[Felix C]

You know, I thought the P38 posted a sufficient low loss rate in the PTO that combat losses were known. Would understand for the years of confusion 1941-1942 there were no records. P38s not in use until very, very late December 1942 when things had stabilized.

With the weight and striking distance of the forward firing guns vs. japanese mulit-engine defensive gunfire capabilities it seemed unlikely any would be shot down while attack.

Leaves on single engine a/c as the likely cause of air-air combat situation.

Something the AAF would be interested in knowing in terms of assembling data to improve a/c or training. Seeing the detailed post-action categories where data was compiled for these sorties then it seems reasonable they would have been done then condensed as they move up the chain of command away from active theatres into general statistics.

Then there are those early 1950,1960s authors of the USA WW2 experience who would claim this or that for different aircraft. As in the low loss rate of the P38 vs. other aircraft. etc. You know who mean.

So I thought the data was out there. Especially with all of the heavy reference books on WW1 or WW2 English language combatants published over the decades.

Well there it is.

Thanks for slapping me down. If you were to ask a similar question on a naval forum I am on I would have answered differently.