P-38 Lightning Dogfight | Battle of Bodenplatte | World War II | IL-2 Great Battles |

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Check out the Merch Store: growling-sidewinder.creator-spring.com/ Back with some more IL-2 Sturmovik can't get enough of the IL-2 World War II action lately really having a good time, the VR headset used in this video is the Oculus Rift S and keep in mind if you grab the IL-2 Battle Of Bodenplatte deluxe version you can get the p-38j in that pack otherwise is a collector plane. Thanks for watching guys and I hope you enjoyed the video.

[@hkguitar1984]

Fantastic and Thank You

[@brealistic3542]

In the Pacific many p38 pilots adjusted their power settings on the engines separately to turn much tighter when fighting zeros. Can you do this in game? 🤔

[@demonlordomegaacepilot7090]

So have disocvered il2 sturmovik? About damn time.

[@TremereTT]

Did the P-38 had a BF 109 paint scheme with the Yellow motor paint

[@tylermcdrummond1570]

I used to play IL-2 sturmovick 1944 back in the day kinda retro but dam if it wasn’t one of my favorite fighter simulator in the day all with a keyboard and a mouse 😂😂

[@melgillham462]

I was friends with a lightning pilot before he passed. He loved it. He said with those counter rotating props he could stand it on a knife edge and hold it with out stalling. His AO was the European theater. The greatest generation. 🙌🤝❤🇺🇸

[@zedgamingbeluga815]

How old are you becuse i dont see a young person being a p38 lightning pilots freind

[@melgillham462]

@@zedgamingbeluga815 I'm 59, I'm a military brat, between my father and brother serving, and my uncle. I've spent some time visiting VFW's and enjoying the friendship of veterans.

[@Coldfront15]

@@zedgamingbeluga815 Plenty could if they got the chance

[@bigblue6917]

The counter rotation was something the British suggested the USAAF us on the P-38. It countered the torque from the engines.

[@thefolder69]

@@bigblue6917 yes we know that's what it did, that's the whole point

[@FrozenMurican]

Its nice to fly American recently, 50 cal recently got a pretty big buff to damage thanks to new records and test documentation the il2 team just recently got their hands on, as well as several other calibers got rebalanced based on the new docs.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Good for them for making these changes, its nice to see 50cal get the respect it deserves.

[@nooneyouknowhere6148]

@@GrowlingSidewinder it should do some damage. It was originally supposed to be an anti-tank round.

[@connorbranscombe6819]

@@nooneyouknowhere6148 K Bullets for 7.92 mauser were also originally anti tank rounds, doesnt really mean a whole lot when it was designed for AT during WW1.

[@nooneyouknowhere6148]

@@connorbranscombe6819 yep

[@JAnx01]

Sekrit dokuments

[@bukhariali71]

So glad you are flying the IL2 series. Hopefully more people are influenced and join the community. Now for some 1v1 PVP.

[@callelofgren8086]

Is this vs players? I like watching these videos but I only play more casual flying games like WT.

[@tinkertailor7385]

A study in Boom and Zoom tactics and maintaining a high energy state..... And the moment you deviated from it was an instant reminder to anyone who wasn't understanding the lesson. Good flying.

[@jdjenk2816]

The p38 is actually really really good at turning as long as you make the flight slow and use the combat flap setting, the flaps are very effective

[@Void304]

The Lightning really was a fantastic combat aircraft once Lockheed solved it's compressibility and roll rate problems. It was fast, had good pilot visibility, the counter rotating props gave it excellent stability as a gun platform, it climbed like a rocket, and the sheer weight of fire from the nose armament meant it could smash just about anything that wandered into the gunsight. Kind of like the Tomcat, really. A bit of TLC was all that it needed to bring out it's full potential.

[@jackd1582]

More the tight grouping than sheer weight .. non convergence did mean More weight in a smaller area over a longer burst

[@vornamenachname989]

Well the downward visibility wasn't as good as with other aircrafts. That it wasn't used for its intended purpose didn't help either, since it had its issues when attempting to dogfight with 109s, so much so that it was considered the easiest air craft to shoot down by the Germans. It was definitely a really good aircraft in the Pacific theater though, where long range was needed to traverse the long ranges.

[@eclark1406]

P-38 Is my personal fave (I mean check my portrait) Good to see it in SIM, from my favorite virtual pilot. THANKS for giving it a test flight.

[@secretsquirrel6308]

I helped marshal P-38s at the gathering of Lightnings in 2016 at Chino, CA. Seven showed up. It was tremendous to see, hear, feel them both on the ground and in the air.

[@eclark1406]

@@secretsquirrel6308 Wow. What a great memory to have.

[@EvolutionBeyond]

I know the P-51 is iconic for a lot of people. But when I was growing up, my dad owned a twin engine cessna and we flew it all the time, so I immediately fell in love with the P-38J. Just something about 2 engines lol It's my favorite plane from WW2. Glad to see some footage!

[@glenn-g]

I love all of the WWII content! I found your channel when i was exploring DCS, stayed for all of the great content, keep up the great work man!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Thank you Glenn I appreciate you sticking around, Much Love.

[@djbiscuit1818]

Friggin' love the 38. First plane I've gotten more than one kill in a sortie with, and honestly it's fantastic at throwing down with a single opponent if you use the flaps. EDIT: And you'd be shocked at just how nicely this thing handles at low speed. Big lifty wing with fowler flaps, contra-rotating props, and *strong* rudders. Your ailerons lose effectiveness at low speed, but you can make up for this quite well with well-placed use of rudder. IMO, the only flaw is the lack of speed which makes it hard to disengage, which is why I like hanging out at angels 20+. More 38 please!!

[@floydnimrod1826]

The most beautiful combat aircraft ever to take to the skies. Would love to see more of this beast.

[@The_Original_Brad_Miller]

Airfield????? We don't need no Stinking airfield! 😂 Nice landing lol

[@cpfpv6410]

I’m sure your squadron mates were pretty happy to see you mowing the air strip for them there at the end. Lol. Growling sidewinder lawn care doing work!

[@antoniotabboterrorist5992]

" it's very tranquil up here, then you can come down and deliver death from above " lol, THERE IS ONLY ONE GS, awsome

[@DoNuT_1985]

From a German native speaker, you absolutely nailed "Bodenplatte". 👍

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

thank you brother, although it was luck lol

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

Next, try "Gabelschwanzteufel" :)

[@meanderingmarley3910]

@@CakePrincessCelestia That's excellent. Lovin' this WW2 stuff.

[@donaldtireman]

@@CakePrincessCelestia aka Fork Tail Devil

[@Inazuma68]

Stimmt 👌😂

[@peterruiz6117]

The late Jeff Ethel said of the P38, that it could out climb, turning, a 109 because jocking the throttles so that power is on the outside, and cut inboard ,the Lightning would "turn on it's axis", and nothing else could do this. A 109 would stall trying to stay with, and of course, the P38 would chase down anything diving, or stalling away. Made cense.

[@toknenengburjegol6430]

That's what those 38 pilots called, the Lightning Stomp. A near flat turn by advancing one and retarding the other engine. A little aileron and ruddering and bingo! You're on the firing envelope. And with its central mounted guns, it has a buzzsaw effect. Literally tearing to shreds its adversary. And the P-38L is the drag racer of all US fighters

[@CharlieThunder24]

I live in rural California, near a small river. This video (and your advice on the p38) reminds me of this one evening I was walking along the levee and watched a couple "squadrons" of dragonflies hunting a cloud of mosquitoes or gnats or something. The dragonflies had the same tactics as you showed in the P38. Cheers!

[@jeremyortiz2927]

Fellow pilots: Great job on that last kill! Maintenance: Damn. That's a lot of work.

[@omegasupremez2832]

The first plane I fell in love with as a little kid always remember the game 1943 on original Nintendo!

[@hippoace]

If you activate the p38 fowler flaps, you actually stand a good chance in a dogfight with 109s and 190s, especially if you need to do a reversal...

[@Mox3712]

I was about to comment this and I saw yours - P38 with flaps will out turn quite a lot!

[@KekusMagnus]

but then you're in a low energy state and any of their allies can come eat you alive

[@brandonstrife9738]

The only thing that limited early p38's in a dogfight was roll rate. Which got fixed. It also has a better rate than any german fighter.

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

@@KekusMagnus The P-38 would literally chew a 190 in a rate fight, but this ^^ You don't wanna become the easy prey for his buddies

[@brandonstrife9738]

@@-Zevin- Its easier to stall out a 190.

[@ShootBlueHelmets]

Great mission. I was on Jane's WW2 Fighters once, in a FW190. I tried to climb away from a P38, into the clouds. It nosed up and arced rounds over me and knocked out my engine, or so I thought. Silence. I look over (hat switch) and see my engine sailing off to the right. My canopy was jammed. Crap. I do a tail slide and put dull flaps and put gear down, trying to keep right side up. With the lower cloud layer, I couldn't see squat, but my airspeed was showing about 100 kph, as I rocked front to back due to CG change. As I nose down and see land coming up, I hear impact. Perfect luck, I am rolling down a hill! After I settle at the bottom, the P38 makes a staffing run at me, like you did with your buddy in the 109 G6, also not fatal. If I only had video capture back then!

[@kentwilliams4152]

I fly the P-38 in “Ace High” and one advantage is that the first notch of flaps can be dropped @250 MPH thereby allowing tighter turns. The second and third notches are likewise higher than other Allied or German fighters. The exceptions are the P-51 and P-47 which allow extending the first flap notch up to 400 MPH. One problem with the P-38 is its compressibility in a dive. The L model has some small deflectors under the wings that can be dropped by the Pilot to assist in recovery. In the Pacific P-38 pilots were told to not allow their aircraft to drop below 300 MPH.

[@MrOleDog]

Late J's had dive recovery (brakes). many were retro fitted in the field.

[@FalconsLedge]

The P-38 would be my first must buy module for DCS if it ever gets made. Love the VR stuff man.

[@robh4671]

I recently acquired the p38 in il2 and its now my favourite, its so awesome I'm doing a career with it and doing great. In 1983 I was in Canada(alberta) and stayed at the WMCA while transitioning back to the uk, at the desk was an old guy, after he realised we were british squaddies he mentioned during ww2 he was based in Britain with the 9th airforce flying P38s ,I wish I'd asked his name, he must be passed on now, bless his soul.

[@jonhimself77]

Working that wheel like a racing driver - love the P-38 !

[@matthewsmith4599]

Thanks for the frenquent uploads! Love the ww1 biplane dogfighting. Also the 2 morons series is great! Keep up the good work!

[@ikabody]

The P38 detail is impressive, even has counter rotating props in the correct, outwards direction.

[@keokigray4199]

I read once (in Martin Cayden’s book?) that the experts in the Pacific could jockey the throttles and turn the P-38 with Zeros. Fantastic airplane!

[@potbelliedslim7645]

"Improvise, Adapt, Overcome"... The best advice I ever got was "Just act like you've done it a thousand times..."

[@bartoszp.7798]

In situations similat to this fight finale I am always humming: "I dont share your greed, the only card I need is a Ace of Spades",

[@Igor914624]

I heard all about the P-38 from the man that taught me to fly. He flew them in the Pacific in WWII. Thanks for bringing to life a lot of what he told me about it.

[@edwardhanson3664]

One of my favorite posters. I always enjoy your videos.

[@TheLoxapac]

I love the P38... since i had a 1/72 scale model as a kid...Just the design , i think it is so elegant and original. One of my favorite planes all time.

[@opperbuil]

I found it very cool that you took the bird home in the end. It's very roleplay fitting for a real life pilot. It was my highlight for this video.

[@badplus0176]

I’m really liking these IL-2 videos. Thanks, GS!

[@jakey-poo401]

I saw P-38 and instantly like - THEN watched the video. Didn't disappoint! Also, for your first time landing an aircraft (and it being damaged) the Lightning is a great one for that scenario. She's a beauty to land, taxi... fly. Want this in DCS so bad.

[@Issi808]

I love the P38 so much! Thanks for this!

[@PQRavik]

Great that you could feel how roomy the cockpit was.. Also great that you could NOT feel how cold the cockpit was. One thing the P-38 was notorious for.

[@genuinsanity]

At the end after the landing you can see the counter rotating props as they wind down....that was done during the development of of the P-38...it significantly reduced vibration . Great detail by IL-2 .

[@FuriousCat47]

Hello, Great video. How do you do to spot enemy planes by using the markers? me without markers I can't do it, the image is not clear enough

[@MTMILITIAMAN7.62]

I am so excited for this! The P38 has always been my favorite WWII fighter!

[@pieterduplessis6632]

The P38 is actually very good at one or two turns with combat flaps down agains 109’s and even more so against the fw190’s

[@ghostrider1827]

So funny...I was just explaining to my son what the P-38 was because he had a small die-cast version of it. Cowinkydink

[@clarkdewar7122]

Van BC Cdn ...P38 one of none that can match,when operated knowing your machines true advantages...Kelly Johnson was a true genius...MacDon SchunkWorks...U2...SR71...have been up close and personal with all three aircraft... Abbotsford air show... Crazy fantastic.

[@joe7327]

If your in a late model p38, say a j25, it should be equipped with dive flaps. You can use them in a turning fight by quickly deploying them and retracting them and decrease your turning circle. Ww2 pilots called it a cloverleaf maneuver I believe. You can also Increase your roll rate by manipulating your engine throttles. Il2 is fun.

[@TexasGTO]

I wonder how many pilots were wounded enough to not be able to get out and just crash into the ground...

[@thedefenestrator5686]

The thing I like about the P-38 is the nose mounted guns, which are not subject to conversion like wing mounted weapons. While it's isn't an M61, it has the same type range flexibility and rewards good deflection shooting. A P-51 loses it's luster when the cone of conversion for your rounds is not the range to the target.

[@jacobrabon2745]

There’s something really satisfying about limping the plane home in this or DCS, great video!

[@claytonanderson9665]

Gotta love that high altitude magic that turbos provide.

[@marshallblanton3690]

The intro take off was just beautiful

[@kennyraiden9346]

Great graphics and the cockpit details just lured me in. This reminds me of the movie "Iron Eagle 3". The sky looks so real and the narrow canopy somehow sets off for that. I guess it would be cold as hell in the cockpit with that altitude but seems like a lot of fun.

[@Boslandschap1]

The P-38 is one of my favorite AC's. Very satisfying to fly, great sounding engines and when I don't fly it myself, they are very satisfying to shoot down (large size for aiming and so satisfying when they break up!) :D

[@vczs]

Only twin-engine aircraft I really like from ww2 era. If you utilize your flaps properly this thing turns surprisingly well for it's size.

[@andrewcharlton4053]

But then you're in a low energy state and their buddies can pick you off. It works for 1v1 but shouldn't be relied upon

[@vczs]

@@andrewcharlton4053 that's true for pretty much every aircraft. I'm just saying.

[@xdthegreat9973]

By this point, someone should give GS a real ww2 plane so he can fly.

[@tonyrun5802]

he could buy one theoretically, Tom Cruise owns a P-51 himself so

[@retardmoguss]

@@tonyrun5802 its fucking Tom Cruise lmao, maintainence ain't cheap u know..

[@RG1001]

For A P-51 it is about $1.5 Million - $2.5 Million for the airplane and about $1K - $6K a year in certified upkeep depending on how often you fly it. You can certainly buy them but they are not cheap. You can rent one from the Collings Foundation and get a certified 60 minute flight instruction for $3400. Edit: I meant this for another reply but still, If they are in your area check them out. You can also get a ride on a B-24 for $475 for 30 minutes.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

@@tonyrun5802 loooool ya dude I don't have Tom Cruise money....

[@goddtzu4008]

@@GrowlingSidewinder join army

[@micheal49]

@2:00 -- most of us would like to stay high.

[@timbaskett6299]

The P-38, and P-39s are a couple WWII aircraft I would love to build modern versions of. Updated aerodynamics, engines (turboprop, or turboshafts), modern materials, and fly by wire control systems. At least they would make amazing civilian aerobic planes.

[@MystoRobot]

Wow... last time I played in IL2, it was 1946 and its expansion packs. The fun I had... but they sure came a long way since then.

[@brandonsantacruz7218]

i enjoy how you explain the details when you are talking

[@pahtar7189]

It looks like the P-38 had excellent visibility as you were easily able to check your 6.

[@NZHardhouser]

Great content. As someone who is starting out in DCS, have you done or perhaps would you do a rundown of DCS vs IL2 ? Unable to invest in both, would it be possible to have your thoughts as to similarities and differences of the two ( and more if missed) of WWII sims please.

[@kennethburkman5712]

I had the privilege to meet a wwll vet around 2007. He flew p38s and then was transfered to p51s. He bought his p51, but they would not let buy the p38. He loved the p38 and wished he'd bought the it instead

[@nikbear]

The fork tailed devil indeed! 👹 one of my favourite aircraft, and you so did it justice, that was glorious to watch 👏 really hope to see more of you VR/WW2 flights, it really does come 'alive' and is very impressive to watch 👍

[@beavis0615]

Nice mowing the grass on landing. Think I’ll be investing in Il-2 soon.keep up the awesome videos.

[@hemihead001]

Ride the Lightening ! I love the P38 . My fav American Fighter .

[@markstott6689]

A perfect "Springfield" landing in a damaged crate. Nice one.

[@nathanielbailey108]

yeah dump flaps to 50% in a slower deck fight to successfully turn with a 109. combine with throttle management and liberal rudder use you can stay in the weeds with them. Just know that when you do this you become very vulnerable to what ever wingmen your target may have in the area. Only turn fight a lightning in a last ditch effort.

[@oscarzheng9902]

lightning vs mosquito dogfight? i would love to see that

[@AV8R_Liam]

My grandmas neighbor flew the P-38 during WW2. He told me it felt like angels were pushing him while he was flying it because it was able to accelerate so quickly back up to top speed.

[@casinodelonge]

I believe they are doing a "lawn mower upgrade" in early December where a bloke with a set of gang mowers cuts the grass on the airfield. A stunning collections of period authentic fully rendered tractors will be available.

[@g0rt664]

I enjoyed watching your video on the P38. My uncle flew one in the pacific part of the vampire squadron. I would have loved to have met him.

[@montanazh]

I love this soundtrack GS always plays in the background. Does someone know the title and artist?

[@GRP3_Reddyness]

Love the P-38. Just a beauty of a machine! Enjoyed the vid! 👍

[@ken-km7kk]

Guns on the nose certainly help. Great video. Thanks for posting. Just rebuilding my rig but hope to be flying again soon 👍

[@702BattleBorn]

Yo GS, Nice variety. Enjoying the VR content. Also you WW1 is fire. Keep up the great work. Have a pleasant day. Cheers

[@man_vs_life]

Really enjoying the IL2 content, both ww2 and Flying Circus.

[@SovereignKnight74]

I absolutely love the P-38. Great video!

[@Overkill06]

According to my flight instructor, who was a World War 2 Mustang driver told me that with the site in the 51 and the velocity of the round actually made it possible To kill the pilot thereby not needing to weigh his aircraft down with lead.

[@skippyfixit]

This is what I've been waiting for!

[@josephbishop3231]

Took out an ME262 on FVP with the back of my right wing in the P38. Was easy to land, but incredibly scary hunting the 262 with 3 or 4 P-38's and having that jet zoom into or out of the clouds or the sun. I really enjoy with that server is poppin'

[@donaldtireman]

Operation Bodenplatte was launched in concert with Operation Wacht am Rhein (aka Battle of the Bulge) to destroy as many Allied aircraft on the ground as possible and reduce our ground attack capability. Some 300+ Allied and German aircraft were lost on each side; the difference was that the Allies could replace their losses with impunity, whereas the Luftwaffe lost a great deal of its effectiveness as a fighting force due to losses of machines and, more critically, pilots.

[@Zues120]

My fav combat plane of all time, nice! First time I ever met this bird was 'Warbirds' an ancient sim

[@LogieT2K]

Loving the il2 stuff, its under appreciated sim in my humble opinion

[@thelespauldude3283]

The P38 is my absolute favorite airplane. I rarely fly anything else anymore. Its feels and flies perfectly

[@RainedOnParade]

Are you able to use stabilizing software on your vr stuff it is very jittery but still looks super cool and it’s immersive.

[@waltergreif4836]

there is nothing better than 4 50 caliber guns in the nose to do damage! glad to see you are flying WW2 a/c!!

[@member5488]

Charles Lindbergh shot down a Japanese dive bomber while piloting a P-38.

[@jamesm7624]

My uncle was a p-38 pilot with the famous Dynamite Gang in WWII

[@tsukemono1]

After watching that landing I thought to myself , "I would love to use the P-38 to mow the weeds in my fields."

[@chairmankaga101]

My dad had a college professor at University of Arkansas who was a P38 pilot in the war and got busted down for flying under the golden gate bridge after returning home from the Pacific front...

[@dannycolwell8028]

The 38 cockpit looks jarringly modern compared to other planes, i find that very interesting

[@stanmo4331]

Also having the weapons in the nose without convergence probably makes you effective to greater range than most fighters so you can stand off and shoot. awesome for new pilots I would assume.

[@jambutty2218]

Loving your channel. Might have to get this myself.

[@vidar7106]

It appears they actually improved the .50cal effectiveness. There was a time you could “give’em the whole 9 yards” in IL-2 and get nothing for it.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Ya someone commented they gave the 50s a buff recently. It’s a good move on their part.

[@vidar7106]

My squadron largely gave up on BOX several months ago. We've heard of the update, but havnt made the effort to go back yet.

[@CasmoTV]

Love the P-38. In VR it’s a beast cause gunnery is so much easier.

[@Jr-uh2so]

Hahaha, I think we need to clip your Kill Chuckle (7:01) ... it's hilariously diabolical! Cracks me up every time. Also, just took delivery of my Russian ta get ya and Tornado Warning shirts, Love them!!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Thanks James I really appreciate you supporting the channel and picking those up, much love.

[@Jr-uh2so]

@@GrowlingSidewinder My pleasure man, your content is fantastic and I know you put a lot of time in. A small way for me to show my appreciation AND get some dope gear to show off!

[@hammerstein5012]

my dad told me that if you survived your first ten missions in the p38, you survived the war. never verified that though. Anyone else hear that?

[@21owlgirl72]

DCS is a good modern dogfight sim, but its WW2 aspect is solely lacking. Il-2 has always been a master at WW2+ and doesnt cost a fortune (somewhat)

[@aapje]

Il-2 has great sales.

[@tonyennis1787]

4:20 I think Chuck Yeager said it took about six .50 cal hits to down a fighter.

[@linklemming1040]

I would love a description of how you setup VR as it seemed so easy for you to check 6 with the VR headset. I can in no way do that in DCS and only fly helis in DCS because of this. I do have IL-2 and have flown it with VR and would like to know how you set this up

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

I use a swivel chair lol

[@kentwilliams4152]

The BIG advantage with the P-38 is the nose mounted MG’s and cannon. No convergence as with the wing mounted guns.