Package 2
4) 50 cal M2 200 rpg
1) 20 mm M2 150 rpg

Optional
10) HVAR 5" Rockets
2) 250 lb bombs
2) 500 lb bombs
2) 1000 lb bombs
2) 150 gallon drop tanks
1) 150 gallon drop tank
1) 1000 lb bomb + 1) 150 gallon drop tank

The P-38 was one of the great aircraft of World War II.  Our thought was that those guys in Europe didn't know how to use it right, and I still think that.

Col. Charles MacDonald, Commanding Officer 475th FG- 27 aerial victories

History

The P-38L was a further improvement of the P-38J that finally saw the P-38 achieve its potential.  Dive flaps that were introduced on the last block of P-38J's were now standard.  The clumsy bazooka tube rockets that were sometimes fitted to earlier 38's gave way to "Christmas tree" mounts for 10 5" HVARs under the wings.  High aileron control forces that gave earlier 38s a creaky rate of roll was rectified by the addition of hydraulically boosted ailerons.  This gave the P-38L a tremendous roll rate at high speed.

The P-38L was the most produced version of the P-38 with almost 4000 P-38Ls built.  While the P-38 had a checkered combat career varying between abysmal and superlative, it can hardly be argued that the P-38L did not rectify most of the problems that critics of the P-38 cite against the earlier 38's.

The P-38L in Aces High

The P-38L is a good all around airplane.  It's counter-rotating propellers negate torque and slipstream effects making it easy to control for beginners.  Among its best attributes are its ordnance package.  The cluster of machine guns and cannon in the nose gives it a concentrated stream of heavy firepower without the issues of harmonization that planes with wing mounted armament have.

The P-38L has a fowler flap that is designed to also aid maneuvering at the 8 degree setting.  This setting will provide an enhancement to the plane's turning capabilities at a low cost in additional drag.  If you get caught in a turning fight, use of the maneuver setting is highly recommended.  The maneuver flap setting can be used up to speeds of 250 MPH.  For takeoff, no flaps are recommended in order to get to single-engine airspeed (120 MPH) as quickly as possible.  If a shorter takeoff run is required, up to 30 degrees of flaps should be used.  Maximum flap deflection is 50 degrees.

The fuel system consists of wing tanks containing 410 gallons of fuel and provisions for two drop tanks giving the 38 excellent range and endurance.

The P-38L carries an armament of four .50 caliber machine-guns with 500 rpg and a 20mm cannon with 150 rpg.  The machine guns may take an alternate load of 300 rpg if a lighter combat load is desired.  The primary trigger fires the machine guns and the secondary trigger fires the cannon.  Two wing points can carry drop tanks or bombs of up to 2000lbs.  Ten rockets can also be mounted separately underneath the wings.

Markings

The P-38L in Aces High carries the markings of Major Thomas McGuire, former Commander of the 431st Fighter Squadron of the 475 th Fighter Group.  Major McGuire was the second highest scoring American ace with 38 air victories, just 2 victories short of fellow P-38 pilot and leading American ace, Major Richard Bong.  McGuire made no secret of his desire to be the number one ace and it seemed he had his opportunity when Bong was removed from combat and rotated stateside.  Facing his own rotation back stateside, McGuire knew he didn't have much time left to become the American ace of aces.

On January 7, 1945 McGuire led a flight of 4 P-38s on an unauthorized mission that he hoped would break the record.  Jack Rittmayer, Douglas Thropp Jr., and Edwin Weaver joined McGuire on this flight.  McGuire's regular plane, "Pudgy" was grounded, so he took another.  While heading out to a Japanese convoy in the hopes of luring Japanese interceptors, the flight of P-38s were forced to fly low due to the weather and the two elements became separated by about a mile.  Rittmayer and Thropp were closing up to McGuire and Weaver when the lead element suddenly encountered a Ki-43 piloted by Akira Sugimoto of the 54 th Sentai near Negros Island.  The Ki-43 came at them from head on and just below.  Sugimoto made a tight turn and went after McGuire and Weaver but then switched to Thropp's plane.  Thropp began taking fire from Sugimoto when he decided to drop his tanks.  At that moment, McGuire ordered the flight to save their tanks.  Rittmayer fired a burst at Sugimoto that forced him to break off of Thropp's tail.  Sugimoto now turned his attention to Weaver who takes up the story in his combat report:

"That put the Zeke in range and inside of me, in #2 position.  I radioed major McGuire that I was being attacked and increased my turn, diving slightly.  The enemy stayed with me, but I was now inside and a little below my leader.  At this time, Major McGuire attempting to get a shot at my attacker, increased his turn tremendously.  His plane snap-rolled to the left and stopped in an inverted position with the nose down about 30°.  Because of the altitude of my plane, I then lost sight of him momentarily.  A second later I saw the explosion and fire of his wash.  The Zeke broke off his attack just before Major McGuire's crash and climbed to the North.  It is my opinion that the enemy did not at any time change his attack from me to my leader.  I believe his crash was caused by his violent attempt to thwart my attacker, although it is possible the Major was hit by ground fire, which had now begun."

McGuire never dropped his external tanks.  The reason for this fateful decision was probably that he did not want to be forced to return from this mission prematurely coupled with overconfidence.

Sugimoto used the ensuing confusion to try to attempt to escape to the clouds.  Thropp fired a final long burst at him before he disappeared.  Just then, a Ki-84 piloted by Mizunori Fukuda appeared from the clouds and surprised the remaining P-38s who thought it was Sugimoto returning to the fight.  Weaver fired at Fukuda, but Fukuda still managed to get to close range on Rittmayer's tail.  Fukuda's cannon and machine-gun fire smashed into the center section of Rittmayer's P-38, probably killing him immediately.  His plane crashed within 2 miles of McGuire's.  Fukuda then latched onto the tail of Thropp's already damaged P-38.  Weaver fired at Fukuda again and forced him to break off combat.  Thropp and Weaver were separated from each other and both returned to base.  Sugimoto successfully crash-landed his badly damaged Ki-43, only to be shot to death by Filipino guerrillas.  Fukuda was more fortunate.  His Ki-84 was badly damaged by Weaver but he made it back to his base only to find one of his main landing gear inoperable.  Although his plane cartwheeled in the crash landing, his ground crew were able to pull him to safety.

Major Thomas McGuire Jr. was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.  McGuire Air Force Base was named in honor of Thomas McGuire in his home state of New Jersey.

Operating Instructions

Max Permitted Airspeed- 460 MPH

Max Airspeed Gear Extended- 175 MPH

Max G Loading- +6/-3.5

Max Airspeed 10° Flaps- 250 MPH
Max Airspeed 20° Flaps- 250 MPH
Max Airspeed 30° Flaps- 250 MPH
Max Airspeed 40° Flaps- 150 MPH
Max Airspeed 50° Flaps- 150 MPH

Allison V-1710-111/113
Emergency Power- 60" @ 3000 RPM, 180 GPH (5 minutes)
Military Power- 54" @ 3000 RPM, 167 GPH
Normal Power- 44" @ 2600 RPM, 113 GPH
Max Cruise- 35" @ 2300 RPM, 63 GPH

Performance