P38 LIGHTNING CRASH LANDS RAF BOLT HEAD DEVON 1943 .

This short film details the aircraft of the United States Army Airforce flying the P38 Lightning and the Supermarine Spitfire during 1943 and 1944.
The film begins with a P38 of the 14th Photographic Unit crash landing at RAF Bolt Head Devon in September 1943. The aircraft was repaired but did not leave until the 20th October 1943 and then returned to its base at RAF Mount Farm in Oxfordshire.
We also can listen to narration from Lieutenant John Blythe recorded in 2005 talking about his experience flying the P38 Lightning and the Supermarine Spitfire on dangerous reconnaissance missions over wartime Berlin.
With thanks to The Planes of Fame Museum and DAvenport 3-2614 • SPITFIRE 944
• P38 LIGHTNING CRASH ...

[@ianbell5611]

Great video. Interesting hearing from the pilots and seeing the footage and still photos. Cheers

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many thanks Ian. All the best Chris.

[@kevchilton908]

Wow! Some amazing footage and the voice recordings added to the real drama of it all. They were all heroes, Chris, and it's great that you bring them back to life as you do so we can remember them and have a better idea of what they did! 👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad you enjoyed it Kevin and appreciate you taking a look. Chris.

[@hangie65]

Thanks you for the interesting film. The original footage of the F4/F5s and PRXI spitfires is simply superb. As are the interviews with the reconnaissance pilots who flew those ardous missions.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad you enjoyed it yes that was Lieutenant Colonel John Blyth speaking in the film. Chris. Please subscribe. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@derekdee9592]

Interesting to get an American view of the Pru Spitfire 👍

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thank you Derek. Chris.

[@johndavey72]

Good evening Chris. A very interesting and revealing documentry but you mention at 6. 52 the operational range was 350 miles !!!! ???? What IS interesting is the range and speed of the Mosquito easily exceeded that of the P38 in European skies. Those turbo superchargers were far more suited to the pacific climates. Thanks Chris.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks I reckon that is with standard fuel tanks, with added under wing drop tanks that would be extended. Chris.

[@Hawaiian80882]

Excellent Post! Keep up the awesome work!...

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many thanks do please have a subscribe to my channel. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@jackthebassman1]

Brilliant video and post Chris. Many thanks for all your hard work.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad you enjoyed it Jack and many thanks for your kind comments. Chris.

[@stefanschutz5166]

Thank you from Amsterdam. Great video.

[@fosterkennel649]

Thank you chris. What a beautiful plane. My father's cousin Besby flew his P38 on the Yamamoto shoot down in the South Pacific..Blessings

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many thanks Foster. Chris.

[@gary6300]

Hi buddy a very interesting video about the pru spitfires thank you for sharing i have subscribed to your channel. Cheers Gary 🇬🇧

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Appreciate your thoughtful feedback Gary, many thanks. Chris.

[@ratride1]

Interesting video. I was nice to see films from the war that I have never seen before. My neighbors friend few PR Lightings during the war. As mentioned all the armament was removed reducing weight. When you add the cameras and extra fuel tanks how much was the total weight savings? If you look at the one PR Spitfire you can see the windscreen was not standard. It lacked the armored glass in the front.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Ratride I guess they were after greater range with the added fuel tanks and flew fast and high to avoid trouble. Please have a subscribe. Cheers Chris.

[@stuartlynn-q8q]

Another great video Chris , thanks

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many thanks Stuart, really appreciate your kind feedback. Chris.

[@m.brizzy5407]

Thanks again for posting very interesting content.I am surprised that the P38 Lightning was put out of service after WWII. Very radical design in comparison with other planes of that era.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad it was of interest, you may like to check out my facebook 'gull perch' I recently posted an article about the Mustang Twin. Please have a subscribe. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@arnhemseptember2009]

That was VERY interesting!

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Glad you enjoyed it, hopefully you may consider subscribing. Chris.

[@arnhemseptember2009]

I already did, Chris, and do enjoy your great video's for quite some time now! @@GULLPERCHFLYER

[@watchfordpilot]

Thanks Chris, another enjoyable and informative watch. As you know, I always enjoy my trips to Bolt Head and your historical overview helps keep the memories of that historic place alive, cheers!

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Watchford pilot appreciate your feedback. Chris.

[@maxpayne2574]

There must have been some modifications made to the Spitfire to get that range.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Very true Max, John Blythe describes the additional fuel tanks added to the Spitfire in the film. Please subscribe. Chris.

[@philhawley1219]

I'm sure that the Lightning was a fine aircraft, but compared to the Spitfire and Mosquito, well you know what the answer is...

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

I am sure you are right Phil, there was a swift changeover to the Spitfire for reconnaissance work and John Blythe relays that in the film. Chris.

[@alanholloway1264]

Please do not fall for the line that the Mossie was perfect in every respect because it certainly was not@@GULLPERCHFLYER

[@jaykay8570]

You can find the yt video of he being surprised with footage of his crash landing in a spit.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Thanks Jay there is a link to that film included in my film description you can click on the link and watch it there. Chris.

[@briansilcox5720]

Excellent! Lightnings had a bit more than 350mi range. With Lockheed developed external fuel tanks up to 300 gallons, the tested a range over 2000 miles.

[@pcka12]

I am sure that I have heard stories of the US having trouble with the P38 both as fighter & photoreconaissance aircraft & the US borrowing Spitfire PR aircraft in the European theatre.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

John Blythe talks about that very subject and how they moved over to use the Spitfire. Chris. Please ponder subscribing. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@fw1421]

You can always tell a photo P-38 by the all over blue paint.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many Thanks, John Blythe speaks on that very subject in my recent film. Do have a subscribe please. Chris. kzbin.info/door/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ

[@WgCdrLuddite]

Adrian Warburton died in an F-5.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Many Thanks I have ordered a copy Warburtons War: The Life of Maverick Ace Adrian Warburton, DSO, DFC, DFC. Chris.

[@WgCdrLuddite]

@@GULLPERCHFLYER It's not a bad book if you ignore the hero worship.

[@eugenedreyer4805]

I read somewhere that the Lightning was the result of joining two Mustangs together but that sounds too strange to be true…

[@johndavey72]

Hi. There really was a " Twin " Mustang . An F-82 but it was introduced too late to see WW2 .But was used extensively in the Korean war . The P38 was a one off of it's own

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

Eugene so far I can find no direct connection between the P38 and the P82 Mustang. The P-82 Twin Mustang. The Twin Mustang had two engines, a large fuel supply, and, crucially, two cockpits with dual controls. This allowed the P-82 to carry two pilots that alternated flying duties, alleviating the fatigue problem. Just 250 P-82s were built, and today, only one is still flying. The aircraft, serial number 44-83887, includes two Packard 1650 engines, the car company’s version of the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, and new propellers. It took 10 years and 200,000 man hours to complete the restoration. Chris.

[@GULLPERCHFLYER]

The P-82 Twin Mustang. The Twin Mustang had two engines, a large fuel supply, and, crucially, two cockpits with dual controls. This allowed the P-82 to carry two pilots that alternated flying duties, alleviating the fatigue problem. Just 250 P-82s were built, and today, only one is still flying. The aircraft, serial number 44-83887, includes two Packard 1650 engines, the car company’s version of the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, and new propellers. It took 10 years and 200,000 man hours to complete the restoration. Chris.