Quote:
Originally Posted by RSwank
I have been asked how we can be sure the lost plane was a P-38. Allison engines, for example, were also used on A-36s, P-51As, P-40s and P-39s and P-63s. Here is my thinking on the matter but I would be interested what others think.
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The Report of Investigation about the case X-55 states that the crashed aircraft was identified as P-38 and the model of the engine as an Allison V 1710-91.
Those engines were only used in the subtypes P-38H & P-38J and turned left, to counter this the right turning equivalent V 1710-89 was fitted on the other side. The engines used in the earlier P-38G were V 1710-51/55 and in the later P-38L the V 1710-111/113.
The serial number A-047489 of the engine indicates that it must have been a late built P-38J after comparing them to serials of other known crashes. This is also confirmed by the serial numbers of the Savage Arms built M2 machine guns - all other aircraft equipped with M2 from Savage and similar serial numbers were found to be P-38J-15-LO.