A Fork-Tailed Devil: The P-38 Lightning

[@James-ho5te]

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

[@mikeyoung9810]

Later on as well but twin tails so almost!

[@simonbest563]

I noticed that too… maybe a whoops?

[@keithmoore5306]

yeah more than you picked that up!!!

[@Cemi_Mhikku]

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

[@ZOB4]

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

[@newman977]

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

[@danielbretall2236]

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

[@All_Hail_Chael]

Great video about him from The History Guy kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWixc4iVaK6Nja8

[@newman977]

@@All_Hail_Chael The History Guy is a fantastic channel.

[@Duececoupe]

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

[@daveallen8824]

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

[@finscreenname]

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

[@thomasmcroberts5145]

Right

[@Tuberuser187]

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

[@WOLF167h]

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

[@merlynjep]

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

[@howardrsims]

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

[@stevenborgogna]

Thank you. I came here to say this.

[@minemineminemine404]

This all day long. What was that about?!

[@rafaucett]

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

[@dialaskisel5929]

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

[@jacktattis]

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

[@javabean215]

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

[@jacktattis]

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

[@phil562]

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

[@jacktattis]

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

[@steveakers3322]

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

[@dukecraig2402]

And that's what we know about.

[@fredkruse9444]

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

[@dukecraig2402]

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

[@pozzowon]

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

[@speedy97979]

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

[@SteveGillow]

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

[@alfredlear4141]

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

[@matchrocket1702]

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

[@dukecraig2402]

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

[@mbryson2899]

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

[@matchrocket1702]

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

[@snowballsimpson3887]

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

[@fishjohn014]

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

[@B4D_5USHI]

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

[@newman977]

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

[@fishjohn014]

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

[@newman977]

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

[@robertphillips6296]

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

[@christobalcolon6601]

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

[@kevinbarry71]

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

[@barbarabutterbaugh9721]

He increased the range by using mercury mixed witb the fuel

[@spannagattinara4970]

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

[@robertphillips6296]

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

[@stucook8622]

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

[@chrislong3938]

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

[@airborncamel]

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

[@derekaldrich330]

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

[@kevintemple245]

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

[@adamtruong1759]

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

[@mred7375]

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

[@paulwilliams4274]

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

[@TheStiefmeister7]

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

[@paulwilliams4274]

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

[@kevadu]

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

[@Docsporseen1]

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

[@ericwarmath1091]

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

[@seanbrazell6147]

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

[@chikato7106]

yes that would be incredible

[@dunbar9finger]

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

[@Sk1m_Beeble]

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

[@adamwhite2364]

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

[@patrickscalia5088]

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

[@musewolfman]

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

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

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

[@musewolfman]

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

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

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

[@gordoh7634]

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

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

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

[@jamesharrington001]

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

[@jamindowney3662]

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

[@oldenweery7510]

I second that! Fascinating plane.

[@light1967]

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

[@MrDDiRusso]

Too many B25 Mitchell clips.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

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

[@MrDDiRusso]

@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 me too!

[@Stucc0Dude]

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

[@SDGamer99]

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

[@brucehearn2621]

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

[@pdxaviation]

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

[@earnestbrown6524]

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

[@John-s3y9u]

Thank you

[@drillthrallable]

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

[@nofreecards7755]

Stopped watching the video when the first three flying videos were not P-38’s. I like your stuff but here comes a down vote.

[@voidcore]

Do keep in mind that he isn't a tv network and he is limited to the footage in the libraries of stock footage he's paid for. Even if there are plenty of amateur or unattributed footage of P38s online he can't use any of it or the person who made that footage can claim all the money from video and if that happens a few times youtube will shut down your entire channel. So the editors options are to loop the same 10 seconds he has for the length of the video or just show him speaking or, what he went with which was to build up to actual P38 footage by showing other aircraft that share features of the P38(aluminum body, twin engine, twin boom) while mentioning those features. When someone is doing a nature documentary about seals, they oftern start off by showing other animals in cold places, other animals underwater and so on, no one is trying to trick someone into thinking a penguin is a seal.

[@TheEDFLegacy]

@@voidcore He has access to _any_ footage captured by the US military per copyright law. I'm also quite certain the copyright is expired anyway.

[@voidcore]

@@TheEDFLegacy it isn't a question of the law. You don't go to court every time the KZbin algorithm detects footage it has seen on another video. It is a question of what is available in online in referenced form that he can electronically reference so the KZbin algorithm doesn't decide he's broken the law. And given that the algorithm occasionally strikes things you have actually bought and paid for specifically for the purpose of making a video. Creators invariably err on the side of caution and only use things they've recorded themselves or things in libraries KZbin plays well with.

[@Jobe00]

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

[@dukecraig2402]

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

[@jacktattis]

@@dukecraig2402 Thanks Duke

[@ignitionfrn2223]

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

[@covercalls88]

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

[@thomasfx3190]

Simon I really enjoy how you tell a story!

[@jeffreywebb4029]

Lets not forget Robin Olds. He flew these too and liked them. Flew them in Europe which wasn't the best fit for the plane. He said he could turn with anyone down low.

[@kannakev]

been waiting for this one, thanks Simon!

[@JohnBruffett-tw4ul]

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

[@zacdavila679]

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

[@robswatosh1934]

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

[@Hangar11RC]

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

[@alfretwell428]

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

[@dukecraig2402]

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

[@jacktattis]

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

[@philipyates-jw5wx]

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

[@couchfighter]

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

[@taironus]

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

[@BoldAlligator]

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

[@BigB86]

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

[@bartfoster1311]

You know they have the video for it!

[@BigB86]

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

[@bartfoster1311]

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

[@BigB86]

@@bartfoster1311 lol derp

[@dukecraig2402]

He's got a head start on it.

[@bobnewkirk7186]

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

[@joshdobson2737]

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

[@DENNISDAVIS-o2n]

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

[@brianmoore1164]

One should never make a video about the P-38 without mentioning Clarence "Kelly" Johnson.

[@pdn0018]

Love this plane

[@misterscaz6011]

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

[@pamelamays4186]

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

[@miniaturekitty9679]

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

[@dukecraig2402]

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

[@jacktattis]

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

[@travishein]

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

[@groupcaptainbonzo]

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

[@scottbot6545]

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

[@dukecraig2402]

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

[@ianr]

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

[@ericgregory9337]

Liked the content but you were showing a B25 Mitchell for most of the video

[@julielabrouste6344]

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

[@julielabrouste6344]

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

[@boatingexplainedwithcapndr8359]

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

[@dodoubleg2356]

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

[@LeftyLucyRightyTyty]

It's a shame your producers can't tell the difference betwixt a P38 and a B25...Twin boom versus twin tails are apparently the same thing in today's day and age. Doesn't matter that one is a single seat pursuit plane with liquid cooled engines and the other a six place bomber with air cooled engines...it's all in the past...and important details no longer matter.

[@randallyoung8297]

@@jameswhitehead6758 0:50 through 1:02

[@stevek6921]

Yep, 30 seconds in and there's the wrong airframe. lol

[@kenhelmers2603]

One of my favorite planes! Thanks Simon :)

[@MikeOrkid]

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

[@kelvyquayo]

A man of culture ✊🏼

[@All_Hail_Chael]

I'm one minute in, why are you showing B-25s? I've seen one twice already.

[@ih8temoney]

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

[@steveakers3322]

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

[@mho...]

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

[@mikewilliams1479]

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

[@xyzpdq1122]

Completely arbitrary!

[@cleverusername9369]

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

[@keithmoore5306]

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

[@sandhilltucker]

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

[@dukecraig2402]

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

[@pdn0018]

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

[@kungfuwitcher7621]

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

[@milanondrak5564]

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

[@chiplayton3469]

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

[@richardwaugh2049]

Excellently researched, well presented

[@Robert-db3mz]

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

[@johnfisher9532]

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

[@projectinlinesix]

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

[@NickThomasVocals]

Your videos help my anxiety greatly 🙏

[@Kenzie.Avrahm.Fraser.Gelbart]

... megaprojects: the Venus Project

[@zucods]

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

[@jaybee9269]

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

[@jacktattis]

Yes it was a great idea

[@dewiz9596]

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

[@robertfrost1683]

You have too much B25 video instead of P38 - but otherwise excellent.

[@31terikennedy]

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

[@michaelpipkin9942]

Please do the YF-23 vs YF-22. I wish the YF-23 had won. It's style is beautifully awesome.

[@keithmoore5306]

seek professional help immediately!!!!

[@longboardfella5306]

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

[@JimBob-vb8oz]

Trieste has been done on one of his many channels.

[@longboardfella5306]

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

[@evoltnvii]

Why does the video keep cutting to stock footage of B-25's

[@rause8622]

Aw hell yeah!!!!

[@avrolcaster]

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

[@stinker43]

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

[@11bravocrunchie22]

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

[@EAcapuccino]

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

[@ericwarmath1091]

Why in the hell is all the video of a B-25 Mitchell ? Except at the very end. Attention to detail😉

[@Jkend199]

Its a 1937 design that went into production in 1939, for a pre war design the Lightning was very competitive, yes it was eclipsed by mid/late war designs, but what pre war design wasn't. The other problem was the props... they were never upgraded so the 1660 hp (per side, 3320 total hp) version never actually got the full benefit of over 3000 hp. If it had gotten the upgrades it would have been more competitive in the late war, but the truth was why upgrade it when you had mustang's that could do the same missions as well or better for half the cost. One of my favorite aircraft but the twin engine design that was absolutely necessary to meet the performance goals in 1939 just cost too much when you could achieve the same performance with 1 engine and that happened in 1943, arguably after planes like the P-38 and the navy F4F Wildcat had already turned the tide. One of the teams in the Reno Air races used to fly one, I don't know if they still do but it was competitive with with single engine planes, not that the planes in those races are anything like the ones that flew in WW2 but I think in a way its a testament to just how good the design really was.

[@duanesamuelson2256]

Look up the engine and propeller upgrades..they actually had the Allison putting out over 2000 hp and had developed a paddle propeller. Rate of climb increased drastically And performance at above 20000 ft improved. The Allison wasn't a poorer performing engine compared to the Merlin, however the merlin used a 2 stage supercharger rather than a supercharger/turbocharger of the Allison and at that time it made a less complicated package. These upgrades were not employed due to the need to shut down the production line to the remachineing needed (it required new gearboxes with the new propellers). They were the first plane for the US which used the 20mm cannon since with it in front of the pilot the jams could be cleared (a common problem early on) and the machine guns were staggered to help prevent feeding issues.

[@Jkend199]

@@duanesamuelson2256 The upgrades that would have made the 38 competitive with the p-51 never went into production because the 38 was too expensive. It was too expensive because to hit 360 mph (in 1939) in required a twin engine design.

[@jacktattis]

Turned the tide for the US MAYBE It never turned anything for the RAF/ Friends

[@johnkendall6962]

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

[@stinker43]

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

[@thomasmcroberts5145]

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

[@twocvbloke]

"Dick Bong", let's just think about that for a moment and imagine the artwork Sam would put together for that for a Blaze episode... :P

[@joeshmoe7485]

I agree, I think Dick Bong is worthy of his own episode.

[@maddog2020tt2]

I have bought only 3 vehicles on war thunder but by far my favorite is dick bongs p38. Absolutely love that plane

[@k_enn]

I am surprised that there is no mention of the benefit of counter-rotating propellers. Since they rotated in opposite directions, the plane was torque neutral, which meant it roll/turn equally well to both the starboard and port. Single engine planes turned better to one side, and not so well to the other, because the engine torque was in only one direction (and there was nothing to cancel out that torque). This was an advantage for the P-38 when you knew what your adversary was flying.

[@stinker43]

He does mention the CR props, but you are right that it doesn't detail the effect and advantages. I can't imagine flying a multi w/o CR!

[@williamthompson5504]

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

[@elliottprice6084]

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

[@stinker43]

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

[@dmk0210]

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

[@jacktattis]

Poor people did they not have access to the Spitfire

[@beachboy0505]

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

[@pdn0018]

Very very rare and only a few handful left flying today