Sorry if this has been covered, I got to page ten and gave up!
I've seen numerous referrals to the P-38 Lightning, a.k.a. "the Forked Tailed Devil."
Anyone know what made it a superior air combat plane?
All aircraft with a single inline piston engine had one unique drawback, the reciprocating crankshaft/rod/piston assembly in the engine created a gyroscopic effect which caused the plane to not be able to turn as tight a turn in one direction. The P-38 had counter-rotating engine that cancelled this effect, it could turn just as tight a turn in both directions. This greatly benefited the plane in aerial dogfights!
As for the B-25 my dad was in the 10AF, 12th Bomb group, 81st Squadron and flew B-25's in WWII. According to him the design of the plane, with a vertical stabilizer directly behind each engine, made it the "sweetest flying bomber" in the air. Said that once trimmed out it would darn near fly itself (He'd done some training on B-24/B-17's). One of the other interesting things he'd mentioned was the B-25G was equipped a 75mm M4 cannon. He said when you'd fire that big 'ole thing the recoil made it feel like the plane "paused" in the air momentarily.
Also if you're ever in Tuscon, you need to take the bus tour of AMARG a.k.a. AMARC. The nearby Pima Air and Space Museum (also a "must see") has them available Mon-Fri.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/309th_A...neration_Group
"AMARG is a controlled-access site, and is off-limits to anyone not employed there without the proper clearance. The only access for non-cleared individuals is via a bus tour which is conducted by the nearby Pima Air & Space Museum. Bus tours are Monday through Friday only."