P 38 Lightning VS De Havilland Mosquito - Which Would You Want To Fight WW2 In?

Comments · 4.7K

• CA

  @CalibanRising · 3 years ago · pinned

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• PA

  @paulhumberstone4843 · 3 years ago

  thank goodness they were both on the same side &nbsp;brave airmen all

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• OL

  @oliverowen1217 · 3 years ago

  My father flew both on operations as a Master Bomber. Here are his first impressions of both types<br>19 July 1944 Target: Thiverny - V1 Storage site <br>A/C Mosquito DZ521<br>S/L C.B.Owen, F/L D.Bowes<br><br>Time: 3.00 <br>“First trip in Mossie, and my first daylight op. Took off an hour after the Lancs and caught them up at the French coast much to the joy of Don, who’d had enough of sitting behind the curtain in a Lanc and twiddling knobs. France looked very peaceful in the afternoon sun, and I even caught a glimpse of Paris in the distance. Heavy flak at the target, but the Lancs caught it while we watched. Left the Lancs at the coast and beetled back to base flat out. Arrived at dusk and beat up the mess, much to the consternation of the gang at the bar. Decided that a Mossie is definitely a safe way of going to war.” <br><br>1 August 1944 <br>Target: Ourville - V1 launching site <br>A/C Lightning 424360 <br>S/L C.B.Owen Time: 3.30 <br>“First trip in the Lightning, Curious sensation flying above cloud with no navigator to tell me where we were (or should be). Thankful to pick up the Lancs on the South Coast as cloud was getting very thick. 10/10 over the target so I called the show off and turned for home. Map-read back from Selsey Bill, which I found a bit of a strain after relying on a crew to do the dirty work. Found the Lightning very quiet and comfortable after a Lanc or a Mossie.”

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• RA

  @raebertgrayson5766 · 3 years ago

  I&apos;m a fan of both planes, so it would be very difficult for me to choose! As a small boy, my father, a former Navy (US) Engineer, used to take us boys to the various air shows put on by the military, featuring WW2 warbirds. During one such show, we boys were taken up in a P-38 for a brief flight. That was the noisiest, scariest, gosh-darned, EXCITING experience of my young life! We were strapped in behind the pilot, and I remember holding on for dear life as he took us up. He didn&apos;t do anything fancy, just up and circled the airfield. But it left quite the impression on me. So personally, I&apos;d choose the Lightning, if only for that reason.

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• RE

  @realworldtesla · 3 years ago

  I worked with Henry Ledrer in the 70s at Fairchild Republic. He was a WWII Ace who flew P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s. He liked the 38 for its twin engines, the 51 for its handling, but said he would only want to go back in a P-47 because it could take more punishment than the other two combined and still get you home safe.

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• AL

  @alanwayte432 · 3 years ago

  My Grandfather flew from 1940-46 he was shot down three times in Spitfire 5s, he flew 78 missions in Mosquito, he loved Spitfire 9 and said the ground crew for his third tour with Mosquito were able to give the engines some extra pep that saw him outrun 109G on numerous occasions, but in his own words his Mossie was an unusually fast kite 😊

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• CO

  @coldlakealta4043 · 3 years ago

  My Mother worked shifts at a De Havilland assembly plant at Downsview, Ontario, Canada during the war helping to make Mosquitos, which were apparently shipped in a knock-down state to the UK. She told us that airframes were never on the same ship as the engines. In case either one was lost in the Northern Atlantic, they only lost part of the final assembly rather than complete aircraft. I have photos of her in dungarees and bandanas - my own Rosie the Riveter!

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• GB

  @gbentley8176 · 3 years ago

  My late father changed from instructor to PR Mossie and also had a lightning which he flew as CO when in the Med. Overall he favoured the Mosquito. It got him through on several shoot up occasions and he survived two engine failures on take off. Out through the canopy of course. One mission from Poland saw a dead engine and unknown in the air, virtual loss of the tail from enemy shrapnel. The wooden construction held firm and one engine got them back He and his navigator felt it to be a safe plane. His log books tell many stories. God Bless all the brave pilots and crew of WW2.

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• MA

  @markcarter3617 · 3 years ago

  An old girlfriends dad was a pilot on mozzies during the war. The stories were incredible and he spoke of fondness for the old girl. <br>He also had loads of “photos” he took of the bombing runs in Norwegian fjords on German shipping ! Devastating. <br>God I miss him

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• DI

  @ditzydoo4378 · 2 years ago

  It&apos;s Apples and Oranges. &nbsp;They both are great multi-roll aircraft, but one is foremost a Fighter and the other a high-speed light Bomber/Attack aircraft.

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• SA

  @saltzen961 · 3 years ago

  Different planes and different missions . &nbsp;Personally ? &nbsp;I&apos;m exceeding grateful for both them , and the amazing crew who flew them .

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• AL

  @altebo · 2 months ago

  Kelly Johnson publicly acknowledged that the crash of the first XP-38 prototype was ultimately helpful. While crossing the U.S., the prototype proved its speed by setting a transcontinental record. Its destruction allowed Lockheed to fix early flaws and redesign major parts before mass production.

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