The Lockheed P-38 Lightning

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The first P-38 Lightning flew in 1939, but it was not until 1941 that full scale production was started. When the Usaaf first accepted delivery, the Lightning was the Fastest fighter in the Air Corps. Over the years of its production, there were over a dozen model variants built. The changes were mainly in armaMent or increased load-carrying capacity. The P-38L was the most built model, 3923 in all. The final variants of the Lightning design, the F-4 and F-5 were photo-reconnaissance Aircraft and were used in both the European and Asian theatres of operations. Some of P-38Ls were converted for Pathfinder operations with the factory of radar in the nose. Counting all variations of the P-38, there were a total of 10,037 built in all. Only seven are believed Airworthy today.

The P-38 incorporated many firsts into its design. It was the first to use a tricycle landing gear, the only mass-produced singular seat twin machine fighter in Wwii and it was the first fighter with the quality of flying over the North Atlantic for delivery to Europe with its non-stop un-refuelled range of over 3000 miles when fitted with drop tanks.

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The P-38 was powered by two 1475hp Allison V-12 turbo-charged engines. While its empty weight was 12,800 lbs., it could takeoff with 80% of its weight, at 21,600 lbs. which gave it claim to an additional one first, being able to carry two torpedoes. With a distance of 37ft 10in, its wingspan was 52 ft. Maximum speed at 25,000 was 414 mph with a service ceiling of 44,000 ft. Its rate-of-climb exceeded that of any German or Japanese fighter, which gave the Lightning the great benefit of all the time being able to fly above the enemy.

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The P-38 served with dissimilarity in all theaters of carrying out through the war. It was responsible for traditional escort duty in the early sTAGes of the daylight bombing campaign in Europe. It was the traditional fighter in the Mediterranean Theater, where it gained the nickname of "The Fork-tailed Devil" from Luftwaffe pilots and performed with exquisite results in North Africa and the invasion of Italy. It even operated in the harsh conditions of the Alaskan Aleutian Islands against the numerically excellent Japanese while the early part of the war.

However, the P-38 will be forever linked to the South Pacific. Japanese ships and aircraft were constantly being savaged under the guns of skilled American pilots. The Japanese were never able to be on the obnoxious and were usually on their heels. The P-38 routinely destroyed bombers, fighters and ships without many losses. In fact, the mean kill ratio was over 10 to 1. For every ten confirmed kills, only one P-38 was lost to all causes (this includes being shot down, lost at sea and mechanical failures).

Without any doubts, the P-38 was able to perform many roles with great success. No other aircraft can boast this ability. The P-51 was a better air-to-air fighter, but it was not as effective in ground strikes and was unable to perform sufficient reconnaissance. The B-17 and the B-24 were excellent long-range level bombers, but the P-38 was approximately able to carry the same bomb load and would turn into fighters as soon as the bombs were dropped. The P-38 was modified to carry torpedoes, transformed into a night fighter, was able to dive/level bomb and was the main reconnaissance aircraft in the American air forces.

Pilots loved the airplane for its maneuverability, high-altitude capabilities and long flight endurance, which could reach over 11 hours with full drop tanks. One of the most notable P-38 pilots was Major Richard Bong who scored 40 aerial victories making him the top American ace of Wwii.

One of the many stories of the Lightning is one about the Phantom P-38. Damaged Flying Fortresses returning from bombing missions in the Mediterranean theatre that were straggling behind the main formations, were being lost to a P-38 that would fly alongside, waggle his wings and wave important the bomber crew to believe that the fighter was going to Supply cover on it's return flight. The bomber's gunners would relax, the Phantom P-38 would take up a defensive position above and aft of the bomber, then suddenly dive and shoot down the Flying Fortress. This happened a whole of times before Command gave the story any credence, but then brain found out that a P-38 believed lost over the Mediterranean Sea, had as a matter of fact made it safely to an airport in Sardinia. There the pilot was taken prisoner, but the aircraft itself was taken over by an Italian pilot who was able to master the P-38 and started his work as the Phantom Lightning. His work was ended when a heavily armored and armed Fortress trapped him into thinking he had an additional one easy picking and as he went to take up his usual pre-attack position, the Fortress opened up fire and shot him down. He managed to bail out and was rescued. An spicy footnote is that he later attended the funeral of the Fortress pilot whose vehicle aircraft had crashed while the Berlin Airlift.

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning

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