I will never forget.

  • @musewolfman
    @musewolfman 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    The "turbo-superchargers," as they're referred to in literature from the era, are just really big versions of what we know as turbochargers today. An exhaust driven turbine that spins a compressor wheel, forcing air into the engine at many times greater than atmospheric pressure. This allows the engines to burn more fuel, and therefore produce more power.

    • @Allan_aka_RocKITEman
      @Allan_aka_RocKITEman 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      AFAIK, as an aviation designation _"turbo-supercharger"_ and _"turbocharger"_ can be used interchangeably.

    • @musewolfman
      @musewolfman 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Allan_aka_RocKITEman I was under the impression that 'turbo-supercharger' was just an archaic term. Do any modern aircraft even use such a huge turbo setup?

    • @Allan_aka_RocKITEman
      @Allan_aka_RocKITEman 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@musewolfman >>> You are probably correct about that {being an archaic term}.
      I would say 'generally' no, because _large_ piston engined aircraft have been replaced with turboprops, turbojets, or turbofans.

    • @gordoh7634
      @gordoh7634 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Excellent comment and dialogue here thank you! You can find turbocharged single-engine aircraft made by Cessna. For example the Cessna 182t and of course the t210. However with general aviation being in the tank for decades Piper might be making something there and and I'm not sure if Beach is with their Bonanza.
      Now the great comment about turbocharging witness the P51 Mustang it had a supercharger that was gear driven. It was a two stage and a really good invention by a Brit at the time and I do not know his name but he's covered in Wikipedia and he made the supercharger for the Merlin engine. The second stage kicked in above 20000 feet and the great living WW2 pilot Bud Anderson comments that the P51 just lived in that space above 20,000 feet and performed very well out performing many of the German Fighters because of that second stage supercharger.

    • @Allan_aka_RocKITEman
      @Allan_aka_RocKITEman 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@gordoh7634 >>> Multiple general aviation aircraft with reciprocating engines are equipped with turbochargers for better higher altitude performance.
      Several aircraft in the homebuilt/experimental category can also be turbocharged, whether they use standard aircraft engines -- Lycoming, Continental, etc. -- _or_ they use converted automotive {or other} engines.

  • @Docsporseen1
    @Docsporseen1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    Did we have a lack of P-38 videos to show, or couldn't we see the difference between a fighter and a bomber?

  • @jamindowney3662
    @jamindowney3662 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    We need one for the Mosquito, no aircraft in history has taken on as many roles as that wooden wonder did!

    • @oldenweery7510
      @oldenweery7510 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I second that! Fascinating plane.

  • @light1967
    @light1967 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My Grandfather was one of the designers. He also worked on Stealth and Shuttle... He was also an Army Aircorp Pilot. The P-38 was always his favorite. They brought him out of retirement to help them fix the Shuttle.

  • @earnestbrown6524
    @earnestbrown6524 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    P-38 is my favorite WW2 plane. First loved it as the Arcade game 1942. So many quarters.

  • @pamelamays4186
    @pamelamays4186 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    When I was in Army boot camp about 40 years ago, for some reason the nickname for the little can opener that came with our C-Rations was P-38.

    • @miniaturekitty9679
      @miniaturekitty9679 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      That's because that's the name of it, they all start with a P

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yep, and I was in the Army when they switched from C-Ration's to MRE's and they did it without warning any of us, in late '84 we were doing a rotation at NTC out at Ft Irwin and we didn't have anything to eat all day, towards sundown a Deuce n Half came bouncing down a tank trail and kicked off a couple of boxes that we all assumed were C-Ration's, I opened the first box and was immediately concerned because I couldn't find the little yellow envelope that was in each large box of C-Ration's that contained the P38 can openers since mine was worn out and was hard to open the cans with, then I noticed that instead of a bunch of neatly packed C-Ration boxes being inside of the box there was these brown plastic bags.
      Things went downhill from there, within 24 hours we were begging to get the old C-Ration's back, that first generation of MRE's were not only horrible but only the US Army in it's infinite wisdom would give me a dehydrated meal in the desert, a place where every drop of water was precious.
      We were not happy.

    • @jacktattis
      @jacktattis ปีที่แล้ว

      @@dukecraig2402 Yes indeed
      Our rations were terrible We were still being issued WW2 bully beef in Vietnam in 66

  • @covercalls88
    @covercalls88 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I have 4 Radio Control P 38s of different wing spans. It's a very impressive and realistic flier. Peeling off and making a low pass over the runway gave me a understanding of the fear for someone on the ground knowing.

  • @kannakev
    @kannakev 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    been waiting for this one, thanks Simon!

  • @Jobe00
    @Jobe00 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Charles Lindbergh vastly improved the P-38 in the Pacific Theater by advising how to run the engines. It reduced wear on the engines and increased the P-38's range just by running the engines as he suggested.

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      His technique didn't "reduce wear" in the engine's, what actually happened was he proved to the USAAF that his technique for running the engine's leaner wouldn't cause increased wear, but running engine's leaner won't reduce wear, it's just that you can only lean the engine's out so much before you start increasing wear.
      Before he was allowed to go around teaching his technique on how to run the mixture control for the engine's he had to prove that it wouldn't damage the engine's, so the USAAF had a team of engineers and techs from Allison flown to the Pacific to tear down and inspect a pair of engine's from a P38 he'd run leaner than their specifications to verify that neither engine damage or accelerated wear occurred, once they ok'd it he was allowed to go around to the different P38 units in the Pacific and teach them his technique on how to run the mixture controls for the engine's, previous to that the pilots had to follow a chart inside the cockpit that dictated the mixture control settings as per throttle position and other factors, before Lindbergh's technique they were strictly forbidden from deviating from that chart, all WW2 aircraft had those charts inside the cockpit that dictated how to run the engine's controls, it wasn't something unique to the P38.

    • @jacktattis
      @jacktattis ปีที่แล้ว

      @@dukecraig2402 Thanks Duke

  • @paulwilliams4274
    @paulwilliams4274 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    @sideprojects Not a P-38 0:21, Not a P-38 0:29 , Still not a P-38 0:52 . All three of those planes are B-25 Mitchell bombers. Do you guys even care about accuracy?

    • @TheStiefmeister7
      @TheStiefmeister7 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Finding free-use or inexpensive footage is pretty difficult, so they likely just used what footage they could get that was close to the same time period so you aren't just staring at Simon the whole video. Channels have to be careful with copyright infringement on a small budget.

    • @paulwilliams4274
      @paulwilliams4274 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@TheStiefmeister7 They seemed to find enough footage (of the P-38) for the rest of the video. This was a 100% screw-up. And if it wasn't an error, they probably didn't consider that viewers were smart enough to notice.

    • @kevadu
      @kevadu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Gotta be honest, I wasn't even watching the video. I mostly just listen to these in the background while doing something else...

  • @user-dc8vr2gd2y
    @user-dc8vr2gd2y 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    In 1943 I would be of little help to the war effort I was only 3 years old. Of all the warplanes I have looked at and studied I fell in love with the P-38 Lighting, wow what a fantastic-looking airplane with a great history of success. I do think the enemy pilots when they saw this plane knew they were dead man flying.

  • @ianr
    @ianr 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Why are B25 Mitchell's being shown at the beginning? 🤔

  • @boatingexplainedwithcapndr8359
    @boatingexplainedwithcapndr8359 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek),a B-17 pilot in the Pacific during the war, got the concept of the USS Enterprise (starship, not carrier) from the P-37 with its twin nacelles. He didn’t want the ship in his story to look like a rocket as was done in all the other sci-fi movies/shows of the era.

  • @BigB86
    @BigB86 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Seems like you going to have to do a video on the Mitchell now Simon

    • @bartfoster1311
      @bartfoster1311 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      You know they have the video for it!

    • @BigB86
      @BigB86 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@bartfoster1311 do they awwshucks!! I did the research b4 the joke but I couldn't find it!.... if that's the case u cant just re use the old background like this is the flintstones. This is a place of learning and we deserve better! 😉 jokes keep up the good work u guys are ace!

    • @bartfoster1311
      @bartfoster1311 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I meant they showed enough video of B-25s in this video to have stock footage for a video on them.

    • @BigB86
      @BigB86 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@bartfoster1311 lol derp

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      He's got a head start on it.

  • @bobnewkirk7186
    @bobnewkirk7186 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Again, adding to the delay on production, Lockheed was initially told to expect a maximum order of 100 aircraft, so the first units were essentially hand built. When the war broke out Lockheed suddenly found itself deluged with orders for 1000's of airplanes, forcing a re-design / re-tool of the assembly line.

  • @11bravocrunchie22
    @11bravocrunchie22 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Makes a video about P-38s, opens with videos of B-25s…

  • @SDGamer99
    @SDGamer99 2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    Love this channel. Great videos. Sadly, this one has a few problems throughout this video. There are clips of a B-25 Mitchell in the beginning, middle, and end. Just want to help

    • @brucehearn2621
      @brucehearn2621 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not to mention the erroneous idea that the aircraft at times wielded 37mm cannon along with the 4 .50 cal machine guns. It never used anything other than a 20mm cannon.

  • @milanondrak5564
    @milanondrak5564 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    The P38 is my second favourite aircraft. Nothing is prettier than the good old Mosquito.

  • @kenhelmers2603
    @kenhelmers2603 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    One of my favorite planes! Thanks Simon :)

  • @drillthrallable
    @drillthrallable 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    B-25 Mitchell Lightning! Who knew that existed. Cool!!!!

  • @zacdavila679
    @zacdavila679 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It wasn't just the lightning that had the issue with air bubbles at high speed, the navy Bearcat had the same issue. But the solved it by putting a small button on the side of a cockpit that would deploy a extra flap on the wing. It worked to cause my grandfather almost plowed his Bearcat into the ground put a rebuilt engine thru its paces in 1947

  • @thomasfx3190
    @thomasfx3190 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Simon I really enjoy how you tell a story!

  • @MrDDiRusso
    @MrDDiRusso 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Too many B25 Mitchell clips.

    • @goldenageofdinosaurs7192
      @goldenageofdinosaurs7192 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      This. And I’m a big fan of the Mitchell.

    • @MrDDiRusso
      @MrDDiRusso 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 me too!

  • @groupcaptainbonzo
    @groupcaptainbonzo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    A lot of your “P38s” are B25s. Do you think that nobody notices?

  • @taironus
    @taironus 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    When i was a kid this was one of the first model air planes i put together. it really gave me a love for twin boom air craft. i did get to fly in a twin boom, but it wasnt a p38

  • @travishein
    @travishein 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I fell in love with this plane with the old "1942: video game.

  • @projectinlinesix
    @projectinlinesix 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    YES!! Thank you for covering my favorite WWII plane!!

  • @Hangar11RC
    @Hangar11RC ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow the cockpit view was exhilarating! I know very special 88 y/o WWII vet who is going to watch this repeatedly. Beautiful airplane. Inspires me to build one or something P-38-ish.

  • @pdn0018
    @pdn0018 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Why are you showing a plane (not a p38) flying around?

    • @kungfuwitcher7621
      @kungfuwitcher7621 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Agreed. It seems to be thing for this guys channel. You would think by now these mistakes wouldn’t happen.

  • @ih8temoney
    @ih8temoney 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I remember the arcade game 1943 battle of midway. Hours from my childhood spent shooting down zeros in a P-38.

  • @joshdobson2737
    @joshdobson2737 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm not ashamed......will always have a place in my heart because because of the cartoon "tail spin"

  • @chiplayton3469
    @chiplayton3469 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    He's not mentioned here but how about a Biographies episode on Kelly Johnson the found of Skunk Works.

  • @richardwaugh2049
    @richardwaugh2049 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellently researched, well presented

  • @stinker43
    @stinker43 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    My Uncle maintained P-38s in Italy in WWII. Boy did he have some stories!

  • @alfretwell428
    @alfretwell428 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Just a small point, you say this aircraft took 90% of photos taken over Europe. Whilst there were photo versions of this aircraft, the RAF bore the brunt of developing and carrying out photo reconnaissance in the European theatre. The aircraft used were dedicated versions of the spitfire and Mosquito, both types were also used by the USAAF!

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      But still the P38 took 90% of all aerial reconnaissance photos taken in the ETO, much more than all other aircraft combined.
      So it was actually the P38 and the USAAF that "bore the brunt" of taking aerial reconnaissance photos in the ETO.
      Given they took 90% of all the photos over Europe your "RAF bore the brunt" claim is just hollow talk.
      Go to a video about the RAF and regurgitate your claims there, maybe someone there will believe it, coming here and erroneously claiming that just makes you a petty jealous troll. Can't stand to see one of the other kids get credit for something without throwing a tizzy fit like a child in the playground in an attempt to ruin it for them can you?
      Facts are facts Al, if you can't handle them then just go pout in the corner.

    • @jacktattis
      @jacktattis ปีที่แล้ว

      It never but some believe it. It could be it took 90% of what the USAAF did and things got twisted

    • @philipyates-jw5wx
      @philipyates-jw5wx 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yes, I've seen this said about the P38 other places but always thought it sounds unlikely as the RAF never used them. Perhaps they took "90% of US PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE " in the European theatre?

  • @dewiz9596
    @dewiz9596 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Note to producers. . . Not every twin engined aircraft is a P-38. Sheesh. . . I’m sure there is some footage of P38s in action

  • @BoldAlligator
    @BoldAlligator 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    There’s a great story about Charles Lindbergh going to the pacific and addressing a concern about p38 pilots not having the effective range for long range escort. He was able to reduce the RPMs and basically doubled the range with no adverse effect on the aircraft itself

  • @31terikennedy
    @31terikennedy 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Dang! He wasn't snarky this time. Great success! :D

  • @pdxaviation
    @pdxaviation ปีที่แล้ว +1

    One of the most beautiful warbirds ever built. Definitely go see one flying at an air show if you can as I know there's a few around... They sound so beautiful.

  • @NickThomasVocals
    @NickThomasVocals 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Your videos help my anxiety greatly 🙏

  • @julielabrouste6344
    @julielabrouste6344 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The videos you shared prior to 0:31 of aircraft in flight were B-25 Mitchells, not P-38 Lightnings.

    • @julielabrouste6344
      @julielabrouste6344 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Wow. And at 0:57 lol 8:38 15:22 - 15:31 followed immediately by a P-38.

  • @avrolcaster
    @avrolcaster 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    A good side project idea would be the glacier girl p-38! Crazy cool story!

  • @deanfirnatine7814
    @deanfirnatine7814 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    "Lockheed fell hopelessly behind schedule" nice to know Lockheed has not changed.

  • @kfgelbart
    @kfgelbart 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    ... megaprojects: the Venus Project

  • @MikeOrkid
    @MikeOrkid 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Aesthetically, this was my favorite plane when I was a kid. It was more the the Fairchild C-82 similar to the cartoon Tailspin but basically similar design.

    • @kelvyquayo
      @kelvyquayo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      A man of culture ✊🏼

  • @mikewilliams1479
    @mikewilliams1479 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Why isn't this a mega project? Feels like one to me!

    • @xyzpdq1122
      @xyzpdq1122 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Completely arbitrary!

    • @cleverusername9369
      @cleverusername9369 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I don't think Simon even knows which videos belong to which channel at this point lol

    • @keithmoore5306
      @keithmoore5306 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      half on each channel don't match the scope so??

  • @couchfighter
    @couchfighter 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    The book is on the shelf behind me as I type this! What a great book! Im 46. I got the book from a buddy in 7th grade!

  • @ignitionfrn2223
    @ignitionfrn2223 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    1:30 - Chapter 1 - Development
    4:25 - Chapter 2 - Prototypes & testings
    6:25 - Chapter 3 - General characteristics
    7:20 - Chapter 4 - Weapons
    8:30 - Chapter 5 - Design flaws
    10:20 - Chapter 6 - Entry into the war
    12:35 - Chapter 7 - North africa
    14:15 - Chapter 8 - Western europe

  • @MM-kv8ly
    @MM-kv8ly ปีที่แล้ว

    The P-38 has always been my favorite WW2 aircraft.

  • @devzeppelin1911
    @devzeppelin1911 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    You need to do the A10

  • @jaybee9269
    @jaybee9269 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love that the P-38 has counter-rotating props…such a unique and beautiful design.

    • @jacktattis
      @jacktattis ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes it was a great idea

  • @pdn0018
    @pdn0018 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very very rare and only a few handful left flying today

  • @Robert-db3mz
    @Robert-db3mz 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Richard Bong is from my home state. There is an exalent museum in Superior Wisconsin that is dedicated to his life. The P-38 is my favorite plane. I have put together a lot of models of them over the years.

    • @johnfisher9532
      @johnfisher9532 ปีที่แล้ว

      The Bong Museum/Memorial also has a P-38 on display. Considering the planes age (1938) and service record (and "firsts") I feel that it was the best American fighter of WWll. One must also remember that many of it's early problems came from the fact that there was no prototype!

  • @pdn0018
    @pdn0018 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Love this plane

  • @JohnBruffett-tw4ul
    @JohnBruffett-tw4ul ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Happy Fourth of July from John Robert Bruffett Junior 🌧️🇺🇸🌧️🇺🇸🌧️🌧️🌧️

  • @dmk0210
    @dmk0210 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I read a comment from a WWII fighter pilot stating that almost all pilots in training wanted to fly the P-38, even after more modern aircraft such as the P-47 and P-51 became available. The Lightning was perceived to be a "hot ship" and just looked like nothing else in the air at the time. The fact that Dick Bong and Thomas McGuire flew them probably also had something to do with it.

    • @jacktattis
      @jacktattis หลายเดือนก่อน

      Poor people did they not have access to the Spitfire

  • @misterscaz6011
    @misterscaz6011 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    My dad was a kid during WW2 and the P-38 was his favorite plane. He said he used to Doddle it in school on his note book.

  • @zucods
    @zucods 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Dick Bong? REALLY? My inner 5yo is screaming! The P38 will always be the coolest plane from that period. Period.

  • @sandhilltucker
    @sandhilltucker 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I would love a video about the early British jet program. Resulted in two early aircraft that were remarkable. The Gloucester Meteor and the De Haviland Vampire (first single engine jet fighter).

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I like the Vampire, not only a cool name but possibly the coolest looking early jet in my eyes.

  • @BatCaveOz
    @BatCaveOz 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Fun Fact - In WW2 the Germans had a P38 pistol, and the USA additionally had a small can opener designated as the P38.

  • @pbr-streetgang
    @pbr-streetgang ปีที่แล้ว

    Such a unique and cool looking war bird.

  • @Trystyna
    @Trystyna 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I loved how twelve P38’s took off from the USS Hornet in the Pacific Ocean and travelled to Hamburg to bomb VW and Mitsubishi factories. 😁

  • @geraldjacobs7824
    @geraldjacobs7824 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cool video about a cool plane. Also, your shirt is an amazing color

  • @n3zyd
    @n3zyd 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thomas McGuire the US #2 ace also flew the P38. McGuire was awarded the medal of honor posthumously

  • @steveakers3322
    @steveakers3322 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Come to think of it "Operation Vengeance" the successful operation to shoot down Yamamoto would be worthy of a video too. The P-38 was the only allied aircraft capable of pulling off the thousand mile round trip. I remember my dad telling me about it when I was a kid. The Americans started doing long range patrols in the area in P-38s from the day after just as cover, so the Japanese did not suspect the Americans had broken the Japanese "Purple" code.

  • @TheExpatpom
    @TheExpatpom 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Lot of footage of B-25s have snuck into this one.

  • @beachboy0505
    @beachboy0505 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent sideproject
    Maybe megaproject
    But you forget the most important mission:
    The Japanese Supreme Military commander

  • @robswatosh1934
    @robswatosh1934 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    🇺🇲 Like most kids that saw this P38 hit the air. I had to have one of own. Just have look at her. The lines, the clean cuts
    and her tweens... Yes.
    I have a 1/32 scale moter of the P38. I had been working on her over 10yrs. I'm 62yrs old, made it this far... This thin, it's big, I mean, real Big. Really BIG!!! That's why I got her. The longer it takes me to get it done... The longer I get to live. So, take your time, you'll say when it's done.
    anyway...
    I'm going to Camo her in lite colors of green, brown and gray over tan. With black dots and blue ones for the light of sky past her. Just think about it... Oh'yah, same for onder side. Off white/grayisch base, with lite blue/gray-ish and med blue/gray. Cam out.
    Camo dark blue/gray blubes..
    Buy this model. from 1/72, 1/48 and mine, the 1/32s.
    She looks to fly. And Hell to all that she see. you bet your so.
    Made in Amarica baby...🇺🇲 Rob62...

  • @stinker43
    @stinker43 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Would have been interesting to hear about the P-38's downing of Yamamoto, and Lindbergh's input to increase the P-38's range.

  • @longboardfella5306
    @longboardfella5306 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    How about the deep submersible Trieste and Alvin vehicles? They always amazed me as a kid. In fact deep scuba rebreathing stuff is also worthy

    • @JimBob-vb8oz
      @JimBob-vb8oz 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Trieste has been done on one of his many channels.

    • @longboardfella5306
      @longboardfella5306 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JimBob-vb8oz oh wow. Thanks. Alvin then!

  • @Ninja_Geek
    @Ninja_Geek 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Can you do a video on the B-25 Mitchell and major general Billy Mitchell who it is named after?

  • @MTrefry2
    @MTrefry2 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Can you please do a video on the A-10 warthog? One of the coolest aircraft of the pseudo modern era.

  • @scottbot6545
    @scottbot6545 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hi, Simon. Great video as always. I have an idea for your next video either here or another channel. I just discovered a ship called the USS Johnston. It was a destroyer in WW2 that fought bravely and was sunk at the Battle of Samar in 1944. It's wreck was found this past March at a depth of over 21000 feet, the deepest wreck ever surveyed. The pics are astonishing as the wreck is incredibly well preserved. It would make a great topic and I personally would love some more info on it. Thanks!

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Wow, 21,000 feet is right around 4 miles down, that's just mind boggling.

  • @tirebywall6915
    @tirebywall6915 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yep, Love that plane!

  • @eaphantom9214
    @eaphantom9214 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Look attractive doesnt it Simon? I most certainly like it! what after yesterday's megaproject 2! 👍👍👏
    You're Learning to fly, this potentially could be your play thing when gaping at clouds! 😆😆

  • @stanmo4331
    @stanmo4331 ปีที่แล้ว

    One correction - the Army request was for a high-altitude bomber interceptor, not a fighter and certainly not intended to be long range even though this later allowed P-38's to escort bombers deep into Europe...

  • @cornellkirk8946
    @cornellkirk8946 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yo Simon! When you going to do a vid on the best lightning of all? The all British EE lightning! We’re both British but I feel hugely let down (by you) for not having a video of that truly amazing aircraft 😔
    I’ve never told anyone this but I cry myself to sleep at night, every night because you haven’t covered the EE lightning. I may be 35 years old but there’s only so much my heart can take and you sir, YOU! Have pushed it to its limits I hope your happy with yourself 💔😭😭

  • @johnkendall6962
    @johnkendall6962 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Actually changing the rotation of the propellers was to alleviate buffeting of the tail. Rotating them the other direction made the P-38 much more dangerous if you lost an engine on takeoff or suddenly while landing. If you lost an engine the plane wanted to spin with the dead engine going down.

  • @thomasmcroberts5145
    @thomasmcroberts5145 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I saw "glacier gal" (maybe girl, long time ago) the day they finished restoration and rolled her out on the ramp. Beautiful aircraft.

  • @dodoubleg2356
    @dodoubleg2356 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    If I were an 18yr old pilot goin off to fight WWII & they told me to pick 3 aircraft I'd like to fly, it'd be 1. P-38, 2. P-51, 3. F4U Corsair, in that order. Enjoyed the vid as always Simon. 😉👍👍✌️

  • @mho...
    @mho... 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    One of the best looking Airframes of the WW2 era, imho!

  • @williamthompson5504
    @williamthompson5504 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I had a customer named Pat that flew one of these in WW2. When he came in, it was story time. He was a great guy. The propellers look weird when they are recorded digitally. The old films look fine.

  • @MatthewNolan101
    @MatthewNolan101 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Not feelin the old planes!

  • @elliottprice6084
    @elliottprice6084 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My favourite American fighter of WWII. Dick Bong, I salute you

    • @stinker43
      @stinker43 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not much is ever said about Bong. Would like to hear more of him.

  • @richardwaugh2049
    @richardwaugh2049 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    You need to research what General Lindbergh did in the Pacific Theater before shooting down a Japanese plane and immediately being jerked back by Roosevelt. Lindbergh remapped the P38's engine protocols to get milage, without drop tanks, that no P 51 could get with them and he did the first mission with them after the changes were made