| The first P-38 Lightning flew in 1939, but it was not | | | | without many losses. In fact, the average kill ratio |
| until 1941 that full scale production was started. When | | | | was over 10 to 1. For every ten confirmed kills, only |
| the USAAF first accepted delivery, the Lightning was | | | | one P-38 was lost to all causes (this includes being |
| the fastest fighter in the Air Corps. Over the years | | | | shot down, lost at sea and mechanical failures). |
| of its production, there were over a dozen model | | | | Without any doubts, the P-38 was able to perform |
| variants built. The changes were mainly in armament | | | | many roles with tremendous success. No other |
| or increased load-carrying capacity. The P-38L was | | | | aircraft can boast this ability. The P-51 was a better |
| the most built model, 3923 in all. The final variants of | | | | air-to-air fighter, but it was not as effective in ground |
| the Lightning design, the F-4 and F-5 were | | | | strikes and was unable to perform adequate |
| photo-reconnaissance aircraft and were used in both | | | | reconnaissance. The B-17 and the B-24 were superior |
| the European and Asian theatres of operations. Some | | | | long-range level bombers, but the P-38 was almost |
| of P-38Ls were converted for Pathfinder operations | | | | able to carry the same bomb load and would turn |
| with the installation of radar in the nose. Counting all | | | | into fighters as soon as the bombs were dropped. |
| variations of the P-38, there were a total of 10,037 | | | | The P-38 was modified to carry torpedoes, |
| built in all. Only seven are believed airworthy today. | | | | transformed into a night fighter, was able to dive |
| The P-38 incorporated many firsts into its design. It | | | | level bomb and was the main reconnaissance aircraft |
| was the first to use a tricycle landing gear, the only | | | | in the American air forces. |
| mass-produced single seat twin engine fighter in | | | | Pilots loved the airplane for its maneuverability, |
| WWII and it was the first fighter with the ability of | | | | high-altitude capabilities and long flight endurance, |
| flying across the North Atlantic for delivery to Europe | | | | which could reach over 11 hours with full drop tanks. |
| with its non-stop un-refuelled range of over 3000 | | | | One of the most famous P-38 pilots was Major |
| miles when fitted with drop tanks. | | | | Richard Bong who scored 40 aerial victories making |
| The P-38 was powered by two 1475hp Allison V-12 | | | | him the top American ace of WWII. |
| turbo-charged engines. While its empty weight was | | | | One of the many stories of the Lightning is one |
| 12,800 lbs., it could takeoff with 80% of its weight, | | | | about the Phantom P-38. Damaged Flying Fortresses |
| at 21,600 lbs. which gave it claim to another first, | | | | returning from bombing missions in the Mediterranean |
| being able to carry two torpedoes. With a length of | | | | theatre that were straggling behind the main |
| 37ft 10in, its wingspan was 52 ft. Maximum speed at | | | | formations, were being lost to a P-38 that would fly |
| 25,000 was 414 mph with a service ceiling of 44,000 | | | | alongside, waggle his wings and wave leading the |
| ft. Its rate-of-climb exceeded that of any German or | | | | bomber crew to believe that the fighter was going |
| Japanese fighter, which gave the Lightning the | | | | to provide cover on it's return flight. The bomber's |
| enormous advantage of always being able to fly | | | | gunners would relax, the Phantom P-38 would take |
| above the enemy. | | | | up a defensive position above and aft of the |
| The P-38 served with distinction in all theaters of | | | | bomber, then suddenly dive and shoot down the |
| operation through the war. It was responsible for | | | | Flying Fortress. This happened a number of times |
| primary escort duty in the early stages of the | | | | before Command gave the story any credence, but |
| daylight bombing campaign in Europe. It was the | | | | then intelligence found out that a P-38 believed lost |
| primary fighter in the Mediterranean Theater, where | | | | over the Mediterranean Sea, had actually made it |
| it gained the nickname of "The Fork-tailed Devil" from | | | | safely to an airport in Sardinia. There the pilot was |
| Luftwaffe pilots and performed with excellent results | | | | taken prisoner, but the aircraft itself was taken over |
| in North Africa and the invasion of Italy. It even | | | | by an Italian pilot who was able to master the P-38 |
| operated in the harsh conditions of the Alaskan | | | | and started his career as the Phantom Lightning. His |
| Aleutian Islands against the numerically superior | | | | career was ended when a heavily armored and |
| Japanese during the early part of the war. | | | | armed Fortress trapped him into thinking he had |
| However, the P-38 will be forever linked to the | | | | another easy picking and as he went to take up his |
| South Pacific. Japanese ships and aircraft were | | | | usual pre-attack position, the Fortress opened up fire |
| constantly being savaged under the guns of skilled | | | | and shot him down. He managed to bail out and was |
| American pilots. The Japanese were never able to be | | | | rescued. An interesting footnote is that he later |
| on the offensive and were usually on their heels. The | | | | attended the funeral of the Fortress pilot whose |
| P-38 routinely destroyed bombers, fighters and ships | | | | transport aircraft had crashed during the Berlin Airlift. |