Hello all...
here is my representation of an 8th AF P-38 pilot from the 20th FG, based at Kingscliffe...perhaps looking up at the noseart and 'mission' tally on his fighter's nose...
The P-38's cockpit heating system was NOTORIOUSLY ineffective in the high atmosphere above the European continent; where 20th and 55th Fg group pilots had to operate when escorting bombers on missions over the continent-(until the widespread deployment of the 'Merlin' engined P-51B/C-the P-38 was the only fighter capable of escorting the 'Heavies' into Germany, proper-in fact, a P-38 was the first US combat aircraft to fly over Berlin during the war).
There was no argument about the P-38's ability to fly and fight against the best the Luftwaffe had in the air-from 40,000 feet all the way down 'to the deck'!...but a myriad of problems, ranging from the use of ultra high octane fuel-inducing 'pre-detonation' in the cylinders...to the hesitation to follow Luftwaffe fighters down to the deck in high speed dives due to the 'Lightning's' speed, leading to compressibility stalls-reduced the effectiveness of the plane in theatre early on...
Better mechanic training and combat dive flap kits solved these problems...but, by then, the 'less complicated', easier to produce, single engined P-51B/C had arrived on the scene-eventually equipping all , save one, of the 8th AF fighter groups, by the end of the European war.
The cold in the P-38 cockpit at high altitude was such that the pilots became ineffective at 30,000 ft and above...
This pilot has aquired the lightweight, but warm, US Tanker's jacket and bib overalls, a 'Mae West' life preserver, RAF type 'C' fkight helmet, RAF gloves, and US leather upper A-6 flight boots...
TThanks for looking,
Bruce
Bravo vraiment bien réussi 
eyes in the sky
