Following significant P-38 losses during the Fifth Air Force's campaign against Rabaul of 12 October - 7 November 1943 the 9th Sq / 49th FG and 39th Sq / 35th FG were forced to transition (temporarily) to the P-47 Thunderbolt. Their remaining P-38's were transferred to the 475th FG and perhaps the 80th Sq / 8th FG. The story of the Lockheed fighter during the Rabaul campaign is discussed in great detail in Richard L. Dunn's article for
Air Power History (vol. 59 no. 3 - Fall 2012), "Shootout at Rabaul" which the author uses as a case study to compare the P-38 against the Zero fighter of the Japanese navy. He provides accurate numbers for claims vs. actual losses on both sides.
Dunn writes:
"It was clear that despite inflicting damage the Fifth Air Force had failed in its mission to knock out Rabaul. The
numbers in the shootout had been fairly even. Had it been a draw? Actually, though few histories reveal it, there had been one clear loser. The Fifth Air Force P-38 force had taken a drubbing. Recorded combat losses do not reveal this. Moreover, it seems counter-intuitive since the P-38 is iconic, the
championship fighter of the Pacific war. However, outright combat losses, returning aircraft damaged beyond repair, and wear and tear caused by long range missions and combat damage came close to decimating the P-38 force." p. 26-27.
The issue of
Air Power History can be downloaded from the website - link below.
The absence of claims by the 39th Fighter Squadron following November 2, 1943 is directly related to their transition to the P-47 Thunderbolt.
Edward
https://www.afhistory.org/air-power-...story-archive/