[ACE-OF-ACES]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

http://www.winthrop.dk/p38op11.html

Like most twins, losing an engine means a ~75% reduction in performance.

Ok..

Bear with me here Crumpp

Because IMHO this post of yours is a little confusing..

Note.. it starts off with the heading/title..

-EMERGENCY OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS from the P-38 pilot's manual..
-Followed by the link to the P-38 pilot's manual..
-Followed by the statement Like most twins, losing an engine means a ~75% reduction in performance...

At a glance one would get the impression that the statement is from the P-38 pilots manual..

But I check the link and no where does it contain that statement..

So, at this point I can only assume that statement is simply your opinion and has nothing to do with the P-38 pilots manual, even though it was presented in such a way as to give the impression that it was from the P-38 pilots manual.

Originally Posted by Crumpp

Typically, the P-38 cannot hold altitude with gear and flaps extended.

True at very low MP settings..

But more importantly..

'Typically' you would NOT be flying around with your gear and flaps extended on one, let alone two engines!!

That configuration only comes into play during a landing..

Where your not trying to hold an altitude, your trying to reduce your altitude so you can land!

Originally Posted by Crumpp

The single engine does produce enough excess thrust to overcome the drag.

And more!

See the PERFORMANCE section I quoted below

Originally Posted by Crumpp

I found both of these quotes, back to back, in the P-38s pilots manual..

In the EMERGENCY OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS section (4) FURTHER INFORMATION with regards to the preceding section (3) SINGLE ENGINE APPROACH AND LANDING..

As I noted above..

You would NOT fly around with the landing gear and flaps down..

This only comes into play during landing, as noted above SINGLE ENGINE APPROACH AND LANDING..

So, not sure what your point was here?

I also noticed that you failed to note that the P-38s were not limited to 44" Hg..

IIRC the P-38H was limited to 54"Hg. and the later models were limited to 60"Hg. for 110oct and 70"Hg. for 150oct..

So, in essence, the P-38s could fly and maintain alt after raising the gear with or without flaps and an MP set above 44"..

In summary your post has a very cherry picked negative feel to it..

That or maybe in your rush you just missed the following quote from the P-38s pilots manual?

That being the one in the EMERGENCY OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS section (1) ENGINE FAILURE DURING FLIGHT..

Where is says the following

PERFORMANCE - The airplane flies well on one engine. Using normal rated power, it will climb to about 26,500 feet, and can be flown at more than 255 mph (true speed) in level flight at 20,000 feet

As you can see from that quote..

A single engine not only produces enough excess thrust to overcome drag..

It produces enough thrust to climb to an altitude of 26Kft and maintain level flight at 255mph at 20Kft!

Also note the part where is says DURING FLIGHT..

That DURING FLIGHT aspects is what the original question was about wrt the Bf110 and later the P-38..

So, I don't know where you got the impression that we were talking about landings?

But since you brought it up..

I should point out that even on one engine, the P-38 was able to make several landing attempts, as long as it stayed above 500ft..

Allow me..

I should also point out that the following is NOT part of the EMERGENCY OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS section, thus not considered an EMERGENCY procedure

In the section APPROACH AND LANDING section c. SINGLE APPROACH AND LANDING - CAUTION it says

Concentrate sharply on your approach because once you are fully extended the flaps and the landing gear or descended below 500 ft. you cannot again circle the field and you must make a landing. If however the flaps are not fully extended and your elevation is still 500 feet or more and you want to go around again, proceed as follows before beginning to circle.

As you can see from that quote..

A single engine not only produces enough excess thrust to overcome drag..

It produces enough thrust to climb out and circle around for another attempt at landing!

I hope this clarification helps put to rest any of your concerns, and or anyone else who read your post and was concerned that the only option the P-38 had was to land/ditch when flying with one engine!

If your still concerned..

Here is a quote from Stand Wood, who is the WWII P-38 pilot that provided the P-38 pilots manual at that link you provided

Stand Wood:
Two engines in the P-38 gives a person a feeling of security that one engine can never do. I came back once with an oil fire in my right engine and landing with the remaining engine was no trouble

Hope that helps! S!