My dad and I are currently restoring a G model, it's been an experience of a life time. He's owned this since 1967 and wanted to see it flying before he passes away. 3 years now non stop as we should be ready by September
@Red-Magic
11 ай бұрын
PROGRESS?
@marsdenk.6162
5 ай бұрын
Is it ready
@kolsen6330
5 жыл бұрын
My mother was a WASP and said the P38 was her favorite aircraft. She was one of the few WASPs that was certified for night flying. She told me of flying a 38 with the command radio set over Texas. Said the moon was so bright she could read her maps with out a flashlight. Tuned to dance music on the radio and munched on the apples she stashed in her pockets before takeoff. She also signed the stick or yolk of every plane she ferried. Has 3 Vmails from Europe from the pilots that got her plane. She is still going strong at 102. Edit Mom Passed on July 22, 2019 in her sleep. She made it to 103.
@stevet8121
5 жыл бұрын
Amazing. Bless her!
@ichigorobei
5 жыл бұрын
Your mom is a great woman, patriot, and pilot! Please thank her for the great service she provided during World War II -- if you can, please get more details about her life and service and write a book about it, or at least some notes! The WASPS were a great group of gals!
@kolsen6330
5 жыл бұрын
@@ichigorobei We put together a book of the postcards she sent home, BUT the lawyers said it wasnt PC and so it couldnt be sold at the museum of flight.
@ichigorobei
5 жыл бұрын
Kim Olsen In this technical age, I'm sure your book of postcards could be "edited" to make them more PC, and even if they didn't get sold at the Museum of Flight, they might still make a terrific book, especially if you have other information about her and from her. The postcards would make great illustrations! In any case, it's just an idea, but it would make a terrific project. That whole group of women pilots ferrying planes across the continent did the country and ultimately the world a great service, one that has routinely been overlooked. Best of luck to you!
@kolsen6330
5 жыл бұрын
@@ichigorobei Working on the pile of letters that go with the postcards. I wont edit any of the cards out just so it is PC. Its history and if people cant figure that out, the heck with them. Currently the postcard book is only in PDF format.
@hibob418
4 жыл бұрын
At 4:02 during the early compressibility tests, he says "...we lost one in a dive," that was my Great Uncle Ralph Virden who had the tail of his ship, the first YP-38, snap off during the dive recovery. The plane came down in the kitchen of a house on Elm Street in Glendale. Thanks for posting this great piece.
@AmericasChoice
4 жыл бұрын
RIP
@michaelheath9966
2 жыл бұрын
to say only 1 pilot was killed in the lightning is a huge understatement. many pilots were lost in this way and the problem was never fully solved. Btw, my grandad was the only pilot to sink a battleship flying a fairy battle bomber. Rolling my eyes...
@RuralTowner
2 жыл бұрын
@@michaelheath9966 OP's comment says nothing about it being the only 1 pilot. The comment AND video refer to "the one" that was part of the test in question. OP merely stating WHO it was.
@brucephelps6245
3 жыл бұрын
America's greatest generation !!! They put The world back right with their courage and bravely & sticktoitness.....❤
@concernedhuman3828
Жыл бұрын
One of the best documentaries I’ve seen. I wouldn’t be surprised if all of the vets interviewed here are now gone. ‘Dedicated to the ones who served. The lest we can do is remember…’.
@dkaufman57
5 жыл бұрын
To the greatest generation, thank you for your service.
@anthonysmith778
4 жыл бұрын
What a great documentary. These guys were pioneers. I could listen to these guys talk aviation all day
@haroldhering1546
4 жыл бұрын
As a retired USAF Pilot, I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary! I have fond memories of our pioneering services and have been richly blessed with unimaginable opportunity...especially including a career with the Air Rescue Service, where my aircrew was privileged to rescue a fellow USAF pilot. He had ejected from his burning jet into the frigid North Sea at night during January 1973...for which my aircrew was credited with a SAVE (of the pilot's life).
@danieldilauro8156
4 жыл бұрын
My father, Cornelius M. Di Lauro ( deceased 2011 at 91) flew in the European theater , recieved two distinguished flying crosses flying the P38.
@mhern57
4 жыл бұрын
@@danieldilauro8156 Wow. Thank you for sharing that wonderful story. Your dad's service is remembered and appreciated. I know you're very proud of him. Blessings to you and your family and God bless your father.
@highteck1966
4 жыл бұрын
@@haroldhering1546 kliilkkkkikkkkkkiilkk
@highteck1966
4 жыл бұрын
Likkklkkkikkikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
@BROKEN-PILOT
2 жыл бұрын
Some 3+ decades ago, I was lucky and honored to have a flight instructor that was a veteran WW-II P-38 pilot. His name was George Pat Brown. During my first training semester at Texas State Technical Institute, Aircraft Pilot Training Technology in Waco, Texas (KCNW), he was my classroom instructor, then he retired. After training, he was the FAA Examiner for my Multi-engine, Instrument Instructor Checkride. After flight training, I became an instructor pilot for TSTI, APT, but he had already retired to Mexia, Texas and I never saw him again. Still a student when I "saw him off," as I was speaking to him in the classroom (when he was packing up), I asked him where he got the 24-hour clock that was hanging on the classroom wall. He then took the clock down and gave it to me. I damn near cried. A decade ago, using the internet, I tried to find him but could not. I am sure he had already passed by that time. Godspeed, Mr. Brown!
@EdgeofTimeProductions
4 жыл бұрын
Hearing these pilots from the greatest generation talk about flying brand new experimental aircraft into combat in unknown airspace is one of the most thrilling things imaginable. I can’t even imagine would it would have been like to be up above the clouds in all kinds of beautiful and terrifying conditions by yourself behind roaring engines. The air war of WW2 remains one of the most fascinating pieces of history to me.
@Enid2Sacramento
4 жыл бұрын
I can recommend "Race of Aces" by John R. Bruning to read about the exploits of Richard Bong and Tommy McGuire in the Pacific.
@EdgeofTimeProductions
4 жыл бұрын
@@Enid2Sacramento Thanks, I will check this out!
@davebrittain9216
2 жыл бұрын
It makes me sad to think that most of these incredible men are gone. I once had a Czechoslovakian boss that was inducted into the German army and he told me very interesting stories from the other side of view. He actually was the best boss I ever had and was like the grandfather to me. All these amazing stories are slipping away as these brave men and women pass. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking of it. We are loosing our greatest pride.
@frankcasey7423
3 жыл бұрын
Excellent program! Very personal and insightful! I loved it and thank you to all the servicemen in the video to your sacrifice and service to all of us and this country! God bless!🇺🇸
@n3adf
6 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video. My father flew P-38j's in the 479th Fighter Group. He went down Aug. 15, 1944 in the Netherlands while returning to England after a bomber escort mission over Germany.
@ichigorobei
5 жыл бұрын
Was your father OK after that? Did he survive? I hope so!
@fight2flyphoto
6 жыл бұрын
This is the greatest single documentary I've come across yet. It covers all... development of the P-38, flight testing, operational use, etc. Thank you for uploading this. I wish there was one like this for all WWII aircraft.
@fight2flyphoto
6 жыл бұрын
I loved Weekday Wings... I'd get home from school, throw my jacket on the floor, drop off my backpack, and RUN for the living room to catch the intro in time on the good ol' Discovery Wings channel. But... I gotta say, I believe this is a different production. Either way, both are awesome. And I got a kick out of the sitcom as well. :-p
@edwardw.youngbloom2160
6 жыл бұрын
Fight to Fly Photography very good
@zdzichus.3264
6 жыл бұрын
Awesome, great, amazing, comprehensive doc... British had their Mosquito, though - IMO the only aircraft we can compare Lightning with.
@@zdzichus.3264 True. Two really useful airplanes.
@dawnhewlett4327
5 жыл бұрын
A friend was a P-38 mechanic in China. He said when the superchargers described around 46 minutes were added to their P-38s, it made a huge difference. You couldm tell from the ground which ones had it and which ones didn't. A real game-changer.
@tomnekuda3818
5 жыл бұрын
My father was in the South Pacific building runways to reach Japan and, later, maintaining the P38's. He was wounded and decorated. He would NEVER speak of the horrors that he had experienced but would talk about the P38's. He was a tough man and did not give praise lightly......if he said the P38 was a good plane...they were! Dad did not come home at all until the war was over.....even then, it was to a hospital for repair of his body. This was truly the "Greatest Generation" and we rose to the challenge of the problems. God Bless these pilots, their aircraft, and the ground crews.
@Alvan81
5 жыл бұрын
It's a shame that they dont get more recognition. If a device cannot function for more than one mission without you working in it, I would argue you are not 'support' you are more than that. Not just the P37 but anything.
@tomnekuda3818
5 жыл бұрын
@@Alvan81 He said that most of the problems that they had with P38's was corrosion concerning the wiring hookups due to the salt air. He had a lot of respect for the guys that got to fly tham and the engines were pretty well thought out. Bailing out could cost you your life, tho due to tail.
@17Scumdog
Жыл бұрын
So often the guys building airfields and beach facilities get overlooked, just a footnote in documentaries. But the guys on Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Iwo Jima and so many other places were under direct artillery assault by the Japanese. Heck, on Iwo the last big bayonet bonzai charge the Japanese performed in that battle, most American casualties were the engineers building the runway!
@jimhamilton3544
5 жыл бұрын
What an amazing story of men in combat flying the P-38. I was amazed at a p38 landing in a field after being shot down then a fellow pilot landed it the same field and picked the pilot up and they took off under adverse conditions and flew the plane 350 miles to the base and landed safely. Wow what an amazing, miraculous story story. 👍🏻
@boskonian
3 жыл бұрын
It's so sad that almost all WW2 participants are dead without leaving stories of their service.
@davebrittain9216
2 жыл бұрын
Hell yeah!
@JohnRodriguesPhotographer
5 жыл бұрын
One of the best pilots ever, Tony LeVeir.
@stevenleslie8557
Жыл бұрын
I had a conversation with an old WW2 veteran who used to train pilots to fly the P-38. The biggest fear they had was to be cut in two by the rear wing if they bailed out of the plane. He had to assure the rookies that the aerophysics would prevent this from happening. He also said he was a friend of Jimmy Stewart's who was stationed at the same airbase.
@marksheetz7488
Жыл бұрын
My dad flew P -38s in The South Pacific.
@marksheetz7488
Жыл бұрын
Jimmy Stewart was an Ace I think, as was Charles Bronson, if I'm not mistaken.
@cleeshann1928
4 жыл бұрын
Great movie! Really miss all the guys from back then. What an era to live through. Love the nastalga of that era, the movies the story's the music and most of all the innocence. Thank you to all the fighters of and for our country. To bad it isn't what it used to be.
@unfortunately_fortunate2000
5 жыл бұрын
I could listen to Tony LeVier speak all day! by god, what a glorious man!! nothing but respect and admiration for that man. *nothing!*
@billchapel5248
5 жыл бұрын
Those ladies did a great service for our country, getting the aircraft of many types onto the hands of the pilots, and crews that took them into combat much sooner than they would have got them without those brave ladies.
@Alvan81
5 жыл бұрын
There is a great thread by the Daughter of one of the WASPs on here and has photos! It's worth finding!
@TrapperAaron
4 жыл бұрын
One side note. The p38s they had in new Guinea came w their fuel tanks packed w little floating balls designed to "plug a hole in fuel tank from battle damage" the problem being in heavy maneuvers the balls would Interfere w fuel pickup tubes. Causing too lean a fuel mix and causing pre-detonation. Needless to say they removed the balls and gained extra fuel capacity. My grandpa's name was Emil. His buddy's called him Krutch as his last name was long and slovenian
@michaelpass2176
3 күн бұрын
Thank you for service and your family supporting you all thru the years. Your service to our nation and to our flag. Thank you
@ticdelarue
5 жыл бұрын
Excellant video. I've been intrigued with the P-38 since I was a young boy back in the late 1960' and early 70's. I remember playing in our back yard just one residential block from the birthplace of the Army Air Corp in Texas City, Texas. On some weekends I would spot two P-38's flying south towards Galveston at about 3,000 feet and remember admiring the twin tails. I've looked up in the P-38 registration and found the gentleman in Houston who owns one of those two planes and would like to meet with him one day and ask to sit in the seat of his Dad's plane.
@johnnycheung5824
3 жыл бұрын
God bless everyone of these men. They are the type of men that makes America great.
@mrgrivers1
5 жыл бұрын
These were some amazing stories. I thank you guy's, and all that were apart of this campain, for your service.
@michaelmoyer8892
4 жыл бұрын
I'm A Former U.S. Marine (GySgt) My MOS Was 7011 Launch & Recovery When I Entered Service In '82 Launch Was Gone. I Have TONS OF RESPECT FOR FIGHTER PILOTS My 1st Arrestment was an A-4 SKYHAWK Followed By An F-4 PHANTOM When We Had an Arrestment On The E-28 E for EMERGENCY WE COULD STOP ANY AIRCRAFT 350 KNOTS BUT THE PILOTS WOULD COME BY WITH A CASE OR MORE OF BEER THEY WOULD SHOW US THE BRUISES FROM THE HARNESS SOME HAD BLOOD IN THEIR EYES LIKE THEY GOT PUNCHED BUT WE ALSO HAD ABORT GEAR E5 CHAIN GEAR ROWS AND ROWS OF CHAIN THAT CAME FROM A SHIP WE HAD ONE INCIDENT WHERE AN A-4 SKYHAWK MISSED THE THE CHAIN GEAR IN EL TORO CA. HE WENT THRU THE BACK FENCE THE PILOT JUMPED RIGHT AFTER THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES!! MY 1st DUTY STATION WAS AN AUXILIARY BASE CALLED BOGUE FIELD WHERE PILOTS WUOLD DO " CARRIER QUALS" IT WAS VERY BUSY AND THE COWBELL KEPT BREAKING & THE LSO BET US A CASE OF BEER IF THE COWBELL BROKE ON THE NEXT ARRESTMENT WE WON IT DIDN"T BREAK THAT LSO WAS KINDA PISSED THAT HE LOST BECAUSE WE BROKE 4 IN A ROW BEFOREHAND!!! I HAD A VERY COOL CAREER UNTIL I PICKED UP STAFF SERGEANT THEN I WENT UP TO BE THE ASSISTANT NCOIC IN THE OFFICE WITH A E-9 HE RETIRED AFTER HE DID HIS 30 YEARS I THEN PICKED UP E-7 & I WAS THE NEW NCOIC BUT I MISSED WORKING ON THE GEAR SOMETHING WAS ALWAYS BREAKING OR THE GROUND SQUIRRELS WOULD CHEW THRU THE WIRES!! OUR GUESS WAS THEY LIKED THE TASTE OF THE INSULATION BUT SOMETIMES THEY'D SEVER THE GROUND WIRE AND OF COURSE IT WOULDN'T START I WAS THE ELECTRONICS SPECIALIST SO I BE CALLED OUT TO TROUBLESHOOT.... i'M DONE NOW MAN, I WROTE A LOT!!
@headbrown5629
4 жыл бұрын
And that's why these men are called the Greatest Generation!
@mackfisher4487
4 жыл бұрын
"harles D. Mohrle was born April 12, 1921 in Oklahoma City to Charles A. Mohrle and Anne Downey Mohrle of Kansas City; passed away at his home in Dallas on Tuesday, May 7th at the age of 92. Charlie spent most of his youth in Galveston, Texas, where he graduated from Kirwin High School. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 1 in Galveston and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended the first National Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington, DC in 1937. He was attending UT Austin when he responded to the attack on Pearl Harbor, by volunteering for the Army Air Corps in February 1942. After completion of basic flight training he was one of the original pilots assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron, part of the 405th Fighter Group in South Carolina, which entered combat in Christchurch, England in 1943. He completed 97 combat missions flying a P-47 and was highly decorated. " Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home
@kystars
3 жыл бұрын
Also I wanted to say THANKS SO MUCH for the past Veterans who fought for our country. So many great heroes'. Imagine fighting in world war 2, Korea, and then in Vietnam. totally amazing and the bravery they had . and they men that were lost, taken prisoner and tortured. wow, where do we get such men ? God Bless them all
@RagdollOC
5 жыл бұрын
Tony LeVeir. The man was a legend. And a wonderful man.
@seadegler
4 жыл бұрын
His name is correctly spelled Tony LeVier. Look him upon Wikipedia. Wow!
@fastpat1
7 жыл бұрын
My father flew the F-4/F-5 photo recon version of the P-38. He was already multi-engine rated as a B-25 instructor pilot before being sent to P-38 transition training. He flew 65 combat missions over Europe beginning in November of 1944, enough. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission where he completed a mission with one engine shot out. Later, my father became a charger member of the South Carolina Air National Guard, and when moving to North Carolina, he transitioned to the F-86 Saber Jet..
@frodorob
6 жыл бұрын
And...?
@lancebingham6895
6 жыл бұрын
During the battle of the bulge my grandpa Eldon Ben Bingham was out laying radio line between the infantry and artillery when a p 38 lighting started firing those guns.
@kaicorns2743
6 жыл бұрын
Pat Hines Did your father train at Colorado Springs Army Air Base/Peterson Field for photo recon in the F-4/F-5?
@hillbillyhellion3158
6 жыл бұрын
If you want to comment to someone like Pat you need to touch his comment and then comment will come up for you to address him, if you just comment anywhere he may never know you ask him a question.
@maryjanepaolella7476
5 жыл бұрын
Pat Hines q
@insideoutsideupsidedown2218
4 жыл бұрын
Major Bong was the highest scoring ace in the US Air Corps and the highest scoring ace in WWII. He flew, not the P 51, but the P38 Lightning and scored 40 victories. US Navy highest scoring ace was Dave McCampbell, 34 victories in the F6F Hellcat.
@pctshooter
6 жыл бұрын
I think this is the best and most fascinating P38 video I've ever seen!
@cesarriojas114
Жыл бұрын
These were real men and real Americans! We need our kids and young adults to see this! Our young are weak and Many are WOKE! Sad we have lost this type of person in our country! We were blessed to have these men fight for us!
@jimheckert5383
4 жыл бұрын
God bless America and these outstanding young men. Thank you Sirs 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@spazboy8962
5 жыл бұрын
One of the best documentaries I've EVER seen! Absolutely fantastic!!!
@johnstauffer8772
5 жыл бұрын
I only recall ever seeing a P-38 in flight. I was , maybe, 7-8 years old, as WWII ended in Europe, when I was one week into my 9th year.
@davemalone3820
6 жыл бұрын
R.I.P Tony LeVier, you were one hell of a pilot.
@sparky16261
2 жыл бұрын
I would sit and listen to some of the pilots of the 475t h at the Reno air races and they way they walked about Tony was inspirational. He must have been a fantastic pilot.
@briscoedarling3237
5 жыл бұрын
“Purt near” the best documentary I have seen on any warbird......
@slit4659
4 жыл бұрын
Briscoe.....Darn tooting it's Purt near the Real Deal....By Fully....Sky King Ain't Got Nutin on these Boys.....
@jok99teez
2 жыл бұрын
Great stories here. Like others, my Dad was with the 82nd airborne and came in to France during D-Day. Dad told us the story where they were getting strafed by a 109. Dad and the squad all jumped into the gutter by the road when he heard a P38 fly right over the tree line and came into perfect position and shot the 109 down. Pilot flew back over the dad's squad and did the traditional wing wave which meant all clear to ground troops.
@finaloption...
2 жыл бұрын
OMG! The ground rescue story has to be the most amazing rescue story there is!
@Arctic_Cat423
5 жыл бұрын
In the early 2000s I had the honor to phone interview WASP pilot Aksha Barnwell Peacock Holfelder Donnels. I wrote an English paper about her. She wrote an autobiography. One of the stories she told me about her personal aircraft she wanted to make her Jenny more aggressive sounding so she took a screwdriver to the exhaust punching holes in it. Also in college at a flea market my dad brought me over to a friend of his who piloted B-17s. He looked at me, an Aeronautical Engineering student, and said he knows that thousand-yard stare that I had. Pilots on the ground have it.
@craig8031
5 жыл бұрын
What a fantastic documentary...thanks to all who took the time to put this together. And thanks to all the pilots for your service and candidly sharing your experiences with us all.
@fatboy19831
5 жыл бұрын
This was amazing. Thank you for all that were involved in the making of this film.
@georgeferguson7114
6 жыл бұрын
Very impressed by the humility shown by the veteran pilots.
@mikestrycker6474
6 жыл бұрын
Agreed
@ichigorobei
5 жыл бұрын
Yes, and it's really great stuff the test pilot is talking about -- you can learn a lot about what went into the development and testing of these terrific aircraft.
@jcz232321
5 жыл бұрын
I think with age, and the ability to look back is the key. A few of the stated how they were eager to fight when young, but in retrospect many were humbled in appreciation of those that didn't make it home, and the ground support crews that were not given leave, or early out. With time came humility, and with humilty came humanity.
@1stinsonguy
5 жыл бұрын
Humility is easier to come by 79 years after they've tried to kill you. lol
@pollyg562
5 жыл бұрын
i considered myself a hard man,until i watch what these guys went through and incomparison im nothing but a little kid in comparison, thankyou ladies and gents, i remember learning french and Italian at school i relized im useless at learning languages so thank god and these guys or i might be failing Japanese and German
@garyg.8564
4 жыл бұрын
one of many great documentrys on the p38 ...i wish i was there to help these guys at that time ...cheers to you
@RedcoatsReturn
5 жыл бұрын
Excellent documentary! What a fantastic plane that was and brave men who flew them!
@rksguit
4 жыл бұрын
Civility no.(Number one again NOT surprising form), ONE!
@TrapperAaron
4 жыл бұрын
My grandfather was part of the 475 satan's Angel's, he was stationed near port moresby, in new Guinea. He was a p38 mechanic. Apparently one of their biggest problems was food supply. Eventually the "abbos" (aboriginal people) showed the group what to eat and what would kill u. Fyi termites apparently taste like crunchy peanut butter
@fredkruse9444
5 жыл бұрын
This is the best military documentary I ever watched.
@snaproll94e
5 жыл бұрын
So much respect for all that served and supported them. Truly the greatest generation. Thank you for the freedoms and lives you have given us.
@garywheeler7039
5 жыл бұрын
Expert first hand testimony, great stuff, great to have this all recorded.
@skyrocketautomotive
5 жыл бұрын
Beautiful aircraft, stationed here in the UK (formerly Mount Farm Airfield, home to the 7th usaaf photo recon, now the village of Berinsfield in Oxfordshire) and we're still very proud to have had you guys here, the village is very much in touch with its history and admire 7th PR as some of the bravest: to fly into WW2 Berlin armed only with a camera takes serious balls, and if noone else remembers we all will. Thank you for your service lads!
@autolode4215
5 жыл бұрын
Probably the best aviation video I've ever watched on KZitem simply amazing stories !!!
@donnhughes7139
2 жыл бұрын
I now better understand why we are a free country....American heroes were not in shortage....thank you gentlemen for your service and sacrifice, we are forever a grateful nation....God bless all of you !!!
@hansmueller3029
3 жыл бұрын
" ...I got into compressability on purpose, so, I...." These types of guys we will always need.
@georgecox2125
3 жыл бұрын
George
@chuckles470s9
5 жыл бұрын
Awesome testimony from the pilots.
@stevethul1
5 жыл бұрын
What we say in the aviation when it comes to having two engines is "if one Quits you still have the other One there to Help Keep the Pilot Cool".
@jimrubin3335
4 жыл бұрын
My cousin (my dad's first cousin) was Major Milton Joel of the 55th Fighter Group. He commanded a wing of P-38's in the 38th fighter Squadron out of Nuthampstead airfield in England and was shot down over Germany on his 18th and final mission, while escorting bombers in 1943. His body was never found. My dad, several years younger, was in the US Army of Occupation in Germany 1945-47 and made a great effort trying to locate his beloved cousin's remains, or to see if he had been captured. Maj. Joel could have stayed in the US, training pilots, as he had been, but requested to go and fight. Cousin Milton was well loved by everyone in the family and was an only child. My great aunt Minnie, his mom, never talked about him much to me and my brother, but she had a collection of pictures of him and medals he earned at her home that eventually were donated to the air museum here in Richmond, VA (now defunct, that was located at the Richmond Int'l Airport) that highlighted hometown fighter pilots. The memorabilia is now in the hands of a cousin, a Joel. The brave men and women of that generation that served in World War Two just did their jobs as best they could, often under awful conditions. I never served in the military, but I have great respect for anyone that did and currently does.
@baltsosser
5 жыл бұрын
Having studied WWII Pacific action from the time I was 8 years old this has become one of my top 3 favorite WWII aircraft. really pleasing to look at visually, and knowing you have two engines vice a single well suited for use in a theater of combat where losing your only engine might mean you need to be a good swimmer.
@douglasbair5647
2 жыл бұрын
I have always admired pilots of WWII! I had the privilege of servicing the oxygen equipment of a real gentleman in his last years, in St George Utah, a P-38 pilot that flew in the pacific theater. Joseph Van Dehear, I can’t remember his last name exactly, this has inspired me to pull out his book, his memories and reread it and honor him this 4th of July! 🇺🇸🦅
@benvankoningsveld
7 жыл бұрын
Fascinating documentary, the story about Willsie being rescued by Andrews by landing his P-38 in a field is just incredible!
@yellowhammer4747
6 жыл бұрын
Thats big time! That is love for your fellow man!
@juanequis6951
6 жыл бұрын
The old saying,adage; "That their is NO greater love,than that of a man who gives his life to save his Brothers in Arms.
@marthakrumboltz2710
Жыл бұрын
Without question one of the best narratives abt an aircraft ever. Tony LeVier and all of the combat relayed by these men is fantastic. Thanks for putting this together.
@emmanuelsamaras8974
4 жыл бұрын
Excellent video. I salute these magnificent pilots and submit my gratitude for their service
@avoidingtrees560
4 жыл бұрын
A very humble thank you to you American mechanics and pilots for my freedom. Cheers from france
@avoidingtrees560
3 жыл бұрын
@David Wood Thank you very much. I lived in your amazing nation for 5 years , ( Houston Texas ).they were the best years of my life by far. I did visit once with my kids one American cemetery in Normandie, and after a couple of hours , I bursted in tears. Very special moving place. Kind regards from the French alps
@grantburris
5 жыл бұрын
I am so proud of all these guys. My admiration is beyond words to express. In my life I have known one P38 pilot who was one of my customers. He said he was transferred over to fly a B17 when we began to run short of bomber pilots. It was an interesting story.
@100forks
6 жыл бұрын
This may be the best P38 documentary. I sure enjoyed it.
@dks13827
7 жыл бұрын
One of the best WWII videos ever. Thank you.
@michaelcuff5780
5 жыл бұрын
At such a terrible time! These are such great people! Man! These guys just blow me away! The things they saw and did must of been amazing!
@Curtislow2
7 жыл бұрын
Great Documentary. Great Generation of people.
@vetere0599
5 жыл бұрын
Yes they were! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@tenohaikabanzai
4 жыл бұрын
Go figure. Had a new Midway video going. Touched the phone and was switched to this! Dad Lewis w Jones worked for Lockheed. sp. Leaves me speechless.
@jeffmorton9220
Жыл бұрын
History resides in the minds, hearts, and imaginations of all individual men and women. Some history is better for us than others, but as an American, watching this video made my heart swell with pride. It opened my eyes to the small contributions that individuals made which, combined with contributions from others, created the history we learn as a composite in schools... only it was overlooked. History is too busy to be passed down in ways that make us able to understand and fully appreciate what actually happened. One of many examples of this came from the comments by pilots of the dedication of the men who kept their planes repaired and ready for the next mission. It was said that crew chiefs would watch the aircraft returning after a mission, and how some had tears in their eyes when their plane didn't return. My God, stuff this isn't taught in school. Does it matter? With tears in MY eyes, I say it does. The pride that these memories evoke contributes to what I hold dear about being an American. It is part of the American story.
@bigcahoona7931
7 жыл бұрын
There is so much to learn from "these old guys."
@juanequis6951
6 жыл бұрын
THEY ARE NOT GUYS, BUT "MEN" GREAT ONES AT THAT,SAVVY!!.
@mynameis9057
5 жыл бұрын
These stories and amazing adventures of survival, are why this generation is called "the greatest generation "!!! Period. Thank you and may God bless you all for your courage and service for everyone's freedom. ▪☆☆☆▪
@SubvertTheState
5 жыл бұрын
I was a Stryker vehicle driver in Iraq. My ex girlfriend and i were at a parade and some green soldiers from my old unit were there with one of the Stryker vehicles and i went into a long monologue of stories and specifications about the vehicle. The pilot giving a tour of the aircraft brought me back to that. I love hearing the enthusiasm in his voice, i can't believe after all these years he knows every square inch of this aircraft.
@alcoholfree6381
4 жыл бұрын
Amazing and riveting video. These guys are great. I salute them for their courage and bravery!!
@davidpotter3777
5 жыл бұрын
These are great men ! God bless you and your family, Aloha
@kingscourtgordondc
6 жыл бұрын
The P-38 is my favorite airplane of all time. This is a great group of stories about this wonderful aircraft. The men who flew it are truly Heroes. I especially like the comments about the American people and freedom.
@richardlorych9868
5 жыл бұрын
and now your gov't is taking away your freedom by degrees, negating the sacrifices of all those who died, and continue to die, in wars that help only the mega rich get even richer!
@4jonstotts
7 жыл бұрын
Wonderful bio -personable by the real people that flew this beautiful birds - in depth details, but never boring. Great job putting this together
@MJLeger-yj1ww
5 жыл бұрын
This was probably the very first aircraft in my life that I learned to identify! I could barely walk and talk and hardly pronounce "P-38" but my daddy would hold me up in his arms, point to the sky and say "That's a P-38" and every time I saw one, I'd point to the sky too and say "P-28!" I also learned to identify the B-29 in the air. Daddy used to take us over to a side road by an AFB to watch the planes take off and land, probably instilling in me early on my love for aviation and led me later on, to become a GA pilot. If it were today, and I had the chance, I think I would have tried to join the Air Force but back then, I wanted to become a physician like my father so that kept me in school for a lot of years. I would have loved to fly in some of those old birds, I did get to fly in a DC-3 years later, and helped fly it, quite a thrill!
@Ange4558
6 жыл бұрын
Wonderful review: It reinforces and adds to what I learned growing up during WWII and building models of those fighters.
@MagnarNordal
5 жыл бұрын
This is one of the better documentaries I have seen. And the final words are more important than ever: Flight training must be better.
@artbeau
5 жыл бұрын
Easily some of the best 90 minutes I've ever spent online!
@golfnovember
4 жыл бұрын
Last year at the Planes of Fame airshow in Chino, CA, five of these were flying in formation. In that brief time, there were more airworthy Lightnings flying than airworthy or complete planes sitting on the ground. A large fraction of the remaining airworthy Lightnings were in flight, and in the same place. Gave me chills seeing that.
@bradbutcher3984
4 жыл бұрын
I got to see a p-51 and a me-262 fly together at the wings over Houston in November 2014. I'd trade that memory any day to see a p-48 fly in person.
@rksguit
4 жыл бұрын
See RULE one anything else? must be HELPED over walkie E.T . SeeeeMY sister n brother(s)!
@jcbbb
6 жыл бұрын
The man that had the gall to attempt a field landing to save his buddy, knowing the chances of not breaking his nose gear was slim to none... That is amazing.. LOL as soon as I finished typing that, the man's last comment was exactly that the p38's best feature was landing gear... If you've flown or know much about props from that era that is quite remarkable indeed.
@natural-born_pilot
5 жыл бұрын
The brotherhood of American fighting service personnel.
@mroger29sh
7 жыл бұрын
excellent thx and bless ur heart 4 being so brave and serving this country
@mroger29sh
7 жыл бұрын
got it 4 those that gave there lives and my friends nuff said miss them
@kystars
3 жыл бұрын
Great video. There were many GREAT American fighter planes. The P38 may not have been the very best,but it was for those men who flew it in those situations. it was a very important fighter plane in the Pacific. Howard Huges showed the men how to conserve their fuel so they were able to fly and attack Japanese bases. the Japanese were soooooooo surprised.
@dougbrown6690
3 жыл бұрын
This documentary is now 30 years old, and sadly, most of these incredible men are no longer with us. This is a treasure to have recorded for posterity. Grateful.
@marksheetz7488
Жыл бұрын
My dad was in the 433rd Sq.'s 475th Fighter Gr. He began in a P-51 but moved up to The Lightning in early '44.
@joesmith3501
Жыл бұрын
Absolutely
@Cutter-jx3xj
7 ай бұрын
I had a friend who was a pilot of a P-38 he lived in Brownwood TX. He passed over a decade ago
@joevanseeters2873
23 күн бұрын
Dick Willsie's stories were especially interesting, speaking of how he narrowly escaped after crash landing in German held territory on a German airfield, only to be strafed while on the ground by six ME109's after newly arrived Lt. Dick Anders decided to help out his squadron commander by landing his P-38 on an enemy airfield while completely out of ammunition, was strafed by ME109's while on the ground, and then asked his commander WIllsie, who was injured from being hit in the head by flak, to climb into his cockpit and fly them both out of there. Willsie didn't argue as he was the more experienced pilot and Anders climbed into the cockpit and literally squeezed himself in behind Willsie putting his leg over Willsie's shoulder and the other down the other side by the landing gear. Willsie said that while all this was going on, he could see, hear, and smell the dog fighting going on right above his head and it was a sight to behold and almost surreal. Expecting a low chance of survival, Willsie quickly took off as soon as the canopy was secured and was able to safely take off and eventually he and Ander's landed safely back at their base. Ander's heroic landing and rescue of his squadron commander Willsie was not the only case of a pilot landing their airplane behind enemy lines to rescue another pilot during WWII. There are numerous accounts of pilot's landing and picking up their fellow Countrymen or allied nations pilots in distress. This was incredibly dangerous as Helicopters were in their very infancy and not adapted to military extraction use yet. German Oberst (Colonel) Hans Ulrich Rudel who was a Stuka squadron commander in WWII, the most famous Stuka pilot of all time, and one of the most decorated combat pilots of all time, being awarded the GOLDEN Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Equivalent to FIVE medals of honor) just before the end of the war and the only person to ever receive the award in history, landed his Stuka under heavy enemy fire on at least six different occasions during the war, on the Russian front, to rescue downed German pilots either from his squadron or other German pilot's who were in distress, crash landed, and/or bailed out of their planes after being shot down. He may have more landings in airplane (not helicopter) to save a fellow pilot than any other pilot in history. Rudel flew one of the slowest aircraft of WWII, but was an extremely brave and talented Stuka pilot, once he came into his own as a Stuka pilot, a year or two after he was actually trained, because he started out having difficulties flying the aircraft. Rudel survived being shot down or being shot up so bad he had to force land or crash land on at least 24 different occasions during WWII and had his leg blown off towards the end of the war, only to be back in the cockpit with a bleeding stump of a leg just six weeks after it was blown off against Doctor's orders to never fly again. Rudel flew missions to the very last hours of WWII and eventually surrendered to the US Forces in Europe after crash landing his Stuka at the end of the runway upon surrendering so it couldn't be used by the Allied forces. Living legend Perry J. Dahl is the last living P-38 combat pilot and (as of 2024) is still alive at 101 years old. Dahl had nine confirmed kills in his P-38 in the Pacific theater and retired as a Colonel in the US Air Force many years later. The P-38 will no doubt go down in history as one of the most remembered and loved combat airplanes of not only World War II, but of all time. It was the F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lightning II of the World War II era and was a feared aircraft by the Axis powers, especially after they worked out a lot of the early "kinks" in the design such as adding the aileron boost to help take off and landings, in addition to giving it a much better roll rate and turning rate which then could combat the more agile single engine German and Japanese fighter aircraft. Alternate weaponry was also introduced for specialized variants and some had more or less machine guns, no cannon, two cannons and two machine guns, etc. It depended on the variant and what design changes they were testing at the time. The RADAR equipped variants were the most technically advanced and were introduced towards the end of the war as the Allied nations were unsure how much longer the war would be continuing on, even after Germany was defeated. It wasn't believed that Japan would ever surrender, and certainly not as early as it was due to the A-bomb being dropped which essentially ended WWII. Once WWII hostilities were concluded and the war ended, the P-38 was quickly retired from service due to the rapidly emerging jet engine technology. Most nations focused heavily on jet powered aircraft development and almost completely abandoned piston engined aircraft other than the few cases (Such as the Russian's Tupolev strategic bombers, which are still in use after 70 years of service), transport aircraft, and also some electronic warfare aircraft such as the Naval Forward Control and Electronic Countermeasure Aircraft. The "Hurricane Hunters" also still use piston powered aircraft in the modern age for flying into hurricanes as they are less susceptible to lightning strikes.
@rpm1796
2 жыл бұрын
Freedom...can be lost, like sand through our hands.
@alancollard8939
6 жыл бұрын
loved the section by the test pilot and his work with kelly johnson
@lokensga
5 жыл бұрын
Power steering for automobiles was NOT a result of the P-38's roll-assist mechanism. The concept had been tried 20 years earlier but never made it into mass production until 1951.
@davidh6300
4 жыл бұрын
Yes, he really seemed to know his stuff.
@tomsmith5947
4 жыл бұрын
Amazing stories about actually flying the P38. Thanks to the internet things like this will live on forever and for future generations to learn from.
@adams1961
6 жыл бұрын
Hello KZitem Management: This an excellent documentary. Hearing these men talk about the P-38 is priceless history. (Probably most of them are now gone as of my viewing in 2017.) But you don't provide us any detail as to the dates of the interviews, the name of the great narrator (who sounds like the late Bill Curtis), the names of all those involved in the credits, etc. Please do this. Thank you. FYI my father with a newly-minted engineering degree designed assemblies for WWI planes at Willow Run near Detroit. He was virtually drafted by the War Manpower Office (I believe that was the exact name) to work for Ford and then General Motors in their defense contracts organizations. Those planes built in the U.S. were the key factor as to why we prevailed in WWII. We had the ability to cripple Germany's war production with the bombing raids that originated in the UK. • Jeff Adams - Berkeley CA
@thegreenfaction
5 жыл бұрын
It's ~1995, one of the vets said now 40 years later in the interview.
@charleseinarson
5 жыл бұрын
At the end of the video there is some information about S.A.F.E and he states that this organization was founded 7 years ago. Doing some research shows that the organization was founded in 1991 so the video is from around 1997. I also heard one of the pilots mention that his memory might be off 50 years later so that backs up my guess.
@The_Conspiracy_Analyst
5 жыл бұрын
(c) 1991, Narrator is "Steel Colony". It's in the credits at the end, dude
@albertrimar9855
5 жыл бұрын
adams196
@matthewgenelin6212
5 жыл бұрын
It's not the job of KZitem to edit the videos.
@RNZN102939
4 жыл бұрын
As a New Zealand citizen I am grateful for your and fellow airmen or your service as I would not have what I have today. Thank you for a brilliant depiction of your experiences of which I found were very rewarding to my sense of curiosity in War History
@michaeldougfir9807
5 жыл бұрын
Excellent presentation. Dad was in the Aleutians. He would have loved this presentation.
@johndunkle740
4 жыл бұрын
We just listened to a real American hero. They are getting very rare. Let's not forget them and let their story's been told in every class from first grade on through our lives. If we don't, those events will return and we will regret their return because forgetting the past is when we start repeating it. And it won't be fun.
@folksinger2100
5 жыл бұрын
I think you will find that the first multi role allied fighter was a Mosquito in 1941 it’s top speed was 392mph.
@editorjuno
7 жыл бұрын
It's great to hear flawlessly accurate first-hand information from somebody who actually flew the machine all through its development -- priceless!
@mike80411
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing this information on the P-38. I enjoyed this so much and learning more history about the pilots and the plane and what modifications the P-38 went through. Appreciate and salute all of our military pilots and soldiers for your service.
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