Battle Stations: P38 Lockheed Lightning (War History Documentary)

Battle Stations: P38 Lockheed Lightning (War History Documentary)
Archive film, colour re-enactments and unique interviews with former pilots tell the story of the P-38 fighter - the aircraft which ruled the skies over the South Pacific during World War Two thanks to its ability to fly at 400mph while carrying a devastating bomb load and firing from four on-board machine guns and a 20mm cannon.

[@dougball328]

To all those who have been mentioned in the comments that served in WWII, we all thank you for your service and sacrifice.

[@SomeReefer]

My grandfather was a p-38 pilot and trainer. He trained many pilots before they allowed him to fly in the European theater. He told me many awesome stories about flying the hell out of his p-38s. He told me about how he had lost an engine several times and always made it back safe. One of my fondest stories was about a convoy he had strafed. He was unaware that the trucks were carrying artillery shells and when he hit the trucks shrapnel took out his left engine and a shell wrapped around the leading edge of the wing and had to make a steep climb just missing the peak of a Ridgeline. In all he went through I believe 3 p-38s over his time in Europe. He was an ace with over 20 confirmed plane kills, flew over I cant remember exactly how many missions. Way more than the average. He also had the honor of escorting the president with his p-38 once. His name was Major Hugh Miller Watson of the us army air corp. At his funeral I had the pleasure of meeting a few of his friends who were also p-38 pilots. One flew in the Pacific and had some wild stories and the other flew in the European theater with my grandfather. I am honored to have met and known such great men.

[@fatboyrowing]

These great men are nearly all gone…. we need to never forget what they did. Thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story here.

[@scottferguson5067]

Be sure you pass these stories on, write them down, god bless your grandpa.

[@voornaam3191]

My parents were born in your European theatre. It was not comedy. Are you sure you need that horrible word? Why do you write things like this? It is painful, to be put down as "theatre families". The Tommies and the Jerries came playing in OUR theatre. Do you laugh at such jokes?

[@fatboyrowing]

@@voornaam3191 The word “theater“ in this situation means “area” or “region” it is not a disrespectful term. Typically when an American talks about World War II, there are two distinct theaters (areas): the European theater and the Pacific theater. My father served in the United States Navy. He was assigned to the Pacific theater (area) near the end of World War II

[@fauxbro1983]

@@voornaam3191 calm your panties

[@russembree7504]

My grandfather was part of the 475th, 432nd Clover Fighter Squadron stationed in New Guinea. I loved the stories he had shared, including commandeering the commanding officers plane for a test ride! Before he passed, we took him to Chino Planes of Fame museum and turns out this is where he took his basic training. Glacier Girl was not yet completed but he did get to see it. My grandmother just passed this year at 102 and just before she had donated his flight jacket and a few other things to the museum. What an amazing plane this was.

[@icewaterslim7260]

Your grandad escorted my dad's bomb group and Squadron on parafrg missions mostly against Japanese Army airfeilds. Definitely a crack fighter group loaded with talent and several Aces. P 38s out of New Guinea also played a big part in bleeding the Imperial Japanese Navy of the bulk of it's better trained veteran land based pilots out of Rabaul. So all those Hellcat pilots at the Marianas Turkey Shoot have in large part P38 Groups out of New Guinea like the 475th to thank for their Turkeys..

[@fuzziemorris886]

Awesome! All of this is spectacularly Awesome!

[@j.pershing2197]

Be careful about the museums. Much what ive donated to came up missing. 1 time i heard the director for one museum i donated to got arrested for selling the artifacts.

[@jerseyfresh4861]

567555555555484755556666 by by ft ft ft by ft TY TY ft ft be free ft ft 6 y 5

[@iggy9955]

Awesome story and 102y is wonder because stres and many other thing in war.

[@tracerxy]

I'm 60 years old and the P38 was and is my favorite plane since childhood. Good vid.

[@kirk4086]

I'm 64 now, got 3 shirts, 7 models...saw only one...touched it...unreal...just looking at that plane says it all...

[@billallen4793]

Check out the tiny cree cree experimental/ultralight....from Wyoming USA 🔫🤠🇺🇸p.s stay safe

[@butlerproman]

I'm surprised Hoa Tattis hasn't come to piss all over this comment as he seems to have made it his personal mission to ensure that nobody favors a plane over the Mosquito, particularly if they favor any US plane. What a sad and bitter person.

[@paulmercier629]

My Godfather-Uncle was a USAAF Aircraft Machinist. Arriving in Melbourne in 1942 he migrated via Darwin, Port Moresby to Leyte in 1944. Working successively on P-38's, 39's, 40's and 51's, he favored the P-38. After WWII he careered with GE Missiles & Armaments developing the Vulcans and Mini-guns, etc. finalizing as their R&D Tool Shop Supervisor. Merci pour vos efforts, cher Oncle Rolland! Requiescat In Pace.

[@onkcuf]

I'm an old machinist myself. I have respect for aerial machinests. Their shit has Got to be A-1 signed off. Someone's life depended on each piece.

[@nestordejesus8507]

Is that the plane that we call double- body in the phillipines

[@mr.hanger]

My grandad owned a P38 and flew for parades and such. He was too young to have fought in WW2. The aircraft has been retired for many years and sits in a museum in Oklahoma City. While he was living, he would swear that the lightning was the finest bird ever built. I believe whatever Grandad said!

[@tommythompsonsurfer]

SIEMEFI!!!

[@elkabong6429]

My cousin, Maj. Milton Joel, flew the P-38 and commanded a squadron (55FG, 38th FS) in England during the war. He was, sadly, shot down on the way back from a mission, over northern Germany in 1943. His remains were never found. A contemporary of my dad’s (whom he used to call “Little Buddy” as my dad was about seven or eight years his junior), cousin Milton was the only child of my great Aunt Minnie and Uncle Joe. R.I.P. to them all.

[@jharris0341]

Respect to your cousin.

[@kerry_glock]

As a kid, I built a lot of models. Airplanes were my favorite and the P-38 was one of the top of my list. Ahead of the P-38 were two that my dad flew in: SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber and PBY Catalina. He was a radioman and gunner. On June 6, 1944, (D-Day) at age 19, he was in Jacksonville Florida on a training exercise. The pilot had made a bomb run and was going up to rejoin the formation. Suddenly the engine knocked out and the pilot began looking for an emergency landing area. Upon hitting the runway, the plane split into two pieces between he and the pilot. Both had to be cut out of the plane. Both were hospitalized and while my dad was recovering two Officers stopped to see him. They asked if he would fly again. He advised them: “I will if you can put me in something that has more than one engine.” They transferred him to PBYs and he served in Coastal Patrols doing air/sea rescues and searching for submarines and other enemy ships.

[@elkabong6429]

@@kerry_glock All respect to your dad! The PBY is one of my favorite aircraft, ever. It just has a beautiful way about it. They put up with a lot of abuse and were created in numerous types to fulfill different missions.

[@wapiti3750]

If he had been more skilled, and luckier, he might have survived. It is more about luck than skill in chaotic combat. Your cousin's courage as a part of "The Greatest Generation" is much appreciated by those of us who enjoy freedom in America today.

[@elkabong6429]

@@wapiti3750 Thanks for your kind words, but he was pretty skilled. A major in the USAAF and the head of his wing, plus he was an instructor on the P-38 prior to his going to the European Theater. According to the testimony from the other pilots on the same mission, he was being pursued by multiple German fighters. His luck is what gave out, it seems.

[@kenneththrasher9241]

My dad was with the 39th Fighter Squardron and spent 38 months in the Pacific, New Guinea and The Philippines. He loved this plane.

[@kenneththrasher9241]

@Lew Rodd Tut tut now. At least both planes were pointed against the same enemy. Cheers!

[@c.fyffe0]

Did he have anything specific on his plane? I love the p38

[@mikebunner3498]

This video shows us the greatest generation and shows why they are called that!!!!. So brave!

[@Old940]

I'm 82 now and my first boss flew a P38 and that inspired me to join the USAF. Retired 1978.

[@gregthornton4209]

My Dad was a crew chief in the 475th!! 431st squadron- "Satan's Angels" MSGT Joe B. Thornton USAF (deceased) My hero forever!!

[@saulgoode1218]

Thank you for the sacrifice of you and your family brother. The soldier doesn’t serve alone, the family serves with them. Sincerely... thank you.

[@saifulalam739]

@@saulgoode1218 to the office

[@obsidianblackhorse5589]

I knew WWII ace Richard Lee West of Chillicothe, Missouri. He flew 173 missions against the Japanese, mostly in P-38s. Contacted enemy planes on eight of those occasions and was credited with confirmed aerial victories every time. Was the only pilot from any country in any war to score confirmed kills on his first eight encounters with enemy planes. Downed two big Japanese aces, one was Goro Furugori on the 3rd of November 1944.

[@danielwilburn1148]

These guys were heroes.

[@rafaellopez2765]

Wow, inpressive.... P38 wasn't an easy fighter to fly. But once good pilots learned, they became tigers...

[@stevedodder2786]

My father was a P38 Photo Recon pilot over Germany in WWII. He rarely talked about his experiences so I value this information

[@deantait8326]

My uncle flew a P-38 but not sure if it was Europe or Asia. I knew him well but didn’t know about his flying until he was way older.

[@bbayerit]

As you should, Steve. I believe that the P-38 was responsible for more photo recon missions, thus more photos, than any other platform in WWII. Your Dad, as well as all our Dads who served in WWII are all heroes.

[@SSSS-tv2cr]

Slides to bureau

[@user-qy9tf2im7f]

My Father a B24 Navigator was the same. He talked about some humorous experiences in Cadet School & Training, but when it came to Missions, except the ONE he was shot down on. He was pretty much mum about the rest.

[@stephensu4371]

i like P38 as aeroplane as it has 2 engine with counter rotation

[@randysherwood6866]

My father was a draftsman for Lockheed aircraft company during WWII and he told me the wiring diagram for the P-38 was stored in the tail section with his name on it. He also said that he was friends with all the test pilots when it was the XP-38(before final certification) I used to build plastic models of the"Lightning" and dream of being a pilot someday. I love this video!

[@arthas640]

this is one of those times where being born earlier would have been better. back then a major air force needed thousands of fighter pilots but nowadays a major air force needs a couple hundred at most, making it almost impossible to become a pilot since they have so few openings. I know skilled people who've spent years in the air force trying to become pilots of any kind only to get turned down at every opportunity since they dont need more. My grandpa even completed all the needed classes/courses to get certified as a helicopter pilot only for them to let him fly one mission transporting stuff between 2 close bases in the US and then ground him so he could work as an instructor for pilots instead (without doing any flying himself).

[@johnosman8971]

Dang Arthas, that is a terrible waste of human involvement, … I know that today’s fighter pilots must be highly educated, to even be considered for those schools, … but, that is where I believe the US is making a strategic error, … more good pilots, mean a necessary reinforcement of resources, should our nation, once again finds itself at any battlefront, anywhere on the planet, … the -roper thing to do is to not only teach these youths to fly, but to make sure that they are skilled enough to endure any mass waves of enemy troops, or other pilots that our enemy may produce, … the Russians tactics of WW2, should have taught our Pentagon a few quite valuable lessons, … and there are several nations, that, with overwhelming mass amounts of troops, our enemies could force us into suing for peace, rather than being wiped out to the man, … which would sorely, disappoint those who have served before me, … we need to be able to put enough boots on the ground, in the air, & at sea, in order to make any threat to nation, our Allies, a negative no go, for any enemy or associated attacks, a disposable constant, … use ‘em, & lose ‘em, just make sure that we could withstand an all out attack of 3 million, (or more), … souls engaged against us, all at once, … sure we have competitive weapons, but putting it to the test, as an Army, Navy, or Air Force, demands that our boots are trained in combat technique, strategy, & supplies, … going into combat with your pants around your ankles, will be our undoing, not strengthening our position in the world of today, …

[@mikeg1433]

@@arthas640The USAF alone has over 20,000 pilots and have been short by about 2000 for the last several years. The U.S military is obviously much bigger than most and the need for pilots relative to population was much higher during WW2 for obvious reasons but I’d say there’s still a need for more than a few hundred pilots in most militaries. That said, I do agree that there are a lot of completely unnecessary barriers to the field and it’s ridiculous to deny potentially talented pilots simply because they don’t have college degrees in some unrelated field. The 4 years wasted getting an arbitrary and unrelated education certificate could be used developing actual experience and building better pilots. The private corporate industry has finally realized that college degrees aren’t what they’re cracked up to be and prefer actual experience in the majority of fields where it isn’t a necessary pre-requisite like certain specialized medical and science fields. I’ve worked in IT my entire career (20 years so far) and I can say for sure that the best systems/network engineers are those with experience and formal college degrees don’t give you that. My bro is a warrant officer black hawk pilot and now an airline pilot and the same goes for his experience. I think we’ll see the USAF and Navy implementing high school to flight school programs soon or we’ll just continue to be short pilots.

[@willyboyw.5771]

Richard Bong Museum in Superior, Wi has an awesone restoration of a P-38. Seeing the scale of one in person is worth the trip.

[@kjgrimstrup2495]

My dad used to docent there. He built p38s for lockheed

[@riverrat130]

I live in Superior Wi and have to say it is a real treat to be close to Richard's P-38. I was delivered by a Dr. who not only flew the P-51D during the war but also owned one. My Dad would take my to watch hem fly his 51.The good Dr would make it a point to do us a personal fly over. I have and still do have a love for both of those Fighters. Lucky to be close to a very special P-38

[@williamherndon5065]

Thank you for telling their story. I enjoyed hearing from the service men that served. I'm so glad for them that their sacrifice was blessed with "Victory" and rewarded with returning home to family & friends. I'm a veteran. When someone says "Thank you for your service!" I have "Stood The Watch". The courage and sacrifice of my brother & sister; Encourage me to also be brave and courageous and protect our country. Our America freedom depends solely upon all of us. Wm. Herndon, USNRET

[@boycanezaljr.canezal6518]

0

[@vela07]

What a fantastic documentary with excellent footage. Our grandfather Maj Warren Lewis appeared in this doc. It really warmed my heart to see him here. I remember when he told me how he would fly straight up until the zero would stall out

[@AENeuman26]

Wonderful and informative video. My uncle was a waist gunner on B-17s with the 8th AAF during WWII. His younger brother served on a light cruiser in the Pacific. Neither would ever discuss the war. I had the utmost admiration & respect for both.

[@andydefillippo4415]

My dad was in the 4th wave on D Day, also never spoke of the war.

[@SSSS-tv2cr]

Even old moon beers work

[@stevemccart9109]

The lightning and the mosquito have always been may favorite w.w.2 aircraft since i was a kid. Still both my favorite films and stories to both watch and hear about.

[@MrDennisLB]

I was a E.E. for Lockheed, Burbank, in the late 70's. Had an opportunity to explore the assembly line area for the P38. You could almost feel the presents of those dedicated women and men that assembled those aircraft during WW2. Their souls are still there and happy to get visitors.

[@michaelmoon6675]

Thank you very much

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

My Grandmother and Aunt worked for Lockheed in the Valley, I have a P-38 pin and a skunk, SR71 and a bunch of others that my Grandma had been given at work. I found 2 lightning crashes in Palmdale, before the L model, one was just a couple months old, the stainless parts look like new and a big lead surface counterweight. I learned to Fly at Van Nuys, now I live in Washington, the pilot of one of the planes was from Seattle and took off from Van Nuys to the target range near Adlanto (sp), will full armament he never pulled out of the dive. The newspaper article from the time was off a couple miles on where it crashed, I was lucky, someone up there told me where to find it, even some 30 cal with blue paint on the bullet.

[@SkunkWorks2001]

@@steveanacorteswa3979 Where is the crash site located? I retired after a forty year career at Lockheed.

[@ericunderwood8080]

MrDennissLB . Thank you for sharing that. That's something I could easily key in on...I felt that! .. Pop worked at North American before the war , he was an Island Hopper Amphibious WWII. Told me at Subic Bay they were unloading on a beach head and two Zeros straffed em killed a Soldier next to my Dad and one of the Zeros continued over the bay and the ships all opened up on him knocking it out the second zero broke off away from the bay and was headed out to sea and Dad thought to himself. That sonuvabitch is gonna get away pondering that and here come 2 P38s Dad said they were sitting up there like vultures and took turns flaming the zero. He would talk with his hands while telling the story! My Aunt Mary was a Rosy the Riveter in the Oakland ship yard; , Eric Underwood class of 81 Downey High school California

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

@@SkunkWorks2001 search Norman L Frodenberg P-38 it wasn't exactly where the highway patrol listed it, had to drive around on some un paved roads, intuition kind of lead me to it

[@joemaricich1733]

As a young boy growing up in Anacortes, WA, I recall seeing flights of P38s flying out of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. Later in life after graduating from college, I spent my summer weekends back at in Anacortes and learned to sail with some friends on their Scandinavian Folkboat. A couple months later I bought a Folkboat named Puff Puff Maru from Charles MacDonald who had the boat built in Sweden where he had been stationed as an Air Attache before he retired from the Air Force. Very interesting guy!

[@raynic1173]

Cool, I once owned a sailboat that belonged to one of the members of the rock band Bad Company.

[@williamcole464]

Thank God for Kelly Johnson, and Charles Lindberg. Their combined contributions were a Huge benefit to our Military, and all their success was greatly enhanced by the contributions of these two men. They are all great Heroes of WW2. God bless them all.

[@thomashenebry8269]

The same Lindbergh who insisted that we couldn't beat the Nazis and maybe we should surrender to the Nazis. He was more traitorous than Hanoi Jane.

[@MarkVickers-xq9si]

I was only born 1958 , but Kelly and Lockheed were Still legends as I grew up , and even today .

[@saxx001]

In WW2 just outside my village in England they were stationed in USAF Kingscliffe, a station were Glen Miller gave his last concert, we remember these of the greatest generation with a monument in the shape of P38 the stars and stripes have flow every day since they left at the end of the war.

[@philsgt]

Great documentary! Thank you WW II pilots of the magnificent P-38 fighter aircraft, thank you!

[@hugbug4408]

P38 was darn good in europe too!

[@kennethbond5959]

@@hugbug4408 hgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggfdfffffffđfffwwweeeeeewyy4h4yh44 hgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggfdfffffffđfffwwweeeeeewyy4h4yh44h4 b554h54yyhăutjjuryt

[@TheCountofToulouse]

Kelly Johnson, legend. P38 and SR71, two amazing machines!!

[@mfrsmphjd52]

But one amazing man!

[@allangibson2408]

You missed quite a few... Electra,P-80,Constellation,U-2,Neptune,C-130 & F-104 for example...

[@TheCountofToulouse]

@Hoa Tattis PUH-LEASE.

[@allangibson2408]

@Hoa Tattis I didn’t say using a high altitude interceptor as a fighter bomber was a good idea. About a third of the crashes were due to engine failure as well compared to about a quarter of the aircraft of the same era. The German pilots and maintainers made more training based errors as well compared to the US pilots and crew. About 40% the German crashes were due to engine failure and another 10% due to flight control failure. The F-84 had a higher crash rate in German service than the F-104 (36.2% vs 31.8%).

[@garlicbreathandfarts]

I can watch vids about this plane forever. It is a masterpiece.

[@geraldedgar9888]

Short shrift given to Maj. Richard Bong who was THE best P-38 pilot and all-time Ace of Aces! Not part of the 475th may explain why the hosts/producers largely missed him. My Dad was jus 2 weeks shy of 3 full yrs as an Ordinance officer for 38's and he & all his fellow 38 support said Bong was #1 - by far!!! His record of 40 will NEVER be broken.

[@jaybong6008]

There is a bridge joining Duluth, MN to Superior, WI dedicated to the 142nd fighter squadron plus a museum dedicated to Richard Ira Bong. My mother's brother. The P-38 was a very graceful bird. I got to see one fly (Bill Ross owner) at the Richard Ira Bong bridge dedication. Awesome!

[@MarcusRefusius]

My friend Bob Jones (RIP) was a P-38 Ace. Great guy. Raised Race Horses later in life. Wonderful man.

[@jackoneil3933]

Great story. One of the Air Force instructors I checked Lindbergh out in the B-29. He said Lindbergh always made 'Greasers' (extremely smooth landings) and was greasing the B29 every-time. Ralph said that in the B-29, he used to retract the flaps slightly as student pilots started flare which caused the B29 to balloon and often resulted in the pilot doing a wheelbarrow on the nose gear, and on their final landing he did just that, but Lindbergh picked up on it an instantly recovered and still made a greaser with a big glib smile.

[@williamfeilhauer]

Kelly Johnstone, was a gift from God, thank God he was on our side. From the p38 to the sr71 . He was one engineering marvel may he r. I. P.

[@bankshot3122]

Wow, Reading all of these comments about these aircraft is amazing. I didn't think there was this many experts on WW2 aircraft still alive.

[@TheDustysix]

Back in 1980 MCAS Cherry Point we had an old F-6F-5 Night Fighter Grumman Hellcat in our hanger. Our A-6E's dwarfed the thing. Once a month or so we'd push it outside and Top Mormile would start the beast. Wow, our flight line hadn't heard a recip in decades I'd bet.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

They were recorded years ago, the interviews are not recent.

[@jerome1194]

Repects to these old pilots.They faced more fear than us free civilians will ever dream of in our worst nightmares.They held strong so we can be free to choose our lives today,instead of what some foreign empire would choose for us.Makes you want to stay vigilant to preserve what THEY sacrificed for us.Thanks!!!

[@sheddy22]

especially the eary US Torpedo bombers, most of them knew they were probably going to die and that theres a rare chance that the torpedo would detonate

[@willb3698]

Brit here: The 'Mosquito' was an amazing plane - but I doubt anyone with a modicum of knowledge would ever think the P38 is anything else but a truly exceptional aircraft. I may be wrong, but I understood that the P38 was extremely fast and rugged. Rugged enough to cope with tons of pacific salt been thrown at it - daily. So Whilst 'The Mossie' is, of course, genetically ingrained in me - the p38 remains unstoppable in my imagination. What an excellent and positive example of tip top American engineering.

[@barrierodliffe4155]

The P 38 was exceptional, it had exceptionally bad aerodynamics, poor unreliable engines, and was completely out classed by any single engine fighter. The Mosquito was a bomber, able to take a similar bomb load as the B 17, a fighter bomber, strike fighter, night fighter, photo reconnaissance plane and so much more, the P 38 was meant to be a fighter. Lockheed spent many months trying to sort out the bad aerodynamics and they wanted to change to Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

[@dogman1117]

Both aircraft performed exceptionally. They were designed and built for different roles and missions, but the adaptability of both aircraft, led to the expansion of the roles that they played. And play it they did.

[@paulsung808]

Anything gold can stay EP52

[@barrierodliffe4155]

The Mosquito was designed as a bomber, it was used as a night fighter, bomber, fighter bomber, strike fighter photo reconnaissance and much more. The P 38 was used for photo reconnaissance but replaced by the Mosquito and Spitfire in that role, the P 38 was used as a fighter but not very good in that role, the Spitfire was the main fighter in Europe. The P 38 was used as a night fighter but was not good for that, they did stick some bombs on the P 38 but it was slow and not good for that either.

[@alexstephens3765]

A Mosquito could climb almost vertically on one engine - wheras the P38 could not. Anecdote from someone who has seen it done.

[@ronwade5646]

14:54 A hemi demi semi quaver is an 1/8th note or about a half a heartbeat. If you use the old German system a quaver is a double whole note or 8 beats. The modern system considers a quarter note to be a quaver so it can be considered a 1/64th note which is one rebound of a snare players drum stick.

[@groberjager4746]

also, Lindbergh shot down five Japanese planes, more likely six but that one was never confirmed, not just the one mentioned in this video. He was the only US civilian ace of the war, a truly remarkable feat. It was his training in fuel management that enabled the interception of Admiral Yamamato. Just do not see enough credit given to Mr. Lindbergh so this video is amazing for that part alone. Thank you!!!!!

[@mikeholland1031]

@@frankcraig3734 Lindbergh showed them that they could get far more range out of them by leaning out the fuel mixture. Popular thinking then was that too lean of a mixture would burn out engine prematurely.

[@dougball328]

@@frankcraig3734 Excess fuel in the cylinders acted as a coolant.

[@keldon1137]

@@mikeholland1031 the thing is its a myth, 'Lindbergh settings' were already in manuals, even fkn Britons knew it and used it.

[@mikeholland1031]

@@keldon1137 maybe propaganda. I dunno. Like the myth of the brits showing the yanks how to land a corsair on a carrier which is not true.

[@edmajden6943]

Saw a privately owned P38 land at the Regina Saskatchewan airport years ago! Owned by some Oil Company tycoons! Three guys climbed out of it, one couldn't, see out! They unscrewed a drop tank and removed their suit cases! As a young kid I was very impressed seeing one in Regina! During the War the airport was part of the British Commonwealth Air Training plan! After the War ended they put on a fantastic air show! Even an Avro Lancaster bomber was on display!

[@twizz420]

Down here in Hamilton, we have one of the only 2 air-worthy Lancasters remaining on earth. Love watching it fly overhead during the summer. One is loud enough, I cant even imagine what 100 would sound like.

[@richardpatterson3778]

Pianyy ofll

[@richardginn6007]

Bong Jovi I

[@manontherails4937]

My neighbor's father was also a Flight Instructor and P-38 Pilot. He told me once that he flew the P-38 out of Palm Springs. He also flew many planes including the B-17, B-24, B29, etc. He would sit around telling me and his son so many stories including flying the 'Hump'. Dirt runways at DumDum and when when it rained...

[@Combat556]

Great documentary on the P38. I had a great uncle who flew P38’s, and sadly, crashed and died on a non combat flight. Always loved this airplane as a kid, and, still do.

[@charlescutillo2593]

Anyone who flew a fighter plane was a very brave man. No matter what kind they all were very dangerous.

[@glenangel3636]

True but the bomber groups had even higher casualty rates.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@glenangel3636 I would not want to be on a B-17 with FW-190s buzzing around in the daytime and radar-equipped Bf-110s at night.

[@barrierodliffe4155]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver B 17's didn't fly at night

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@barrierodliffe4155 I guess that means FW-190s didn't shoot them down in the day

[@barrierodliffe4155]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver Fw 190's did shoot down Bf 17''s which couldn't survive without a fighter escort.

[@hankreager244]

My dad was Army Air Force, he flew 50 combat missions in a P-38 while stationed in North Africa.

[@elainedougthy343]

Eng one wine priest em

[@Purvis-dw4qf]

Your father was a true hero, thanks for his service.

[@hankreager244]

@@Purvis-dw4qf Thank you my friend, God Bless you.

[@morrisdennis]

No he didn't

[@jacobglaser7773]

Old school History Channel! Nice!

[@thomaskirkpatrick4031]

That's amazing, Mr. Lindbergh doubled the range of an already great airplane.

[@user-fz6vs4de9m]

awesome series for years. Thanks for resurrecting it.

[@AusNav09]

We keep our sovereignty because of the brave allies and Commonwealth forces, who saved Australia and New Zealand from the Japanese imperial offensive. May we never forget the sacrifices they made, and keep that sacred for all time. Thank you to all those who fought and died against the horrible enemy.

[@Desertrat87]

I hadn't realized just how much damage the P-38 did in the Pacific. I realize after seeing this documentary that despite the Zero's legendary reputation, when you combine what the Zero's ended up facing between the Army's P-38s, and then the Navy's new fighters, the F6F Hellcats, the Zeros were really at a major disadvantage for the latter half of the war.

[@recoil53]

Most of the damage to the Japanese Navy air crews in the early war was done by anti-aircraft fire and F4F Wildcats. By the end of the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands the Japanese Navy had lost 55% of their air crews from Pearl Harbor. Experience means a lot - the Japanese aviators in that attack had an average of 800 hours of combat experience.

[@Desertrat87]

@@recoil53 Right, that's a big factor as well, the experience. The lack of experienced aircrews as the war went on lead to the Marianas Turkey Shoot, a battle in which the Japanese lost about 300 planes in a single battle for very few American losses.

[@maxoutyoutlife5261]

Right in the money, the zero was the best fighter in the pacific at the beginning of the war, but US aircraft were developed to quickly outgun and outfly it. By 1944 the zero and Japanese air crews could not effectively fight the incoming Allies. What really did in the zero was the lack of self sealing tanks. A few hits would catch a zero on fire instantly. Even famous Japanese ace Saburo Sakai noted this, marveling at one time when he shot up a Grumman: “despite pumping all my ammo into the Grumman, it kept flying! A zero would have turned into a ball of fire long ago!” Despite this, even torward the end of the war, experienced Japanese pilots were dangerous. The second leading P38 ace Major McGuire is mentioned in this video and was KIA when his flight took on two experienced Japanese pilots, with his second element lead also killed. Look up the Ki-84 and shiden Kai, late model Japanese fighters that could compete with the very best US planes. But they arrived too late and too few to effect the battlefield.

[@Desertrat87]

@@maxoutyoutlife5261 One thing is for sure, the best Japanese pilots (and the best German pilots) were probably orders of magnitude better than our pilots. But as the war dragged on, the Axis lost more and more of their experienced pilots and were only able to replace them with really green pilots with minimal training. The US was able to maintain an average experience level among its pilots that was much higher than the Axis in the later stages of the war. This is the phenomenon that lead to the Marianas Turkey Shoot where the Japanese lost 300 planes to the Amercans' ten or so. I read that one of the reasons for this is the difference in philosophy between the Axis and Allies. The Axis tended to leave their best pilots forward deployed all the time. This allowed certain individual pilots to rack up enormous kill numbers. However, the Americans tended to have their best pilots do rotations back home where they would help train the next group of pilots. This allowed the new Allied pilots to get better overall training, and to be up to date on the latest tactics as soon as they were deployed. So there were no Allied pilots that got even close to the kill numbers some of the Axis aces had, but as I said, the overall training and experience level averaged out in the Allies' favor by the end of the war.

[@mr.zzyzzx6136]

P 38 squadrons would fly “through” Zero squadrons and used their straight firing nose cannons to devastating effect. It was all about tactics.

[@paulprovenzano3755]

My dad was Sixth Infantry and had scant patience for my devotion to building WWII warships….. except for Fletcher-class destroyers. But when I hung a P38 Lightning from my bedroom ceiling, he expressed genuine admiration ….. both for the warbird and for the men that flew her.

[@Mtlmshr]

One of the all time best aircraft in the world I wish we still had thousands of them! I saw a picture from the pacific of a literal pile of those planes stacked in a huge hole where they ended up after a huge storm hit the base that they were stationed at, it practically brought tears to my eyes to see all those brand new aircraft destroyed there in a pile!

[@ralebeau]

My father was in the air force in New Guinea. The early P-38's had engines (and props) turning in the same direction. At high revs, the planes tended to spin due to the torque. Half of the engines had to be rebuilt so they turned in opposite directions.

[@joserizal1158]

Army Air Corps

[@RonGreeneComedian]

I would have enjoyed talking with, listening to, your daddy! It’s young boys like he who suddenly came of age. They’re sacrifices made it possible for some of our generation to, sadly, remain children, I heard one say, “Think about it! There I was, 20 years old, sitting on a 2000 horse power engine. What could be more fun?” Think about his statement for a minute. That’s the same as we 70 year old boys saying, “50 years ago, I owned a _______ with a _____ horse power engine.” The difference was that nobody was shooting at us! God bless them all!

[@carrickrichards2457]

The mosquito had the same problem

[@45CaliberCure]

@@RonGreeneComedian Worked with a man who went by the name of Smitty, who, contrary to what I'd heard about the typical Vietnam experience, enjoyed his time as a helicopter gunner during the Tet Offensive. He had a peculiar habit of pouring peanuts into his bottle of Coke each afternoon as a snack. He thought it was strange that I'd never seen or heard of that before. Apparently, it's a southern thing. Anyway, God Bless you, as well. We all could use it in these strange times.

[@RonGreeneComedian]

@@45CaliberCure I’ve not thought about the peanuts in Coke in decades. What memories your comment brought back. Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta. Even today, the word “Coke” is synonymous with soft drinks. When I walk into a fast food restaurant in order something, the person what I asked me what do I want to drink. I’ll say “Coke.” If it is not a Coke restaurant, they always ask “will Pepsi be OK.” As a kid of about eight or 10 years old, I heard the word “pop” used referring to a soft drink. I laughed so hard I fell off the sofa. Mom explained, “That’s what Yankees call Cokes.” If a person is wearing a Pepsi T-shirt and attempt to visit the Worlds of Coke building in Atlanta, they offer you one of their shirts. Shower years ago, niece secretary of the president of Coca-Cola gained access to the secret formula. She offered to sell it to Pepsi for a ridiculously low price of $25,000 or something along those lines. The good folks at Pepsi did not want any part of it and turned her into law enforcement. Obviously, we can look at their good deed in one of two ways. Perhaps they were “straight up and honest.” However, had they accepted it, they would’ve been guilty of receiving stolen property and some very valuable property indeed! The secret formula to Coca-Cola is probably one of the 10 to 20 most guarded secrets in the world.

[@coreyandnathanielchartier3749]

I got to see one fly at an airshow in Missouri some decades ago. I looked it over really good. Talking to the 'crew chief', I found out the new radiators they had built for it cost more than my new car. Beautiful plane flying high-speed passes at low altitude.

[@williampomplun6750]

My uncle Albert Pomplun flew P38 LIGHTENING numbers 106 &107 in New Guinea. He wrote many of letters to my Dad when my Dad was a kid. Lil'Richard was his nose art after my Dad. The nose art was a little devil in a leather helmet.

[@steveverville9809]

I grew up near where maj. Dick Bong was born. He was america's ace of aces. They use to have his p-38 in a park. I just remember how awesome I thought that aircraft was. The fork tailed devil

[@schmenkspeedtyping218]

Dick Bong?

[@kjgrimstrup2495]

It’s in a museum in Superior Wisconsin now

[@steveverville9809]

@@kjgrimstrup2495 yes it's in Superior Wisconsin now.

[@ericb.4358]

My favorite fighter plane of WW II. And for the Pacific theater's long distances it was perfect. This plane has FIREPOWER!

[@brucefriedrichsen3092]

By chance, I built a model of the P-38. So interesting to hear and see its (archived) history! Thanks, also, for the comments *pertaining to the P-38*!

[@Veneno2911]

I built an rc p38

[@Pete_952]

It was my favorite model as a child. A very special plane.

[@jimpullman-sr2525]

I am honored to have met and known Joe Moser. He and I served on a Veterans Memorial design Board. I still have 10 copies of his book, A Fighter Pilot in Buchenwald, that he autographed. I've been selling them and donating the net proceeds to our local American Legion. Our city named a street after Joe when he passed. Another Great American Hero.

[@Jordy120]

The comments are just as fascinating as this documentary. Cheers.

[@kf4293]

They kinda glossed over a critical detail in the Yamamoto raid; his air cover did a pretty good job, and his bomber made a run for it. He might have made the airfield (and their protective fire) except for a key thing about the Lightening; that centerline firepower. The guy who downed his plane had to take a long shot, but was able to make it. I remember reading about it in a book when I was a teen.

[@dawhike]

20mm cannon was very lethal at that time.

[@brhooker838]

My grandfather flew P38 in pacific in ww2. Went on several missions knowing would not make it back due to fuel. Crash landed on a beach in the Phillipines where the natives took care of them. Grandmother said she pulled shrapnel out of him till the day he died. I miss him dearly.

[@imichael2411]

❤❤❤❤‍🩹❤❤

[@sandylukemarsden7160]

A good man, your granddad......

[@wideawaketotruth5301]

Thank God for courageous men. May your grandfather forever rest in eternal peace.

[@robertdickson2319]

Flying around in unarmed aircraft but "Nobody ever considered we were doing anything brave..." says the old guy, rueful smile. pure respect.

[@16rumpole]

the term badass is just not adequate to describe these guys

[@guysmalley]

@Lew Rodd well you had the luxury of the US supply you with what you need, bottomline you would be speaking German if we didn’t enter the war

[@somerandombaldguy5296]

@Lew Rodd We have read history books, thanks, unlike those of you who used them for coloring activities. Germany had no access to any nuclear weapons, nor did their rockets have the reach to attack the US, and there was insufficient manpower to occupy a nation of 138 million (in 1944) when their entire army only measured 12 million. They also didn't have the industrial capability to match the US or the USSR, who was also much closer and occupying a great deal of the Wehrmacht's attention. And it wasn't a matter of "had Germany beaten Britain." It was a matter of "when." Stop talking about history books and read them.

[@billfront2153]

@Lew Rodd both times the USA kicked your butts, 1700's and 1800's or did you forget about that?

[@thomasdebnam1042]

@@guysmalley was

[@cecilhorsley2409]

As a child in the early 50's I remember seeing the p-38 planes flew over head landing and taking off from Lockbourne air force base. I always marveled at how well the plane could maneuver.

[@gregfisher]

My mom was a real "Rosie the Riveter." She worked at Lockheed in Burbank, CA during WW2 on the P38 project. She was a real looker in those days....and, when movie star Dana Andrews came to Lockheed to make a government film about the war effort, he took one look at her and requested the execs that she be his guide and assistant. They spent four days together on project. She would still be giddy about that experience into her 90's.

[@lenpey]

I used to know a USAAF vet pilot. He said the Lighting was a very difficult plane to fly. Also tricky and risky to bail out of.

[@erichonecker1010]

I love the P-38, my favorite plane of WW2. It was one of the best too. My grandpa flew them in the Pacific.

[@Docjonel]

I met a fellow who was a crew chief for P-38's in the Pacific a few years ago. I asked him how he liked it compared to other fighter planes and he replied, "Twice the work." I hadn't expected that! 😁

[@JTA1961]

American enginTWOaty

[@kenneth9874]

Twice the cost too

[@wanyelewis9667]

Funny. Typical response from someone from that generation. So much common sense.

[@josephbingham1255]

My mother strung cables through the P-38 at Burbank Lockheed. I never thought to ask if they were steel or electrical cable bundles. She said my father who was in the Navy had a friend who is yet still below decks on the U.S.S. Arizona. I see an "H" in the upper corner. This must be when the History Channel was known for genuine military history.

[@davidvincent8929]

#WOWInfo

[@josephbingham1255]

@@davidvincent8929 She routed "cables." I don't know if it was steel or electrical bundle cables.

[@claytonwhitman2611]

@@josephbingham1255 Just my guess would be the aircraft control cables, as there would be very little wiring to "string", except for navigation lights. (The majority of wiring would be in the the cockpit area, and the engine nacelles.) And they would not be large enough to be called cables, so that leaves the steel control cables. Again, just my thoughts on that.

[@nestorconcepcion3126]

Yb 7 4

[@roberttallitsch6186]

My father flew B24s that bombed Wewak and Rabaul repeatedly. He swore that he never would have made it home if it hadn't been for the P38 fighter escorts.

[@donaldwyeth6306]

A son of a lose family friend, flew P -38 photo recon during WW2 in Europe . Plane was devoid of all excess weight including guns to enable more fuel/speed I was told. Name of pilot was Gordon Von Tempsky, born and raised In Kula,Maui. Gordon died some time Ago on Maui.

[@donaldwyeth6306]

Close family friend

[@stephendoyle4316]

X

[@Ch0pj0b]

My dad wanted to fly P38's. He flew a Liberator. He was too young by the time he was ready to deploy to Europe. That part of the war was over. I remember being about 9 or 10 and building both model planes. Even though he loved building the Liberator, He was in awe of the P38.

[@mrwogamump7520]

its cool that he flew in a b24 liberator

[@donaldhiscox7431]

As a lad in my teens I remember the p38 over england what a beautiful plane

[@macmclean1175]

I've always been fascinated by uh the multirole, multipurpose P38.Totally unique!! Sounds łike the beginning of the skunk works. Who knew? Oncr they got it right with the counter rotating props, super charging and awesome armament, they had the right machine at the right time. The P38 and the skilled pilots truly turned the tide of the war. They are not called 'The Grèàtèst Generation' for nò reason!! Heroes all they are!! Best wishes from this old soldier@!

[@rogerdavies6226]

The reason that Lindberg was not reinstated was he had visited Nazi Germany in the years before the attack on France and Great Britain and this pissed Roosevelt off. In the long run it was actually a blessing because he had the opportunity to investigate the P-38 fuel issue. He been reinstated he most likely would have never gotten the chance to look into the issue

[@mikilynne4558]

As a kid growing up in the 50s, WWII was a huge focus. Early on, I fell in love with the P-38. I got an "A" on my book report about Dick Bong. At air shows at March AFB, they always got a big cheer. I also thought the B-24 Liberator was a WAY better bomber than the B-17, which just had a catchier name. Hard to argue with "Flying Fortress" as a nickname.

[@jaydenarcher3674]

i guess Im randomly asking but does anyone know of a way to get back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my account password. I would appreciate any help you can give me

[@brunoricky7966]

@Jayden Archer instablaster :)

[@jaydenarcher3674]

@Bruno Ricky I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im in the hacking process atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@jaydenarcher3674]

@Bruno Ricky it worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thanks so much you saved my ass!

[@brunoricky7966]

@Jayden Archer no problem =)

[@mikebare6051]

There's a very good old book call "Bill, a Pilot's Story", by Brooklyn Harris (copyrighted 1997). It chronicles the P38 in the Pacific from Guadalcanal to the Philippines.

[@Christoffski]

P38 ruled the Pacific, but If we're talking Europe I want me the Mossie every day. The P38 was an excellent day fighter when able to fly without many of the restrictions the Mosquito excelled in. Two fantastic aircraft at the end of the day.

[@branon6565]

Christoffski ...P51 Mustang was a better all-around aircraft than the Mosquito was....

[@ironmantooltime]

@@branon6565 don't be ridiculous

[@mikeholland1031]

@@branon6565 hardly the same type of plane.

[@davidrivero7943]

Only here I get to see a naked P38 & what a beauty. So used to its Wardbird Colors, the sleek lines are so much more pronounced.

[@dtmjax5612]

Great video. One of my favorite aircraft. I never knew the Lindberg story for some reason. Very interesting.

[@RikoJAmado]

I love the design. It's also the only model kit I have ever tried to build.

[@chris7brook]

Excellent my father is an awesome model builder I grew up with him building insanely excellent authentic models of planes and boats and HO trains all that 🤠

[@zeldafs]

Thanks for posting this. My grandfather is Glen Jeakle. Love seeing this making the rounds.

[@dashobie]

I am hooked on WW2 History,love it.

[@billdanosky]

35:30 If I had to name one person who contributed more to the war in the Pacific, I can honestly say it was John Browning. No, Charles Lindbergh. No, John Browning... A civilian. Yeah. John Browning."

[@PBcoverlet]

My father flew one in Europe in WWII. He was so proud of this plane.

[@davegeisler7802]

Overated , only good in the tropics of the Pacific and at low altitude. It got its ass handed to it in Europe by the Luftwaffe.

[@montewylie4025]

I built a p38 airplane as a kid. It had 2 mcoy 35 engine's. It was cable controlled. It was so fast that nobody could fly back to back with you.

[@mastodonxrp5314]

Advantages of the P-38 were: Speed, firepower with both .50 cals and a 20mm, extreme long range, and group tactics. Speed is life, you can never bring enough guns to a fight, long combat radius, and fighting as 1 unit.

[@carolrichey4051]

Charles ward

[@davegeisler7802]

The P38 was a failure in Europe. The Luftwaffe were liking there chops , the P38 were easy kills ( Adolf Galland ) . Sorry facts are facts.

[@Roberta_Esposito]

@@davegeisler7802 I guess That is why they called it the fork tailed devil

[@wanyelewis9667]

​@@davegeisler7802 but that was early....before the Americans really understood tactics. And the improvements to the systems that were later realized in the PTO hadn't happened yet. If they had, it would have been a very different story in the ETO.

[@badcornflakes6374]

​@@davegeisler7802 That's factually wrong, people like Robin Olds proved that. Flew P38 Lightning and F4 Phantom in Vietnam. He said himself the P38 was more maneuverable than the Messerschmitt, and he took out quite a few! I'll take his word over yours any day, any year, any minute, any hour.

[@walterstokes3495]

Well no offense but i was just commenting on the way that the documentary showed how the p38 took care of business after the right modifications was made to the aircraft but i see that from now on i have to be specific in what i say its not a big deal to me im just proud to have served in the u.s.army and as a veteran i like watching historical documentary films like this one

[@cagrgulsoy5645]

You are lucky people

[@josephbeatty4421]

Can I buy a punctuation for $5,000?

[@bryanfernandez1083]

thanks for the video, and to the WW11 veterans

[@rogerdavies6226]

amen

[@nickdanger3802]

Export P38's "The model 322 for the RAF was produced parallel with the AAF P-38E's. The first production Lightning 1 as it was designated, flying in December 1941. The first 143 aircraft of the British contract were model 322-61's dubbed 'castrated P-38's ' by the factory had the turbochargers and opposite rotating airscrews removed, and two of the early V-1710-C15 (R) engines rated at 1,040 h.p. at 15,000 feet, the "R" indicating right hand rotation. For some unexplained reason, the British Air Purchasing Commission had requested these modifications despite predictions by Lockheed engineers that performance would be inferior to the standard model. Two model 332-61's were tested at Boscombe Down in April-June 1942 but performance was so disappointing that the aircraft were returned, and the remainder of the order cancelled." Aerofiles Lightning I/II exports page Has ! Not secure warning

[@ericbrammer2245]

I'd like to see more of Jacob's rescue.. Seems like a story within a storyline!

[@carsongeorge8199]

My grandpa flew a p38 lightning in the air corps in both theaters of war. He was shot down twice and kept a pow by the Germans and the Japanese. He died in Southern California in the 1990’s in a supposed suicide. He died the day my mom was going to tell him she was pregnant with me. What a hero. His father was famous film director Henry King. Wish I could have met you Grandpa.

[@shadowfire246]

I've always felt sad about Yamamoto dying. Absolutely brilliant man who didnt want war with America but was a patriot at heart and did his job as a soldier. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened had he survived.

[@susanmaggiora4800]

Jacob Adams Same. I always felt that he was put in a no win situation by his country.

[@jayg1438]

What a unique and terrific twin engine design

[@danielsotelo3942]

I grew up in LA (Highland Park) and worked at a large Schwinn bicycle shop FOXIES owned by Mr. Bob Fox. During WWII in Burbank Calif., he was in charge of all the control cables in the P-38. He still had his P-38 cable tools in two large green wrinkle painted toolboxes in the shop. One evening he told me how Richard Bong came over to their factory in Burbank towards the end of the war, and everyone shut down their workstations to go out on the runway to see Richard Bong test fly a P-80 jet. Just as he took off at the end of the runway the P-80 flamed out and crashed into a cemetery just at the other side of the road at the end of the runway. Bob teared up, when he told me he never had a chance, and died in a fire ball in front of everyone at the factory. During the war Richard Bong and his wife Marge used to visit the factory to shake hands and talk with all the workers to keep up work moral. Bob got to shake his hand a few times with Bong and said he was a very nice man. Mr, Fox passed away in the mid 1990s, and was one of the greats of WWII.

[@evannielsen9013]

as a kid I built a model of this plane and thought this was the coolest plane i ever seen.

[@guyfieri8345]

It was... and is.

[@vincegedeon6583]

I remember building this as a model when I was a boy such a unique machine😍

[@louisengelbrecht4067]

@ aqaaaaaaaaaaaaaaqaqqqaaaaaaaaaqqaqaqqaaaàaaaaaàaaaaaaap

[@TheRealTburt]

The P-38, A-10, U-2. My three favorite planes.

[@yojimbo187187]

P-38, SR-71, and F-14C. Oh, and nothing is as majestic as a Catalina...

[@ihater3tards]

loved this plane as a kid...Had many little models of it...Plus the Spitfire...

[@retireorbust]

Legendary plane. Supposedly one very tough plane to bring down.

[@kildaver]

Capcom's 1942 got me into looking up information on this aircraft.

[@davidvincent8929]

#WOWInfo

[@mr.zzyzzx6136]

German aces all said that the P 38 was easy to shoot down because they could get inside it’s turn radius. Tactics were changed in the Pacific for that reason and the P 38 excelled because it refused to engage in dog fights with a Japanese zero. Mind over airplane.

[@richardrogerson2383]

I love hearing first hand accounts. They give straight up accounts period. No propaganda. My grandfather served in WWII aboard the USS Bassett APD 73. I once told him when I was five years old "I wish I could be involved in a war". His reply was, "son never ever wish for a war."

[@rogerwilco4257]

I wish someone would do a film project of the story of William Sells. Apparently he took on a entire task force by himself while doing a maintenance run. The story is called 100-1.

[@rojoknight]

Story time. I hired a older gentleman in the late seventies who worked part time. Why I'll never understand he told me once that he wanted to work for the phone company because his mother did. He had a doctorate degree and was retired. Worked also part time as a college professor. Had a home high on the hill in San Pedro California worth big bucks. Found this out from his wife. He flew a P38 during WW2 and was shot down and a became prisoner of war. I confronted him one day about him being a prisoner of war and he jokingly smiled and told me this story. He was in Europe during WW2 and belong to a fighter squadron of P38 who escorted bombers to bomb sites in Germany. So the story goes on. He was on one of these missions and almost to the drop site when he noticed he was having problems with one of his engines. Told the squad leader he had to drop out and attempt to get back to the base. He was released and turned around flying back to the airfield. The P38 was losing power and he was afraid he wouldn't make it up over the mountains but he had to try. Suddenly he looked to his rear and notice a single aircraft behind him. His heart skipped a beat when he saw it was a German fighter. He knew he couldn't engage and flew straight ahead waiting for the worse. The German knew he had problems and was leveling off to put him down. A short burst from his guns and Al's good engine was put out of commission. He knew this was the end. Suddenly the German pulled along side him and looked over and saluted him. Followed him all the way down as he landed in a large field. Passed over him a couple times and dipped his wings and off he went. He knew he was in enemy territory and waited for the worst. A group of civilians soon arrived and helped him out of the plane. He suffered some shrapnel wounds and couldn't walk. He ended up in a German military infirmary. That night to his surprise a officer appeared in his room carrying a bottle of champagne and two glasses. He spoke perfect English. Al found out during the conversation that this was the pilot of the German aircraft who shot him down. He could not believe how he was treated by the civilians and the military personnel. He said from that day on he started treating people like he wanted to be treated. I believed him because he never lost the smile on his face.

[@tylernettles9567]

wow

[@scottjoseph9578]

He had reached a point of good insight.

[@chrisperrien7055]

Honor in war/between enemies, it is so nice to see , even better to feel

[@meganrhoden5386]

That's such a cool story! Thank you for sharing.

[@nonyabiz9487]

I had a friend that was a P-38 Ace during the Pacific War WW2. He always wore his old crusty Army Air Corps leather squadron jacket with a long white hanky around his neck. He would get drunk and jump into his Piper Cub and take off in the neighborhood doing acrobatics. Amazing pilot! Dude was awesome and a legened! I knew a lot of aces including some Tusgegee guys. All of them I could tell were a cut above the rest of everyone else.

[@chipsawdust5816]

I don't recall the P-38 being called the best of WWII. In the Pacific, having two engines was a great thing over miles and miles of water. It was fast. But there were other planes that were excellent in their theaters.

[@fimmywa]

It is though, the best of WW2. Easily if you compare combat specs. Spoken as someone whose favourite is the plane my grandfather flew, the hurricane.