re: The B-17 that flew without a Cockpit. Piloted by crew with Balls of Steel -30 below zero

quote:

---

The P-36 and P-38 are entirely different aircraft designed and built by two entirely different companies, Curtiss and Lockheed, respectively.

---

You are correct. Good catch. This is why I mentioned the disclaimer, 'If I read this correctly". I didn't.

I assumed the memo's date of 1939 would be referring to the P-38 (Lockheed)and not pre-existing P-36 prototype (Curtiss) and the drop-tanks mention.

quote:

---

The P-36 Hawk was obsolete prior to the war.

---

That it was. Progress was accelerating exponentially by then. The eventual P-40 was a much better upgrade but no P-38.

quote:

---

You really can't apply the context of this memo to anything that happened over Europe in '43 and '44.

---

As it turns out. The original context of the memo mention was in noting rejection of P-36 "drop-tanks" for future extended hauls (budget) and discussion of extending P-38 distance as escort cover for slaughtered B-17 missions