Consider signing up for my free WWII History newsletter HERE: tj3history.ck.page/0440475ff7 or join my Patreon HERE: www.patreon.com/TJ3History Thanks for watching! -TJ

My elderly neighbor who has now passed away flew P-38’s for the 5 th AF. I was humbled when he gave me a copy of his memoirs several years ago. He told me that at a time his wingman was Richard Bong. What an incredible person he was. He will alway be remembered. He will always be missed. Thank you Bob……

My dad flew a P-38 with the 432nd. Peregroy was on of my dad's best friends during the war. I was fortunate to be able to attend many 475th reunions with my dad until his Parkinson's prevented it. I have signatures of 7 P-38 aces including Perry Dahl, and Joe Forrester. My dad was 1st Lieutenant Ralph Gutierrez. He trained in a Stearman Biplane, then a P-39 AiroCobra, then the P38. He flew P-47s out of Kirtland Field in the reserves after the war. He flew 63 missions in the Pacific and was awarded the Air Medal, China Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and 5 bronze battle stars. He flew with Col. McDonald as his CO as well as with Charles Lindbergh, when he showed the 475th pilots how to extend their range. Those pilots saved the world. Great Video TJ!

Bong was a member of the 49th FS before he left the USA and headed to Europe. After he looped the Golden Gate Bridge, he was kicked out of the 49th and sent to the Pacific. I saw a photo of the 49th at Hamilton Field and picked out Bong on the far left of the group.

My dad was a P38 pilot in the pacific theatre. He loved flying that plane.

My great uncle Ralph Virden died flying the P-38 during high-speed dive tests in 1941. They hadn’t worked out how to recover and the tail of his ship broke off. Went to the crash site, now a residential neighborhood in Glendale when I was working in California a few years ago. Thanks for the great video.

My dad was with an aviation support squadron that serviced P-38’s. He was on the first contingent to arrive in Australia via the Queen Mary that escaped a Nazi submarine trap off Rio on the way to Australia and then on to Port Moresby in 1942.

My grandfather LOVED his P-38. Always wish he’d lived long enough to tell me about it, but he told his sons. He flew the F5 recon solo over Germany with no weapons. I have some neat pictures of his. Always my favorite plane.

My Dad watched one of his high school friends crash & die on a training flight in a P-38. Both had dropped out of 2nd year of high school to volunteer for the War (not for glory-- their fathers knew the horrors of WWI--- because in western Washington State after Pearl Harbor, they thought they might have to defend their own home town. My Dad volunteered to be a tail-gunner on a B-17. Thank you so much for this video, & moreso, for helping our next generations appreciate what our "Greatest Generation" did for us. Dad & 4 of 5 uncles served in WWII (the 5th in Korea), & their mothers, fathers, & sisters served & sacrificed so much at home. I chose a career to teach history to honor of them & all our generous ancestors who deserve so much of our humble gratitude.

About 35 years ago I got to sit in Lefty Gardners P-38 while it was in Santa Maria. The thing people don't realize is just how BIG it is. Having also sat in a P-51, I was stunned to see what a difference it was to the wingtips. The P-38 has 20 FEET more wingspan that the Mustang, and pretty much any other single engine fighter.

Battle with a Zero. He who dives, shoots and dives away (to repeat), lives to fight another day, he who dives, shoots and stays to play, frequently dies upon this day!

My father was a Lightning pilot, eventually flying 65 combat missions over France and Germany. His P-38 was an F-5 recon version. Because I was involved in aviation, we talked at length about his P-38 experience.

Beautifully done TJ! The stories provide the truth but visually your work is so realistically done it draws the viewer in. The weathered appearance of the aircraft-paint chipping,exhaust and oil stains, gun powder burns and even oxidation on paint schemes add to the attention to detail. Flaps,rudder and ailerons moving in unison with the aircraft’s motion is such a nice touch! Always well done! Thanks for these pieces of art!

Thank you very much for producing this very well done video. My Father's favorite plane was the P-38 and I'm sure he would have loved this. Man... the ending sure did stir some emotions. The Japanese and Germans of WW2 were a representation of what many alive today need to know about and learn from. No country has been perfect and there are people and events throughout history that irrefutably show what depths our species can reach.

Dick Bong is a legend. Great guy Dick Bong. Couldnt ask for a better pilot than Dick Bong

Wonderfully done as usual. The beginning of Kelley Johnsons genuis designs. This one was a tear jerker. So many natives died at the hands of the Japanese for helping Americans and our Australian brothers in the war. Here is a true story that was told to me by my best friends dad. He was a hard hat diver during the war. He was stationed on a Pacific island for a while. The Japanese had been ruthless to the local people. Rape,murder and torture. They agreed to help the Americans and show them to an encampment with Japanese higher ups. The raid went well, and they captured a colonel or major, Im not sure. They brought him back to the American camp and had him sitting in the back of a jeep. He was surrounded by gaurds. My friend's dad was among the crowd to see the Japanese commander. Then, a villager who had helped with finding the Japanese calmly walked up to the jeep and, with one swift move,lopped off the head of the prisoner. They had no interest in information. They wanted blood, and they continued to exact it whenever they could on the Japanese. The Americans really wanted to interrogate him. From what i gather, nothing was done to the native.

I was friends with an older gentleman who grew up, went to college in and returned home to Brownwood TX. His last name was Dirtsche and he flew a P-38 and flew with Dick Bong. Mr Dirtsche was a very quiet, humble man and was a kind a person as u could meet.

A friend of mine who had flown a P38 in World War II had given me a control yoke and his leather flying cap as a gift. Years later I returned them to him and he donated them to the Bong Memorial Museum in Superior, Wisconsin. Also, I had met Marge, Bongs wife at an EAA event in Oshkosh and I got her autograph.

Hey, I just wanted to say I think this is a very good video idea. For small stories that are hard to tell adding interactions like that makes it way more interesting and it’s still able to tell the story of the individuals who are involved. I personally think this video was amazing. Thank you and I would love to see more!

A pilot described flying Number 2 to be watching Number 1's back and letting him make the attack.

Actually the proper defense from the OSCAR attack was the hi-g barrel roll. Diving might work but is purely defensive and costs you altitude you won't get back. The barrel roll gives you a good chance of escaping AND going offensive again whilst losing little if any altitude and airspeed.

Lt. Christopher Bartllett: i'd never heard of him before now, never forget him from now on. Poor brave man, i hoped until the end his brother would rejoin him. So sad....

This is , in my opinion, one of the best military aviation channels on KZfaq. TJ , thanks for what you do in bringing these great videos to us your viewers . Your channel never fails to provide great info and entertainment . Keep up the amazing work. 👍

I know that the P-38 had its drawbacks (especially its high purchase and maintain cost!!!) and it is a very complex/complicated/difficult aircraft, but still maybe my No.1. favorite.

This was as interesting as it was well crafted. I especially liked the "choose your own adventure" format. Well done!

My friend's dad was a radio operator / navigator on a B25. He would talk about being escorted by P38's and how they would often fly on one engine to save fuel until they spotted trouble.

Ah yes the P-38. Well too bad it didn't have that 'super boost' as we saw in the movie "Iron Eagle 3" hell would have been a huge game changer.

The P-38 lightning was a fantastic fighter to go up against the famous axis fighters like the zero’s bf-109s and fw-190s great video TJ3. Could you do the story of Major William Levertte the p-38 pilot who shot Down 7 Stukas in one day.

Re-think. Had Kelly Johnson's pusher/puller P-38 configuration been wisely chosen instead of UNsafe horizontally-opposed twins; we'd have not needed handed engine complications, less deaths and more 1-engine out recoveries as well as a more maneuverable dogfighter. The WW2 "Greatest Generation" didn't get things right as WW2 ended too quickly for this to happen.

Shout out to Uncle Keith and the rest of the Headhunters, all of them heroes.

I enjoyed this presentation, based upon an actual historical situation.

40th ID was a CA National Guard division. Thats why the brother, from Fresno, was with the 40th ID

This was such an immaculately crafted episode. Thank you TJ for bringing these heroes back to life for the proper honor they deserve.

Back in the 80s a vet who flew as a gunner on a flying fortresses told me that one did not have a high life expectancy. He never met Clark Gable but he he heard about him. He knew what he was. He would give anyone an autograph and was nice to anyone and everyone. He'd pose in pictures upon request with anyone who asked be with him in a picture. it was said that he knew a lot of the guys he met were not going to be around to long, and the stress was extreme for flight crews, so he tried his best to make anyone feel good.

To share his story keeps him alive. Never forgotten

I like how you combined a documentary video with a "quiz" one. Very nice job

That name..."Slightly Dangerous". I think the we missed out on a movie with Bill Murray as a P-38 Pilot.

Another wonderful video, keep up the amazing work of telling these aviators stories, they do not deserve to be forgotten.

Excellent format and very good imagery. Just a small correction, for the record. Rabaul (which rhymes with "cowl") is not an island (03:37) but a harbor town on the island of New Britain.

That was the first one of your videos I've seen mate. I'm impressed. Well done. It's good work, and your attention to detail is second to none. I'm gunna subscribe and see more of your work. Cheers mate. 👍🇦🇺

The withering firepower of a P-38 would scatter a Zero into confetti.

Boom and zoom Like Major Bong. And your weapons did not need to converge at 400 yards. Just avoid aileron lock until they added dive brakes which turned out to be an asset in ground attacks.

Dive and go left ..Zeros would pull to the right and couldn't follow...engine torque and aileron reversal would force it right in a dive... due to it's light construction .

01:50 Looks cool how the planes be bouncing up and down.

Another excellent story. Would love a video about Richard Bong, americas ace of aces deserves the tj3 treatment

I like how TJ3 does the different options a,b,c multiple questions In this YT video documentary We need more YT video channels like this cuz this put you right in the pilots seat directly 🕊️ Of ✌️ TJ3

Great video TJ! Those were some tough decisions. I would’ve back off the throttle in the first one, but when the zero came up from behind, that there is a tough choice. Dive and leave your leader to save your skin and leave him alone. My respect level for the airmen at that time just went up even more. By the way, the lighting is my favorite aircraft from that time. Thanks again sir for the great videos! Happy Mardi Gras from NOLA!

I’ve always ADORED this series of videos, please make as many as you can!! ❤❤

Richard Bong was notorious for losing wingmen.

Heaven is for Heroes, R.I.P.

Incredible story and sacrifice, thank you all for keeping it alive! Godspeed team🇺🇸🎗

When AiC returned with a new vocalist. They played a gig where James Hetfield guested on vocals for this song - well worth a reaction.

07:10 Oscar!

(With all due respect to Lt. C. Bartlett in regard to the content and context of this comment.) Since this is a "would you survive" video/scenario, I want to point out that my first decision, which was designated as "incorrect" by the video, actually led to my survival from this encounter and return with the remainder of my squadron. I chose option "A" (pull back to give space) & a better overall view of the situation and around my wingman, similarly to how the squadron initially covered the bombers. Since I was in this position and realized immediately that the attacking enemy aircraft, although not "Zeros," were still attack fighters as opposed to bombers or any other inappropriate mission assignment aircraft, so I was not distracted by that pointless consideration, as well I was not in a position to be gawking at some other P-38 that was not my wingman, I was able to identify threats more readily and respond appropriately. I thought this video's intent was to show the proper decisions to survive. Being that Lt. C. Bartlett did not (unfortunately) survive, then I have to question the legitimacy of the declaration of which decisions were or were not correct. Like I said, this is not to be disrespectful to Lt. Bartlett as from what was depicted of the events by this video, his decisions were based on doctrine and of course the situation at/of the time the events actually happened. Just seems to me that if the video's intent is to show how to survive yet the decisions made led, ultimately, to the loss of the pilot, then the decisions cannot be legitimately declared as "correct" in order to survive the mission. Sorry, love the channel and all, but I had to call this one out.

I like this kind of video interaction!! Like you just not only watch the vid but you also learn how things are done and how to to them in WT.

Thank you TJ for providing these interesting chapters of historical events. imho I feel you are providing a service to the public for the purpose of historical education. Is there a possibility you can file for a grant to keep producing these episodes? Please keep up the valuable work!

Sad story. Great graphics.

This is fascinating. Thank you for helping us understand a little better what are predicessors went through for us.

All of you , ( likely) are very young, so the video games you play will give you a Walter Mitty experience. My dad was in the New Guinea Pacific theater, and at first only P-39 Aircobras protected his island, and the Japanese bombed them with impunity. The arrival of the new P-38 squadron resulted in the destruction of the daily Japanese bombing force from Rabaul, and the morale soared .

There is nothing as exciting as personal history👍👍👍

What a very awesome way to make a documentary about this amazing aviator’s journey. Sad that in the end he lost his life in the end. Near the end I was very hopeful that you were going to say that his brother had found him.

Great video. You never disappoint when ever I see you have posted a new video I know it will be interesting and very informative proving you have really done your homework when it comes to researching the subject. Can't wait to see what's next. Please "Keep 'em Flying".

Really enjoy your Channel TJ being Aussie, especially your episodes around PNG and the Solomon’s.

Nicely done! You put in a lot of effort for sure! Nice touch at :33 to show the earthen revetment. I flew into Port Moresby PNG in 1990, and there were horseshoe shaped WWII revetments all around the perimeter of the airport. After a stopover in Lae ( Where Amelia Earhart was last seen) We flew to Rabaul. I did not know that Rabaul had been Japanese held.

As an PPG player I really enjoy this kind of videos that puts me in the cockpit of a warbird. 👍👍

Great vid man, its like playing WT. Nice!!!!

Wow, this is a really cool video. Easily earned my subscription. Keep it up, 💯

Kind of reminds me of the "Dogfights" series. Great work!

this is great. the p38 always grabbed my attention for some reason.. awesome video. A few specs on the planes,would be cool. like gun setups, engines and hp, based off of.. ie: isnt the p38 pretty much 2x p51's?

God speed Lt.Christopher Bartllett see you in the Friendly's Skies of Heaven...yours very truly Alfonso Cantu USMC

fun vid, thx I love the choice thing. going to look at more.

Just discovered this channel, well told story with excellent graphics, subscribed. What a sad ending that he was turned in by a missionary.

Really good animation. Thanks. GB

This is an incredible way to teach history! Congratulations! This is awesome!

Outstanding video!

Love this style of choices

Oscar raised hell with Maj Thomas Mcguire and his improvised Search for Trade. Not the trade he expected. A Frank there as well over Cebo PI.

Super video. Thanks.

First-time viewer here and I am tremendously impressed! Hopefully, I'll see more of you. Thank you.

LOVE THIS STYLE

Damn good job posting a 'you are there' feel. kudo's amigo.

Wow! Just F&%king wow. Thank you, the P 38 is my home.

Love your videos!

10:45 Dive!!

Another fantastic video

Another great video! I really like these survival videos. I survived this until the German guy. Keep up the great work.

Not the ending I was hoping for.

This story is the exact reason I would’ve followed the coast as long as I could have, and then headed for base

Outstanding..

Rabaul was a death bed for Japanese pilots. The had no quinine and malaria and dysentery raged through the Japanese pilots. They were typically expected to fly even when sick. When fighting over Guadalcanal they were flying 8 hour found trips. Replacement pilots were inadequately trained .

8:59 the way he said it🤣🤣

@TJ3 >>> Great video...👍

P38s had a higher ceiling and about 70mph top speed advantage over Zeros.

Wow! Quite a story

F*ck! I really hoped for a nice ending of the story. Nice work!

great plane!

Perfect.

amazing aircraft

Pilots generally liked the P-38. It was a forgiving, albeit complicated, airplane to fly. Technical problems reduced its effectiveness in the ETO.

These videos are absolutely awesome. It's such a sin that he didn't make it. The Japanese we're so awful to the POWs.