P-38s in the Aleutians

[Kutscha]

One reads all kinds of problems with the P-38 in the ETO but weather in the Aleutians could be real nasty. Did the P-38 have similar problems in the Aleutians?

[Kutscha]

No one can say what kind of problems the P-38 had operating in the Aleutians?

[Boomerang]

Hello Kutscha:

I found an internet reference which indicates that, at least for a while, a dedicated winterised P 38 was supplied to the 11th Air Force in the Aleutians:

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p38_18.html

In the Aleutians, the initial batch of P-38Es of the 54th Fighter Squadron were supplanted by a specially-winterized version of the Lightning, the P-38G-10-LO

Regards

Don W

[Kutscha]

Thanks Don.

Next question is, did any of these 'specially-winterized version' go to Europe?

And, did the first P-38Ds and P-38Es have the same problems as experienced in the ETO? One would think so because of the winterized version that was sent.

[Harri Pihl]

I don't think that the P-38s in the Aleutians faced the same conditions as the escort P-38s in the ETO. In the Aleutians most operations were at low altitude while in the ETO 8th AF P-38s flew hours at high altitude. One notable thing is that during winter 43/44 the 8th AF had priority to get the new P-38Js and other fronts waited these until spring.