That 5 Group Bomber Command experimented with using the North American P-51 Mustang in the hands of 617 Squadron to carry out the precision marking of targets during daylight raids during the summer of 1944 is comparatively well known. That 5 Group also experimented with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning to carry out a similar role by both day and night is less well known and the colour schemes carried by these P-38 Lightnings are enigmatic to say the least.
The origin of the suggestion that the Lockheed P-38 Lightning might be suitable as a target marking aircraft which would be flown by a Controller (popularly referred to as a Master Bomber) is not known, but a P-38J-20LO, radio call number 44-23482 arrived at HQ 54 Base at RAF Coningsby in 5 Group Bomber Command on or about 7 July 1944. It would appear that this aircraft was obtained by means of a personal arrangement between the Officer Commanding 54 Base, Air Commodore ACH Sharp, and Major General FL Anderson, Deputy Commander, Operations of the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSAFE) with the intention of using it to conduct operational trials to determine the most suitable aircraft to be used by the Master Bomber in order to control bombing operations both by day and by night in competition with the de Havilland Mosquito and North American P-51 Mustang.
HQ 54 Base at Coningsby had formed on 1 January 1944 to exercise administrative and operational control of a clutch of three airfields and their resident squadrons within 5 Group. These consisted of Coningsby itself, which by the summer of 1944 was home to 61 Squadron, 83 Squadron and 97 Squadron; Metheringham, home to 106 Squadron and Woodhall Spa, home to 617 and 627 Squadrons. With the exception of 627 Squadron, which was equipped with Mosquitos, all the other squadrons were equipped with Lancasters. Whilst one document seen by the author stated that the P-38 was to be assigned to 627 Squadron, it would appear that the P38 actually remained at Coningsby for the whole of its operational career.
This story is from the February 2017 edition of Scale Aircraft Modelling.
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This story is from the February 2017 edition of Scale Aircraft Modelling.
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