Evening star., 1943-06-06
Battle Tests Refute
Critics Of Effective
P-38 Lightnings
Moneuverobi|ity, Fighting
Ronge and Speed Prove
Nemesis Of Germans
BY DANIEL DEUCE,

BY DANIEL DEUCE,
Associated Press War Correspondent.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA.-The weird mys-
terry plane that six months ago was
branded by rumor as a flying coffin
and the biggest flop of American
aviation has become the queen of
fighter aircraft on the Southern
European front.
1t is the P-38 Lightning, whose
twin fuselages make it look like
something that dropped in from a
far-off planet.
Before the P-3S was battle tested,
undercover critics said it would
f1utter to pieces in dive, that it
would kill its pilot if he had to bail
out, that its gunnery was poor and its
maneuverability almost nil.
So, 1t. Gen. Carl Spaatz brought
the P-38 to the Mediterranean
war-and it cleaned up.
Versatile Fighter.
The two main points about the
P-38-which the Germans and 1tal-
ians learned with dismay-are ver-
satility and its long-range fighting
prowess.
Because of its range, previously
believed impossible for fighters, AL
lied generals can revise their views
of which European points are feas-
ible for invasion.
In combat, the P-39s average ap-
proximately twice as many victories
as losses. It is admitted that they
are not twice as formidable as the
Messerschmitt 109s and the Focke-
Wulf 1905 which they vanQulshed,
of course. The smart tactics OF
highly trained American pilots and
superior numbers also have some
thing to do with it.
But the P-38's versatility makes 1t
not only a Jack. but master, Of
many flying trades. 1t protects
bombers on long round trips. It is
q. fierce strafing weapon. AS a
bomber it is incredibly accurate, and
has achieved notable successes
against difficult ship targets.
Can Outmaneuver Germans.
The Lightning pilots say the three
heavy machine guns ard one can
non, firing straight ahead instead
of in a convtyging cone. make them
more certain Of hitting fast-moving
targets.
They say they can 0utmaneuver
the best German fighters at medium
attitudes and hold their own in the
substratosphere.
They say the Lightning is fast
enough so they don't have to worry
about being outspeeded and it still
flies when badly shot Up. Many Of
them have come home on one engine,
Once, Pilot Bill Hoelle Of San Mateo,
Calf, hit a telephone pole with a
wing, few upside down for 10
minutes, but landed safely.
The only thing the pilots really
complain about is the small cockpit.
A medium sized man must leave
some of MS heavier flying toys he
hind. If the cockpit heater becomes
tempera.nental above 10000 feet, the
flyer would gladly exchange his
cockpit for an icy igloo.
Tail Not Fatal.
Morale among the Lightning pilots
is tops. The old bugaboo that the
tUin-hnned tail would cut them tc
pieces If they had to bail out was
banished long ago. Scores have
parachuted safely.
And there is no record of any P-3e
in Africa t1uttering to pieces in a
dive.
Typical of pilot spirit is the case
of 1t. Thomas Ace White Of Kelso
Wash, who won the DFC, Air Media.
and six Oak Leaf Clusters. In 6
crash landing his plane nosed over
and he was hung up in the burning
wreckage. He finally shot hole il
the windshield with his pistol ano
clambered out before fainting from,
neck injury. Invalided home, he
turned to a friend as he prepared
to leave and said:
It's tough to miss'the final show.
Leading Ace Bags 10.
The leading American ace in NORTH
Africa is Maj, Levi R. Chase of Cort.
land. N. Y, who bagged 10 Germans
with the old P40 squadrons. Their
come two Lightning pilots, Secone
1t William J. Sloan of Richmond
Va. and First 1t. Meldrum L. Scar
of Paris. Ill, with seven each.
This correspondent has persona
reason for liking the Lightnings
Around the front lines I could never
learn to tell Spitfres, WarhaWks
Messerschmitts and Focke Wulf!
apart, and so spent considerable
time and energy taking over. Blu
the P-36 never fooled me- I coult
recognize the strange Warbirds in
stantly. and it was a pleasure t
stand upright watching them 60 t.
work on the sweating enemy.
Don't lose hope til you've tried
Star Want Ad." Ma. 5000.