USAAF engine oil in WW2

[Larry]

Silly question - but was the grade of oil used in a P-47D engine different from that used in a B-17 or B-24.

The reason I ask is that the 405th FG had a lot of problems with oil contamination after refuelling at Halesworth on 13th May 44 for a fighter support mission. The Group was stood down for a week to rectify the damage.

It is said that the USAAF investigators and the FBI were called in to investigate sabotage to the oil supply but as refuelling for the mission was done away from their base, it could have been a mistake in the grade of oil.

[Larry]

Surely someone must know?

[Bruce Dennis]

Have you tried contacting one of the Warbirds groups? There are P-47s and B-17s still flying, and the owners probably know a bit about the subject.

Bruce

[Bill Walker]

From my experience, this more likely reflected differences in handling of oil at different units. The actual grade of oil used would be specified for a specific engine type, for a given set of environmental conditions. Visiting aircraft should be serviced in accordance with their specified requirements, or told they can't get that stuff here.

In the civil aircraft world today, one operator might handle oil very carefully, and their crews could take any oil containers, plus any pump, any hose, etc. and be sure of getting clean oil, as per the container labels. At another operator, the crews might know they have to be much more careful in order to get good clean oil, of the right grade, into their aircraft. If you send crews from one operation to another, problems can, and do, arise.

[Jukka Juutinen]

I took a look at a few US pilot manuals (B-26, P-38, P-47B, FM-2, C-46) and all specify "grade 1120" for summer and "grade 1100" for winter.

[BC]

The 489BG with B-24s were the resident unit at Holton (Halesworth) at the time of this incident, although they were yet to become operational.

I will ask my colleagues at the Holton Airfield Memorial museum if they can come up with any gen on this incident.

BC

[Peter Clare]

This extract is taken from the 'Operators Handbook' for the Pratt & Whitney C4 engine (B-24)

"As a result of service experience, it has been found that it is desirable to use an oil of 95-105 viscosity, even in warm weather. Generally speaking, the use of the lighter oil results in better lubrication for the parts subject to wear and tends to reduce the amount of carbon deposits"

Hope this helps.

Regards
Peter.

[Larry]

BC,

Have you had time to check the records at Holton Airfield Memorial museum concerning the mission on 13th May 1944?

[BC]

Larry:

I passed the link to this thread to a contact at the HAMM several months ago but I have not heard anything back to date. I know they have extensive microfilm data and photos relating to the 56 FG stay there, but not too sure how genned up they are on the 489BG period.

Will send a gentle reminder of my/your enquiry.

Interesting incident.

Regards,

BC