The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive twin-boom design with a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament.

In Roy Grinnell’s “Danger Lightning” a Lockheed P-38 fighter gains altitude to confront high-flying Japanese aircraft. The Lightning was the first Allied fighter to seriously challenge Japanese domination of the skies in the Pacific.

The pilot in a new American fighter, the P-38 Lightning, peeled down from the skies over Iceland on August14, 1942. True to its name, the P-38 was akin to a force of nature: fast, unforeseen and immensely powerful. The aircraft’s target, was a German Focke-Wulf …

Dec 5, 2024 · P-38, fighter and fighter-bomber employed by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. A large and powerful aircraft, it served as a bomber escort, a tactical bomber, and a photo-reconnaissance platform.

It shot down more Japanese airplanes than any other fighter during World War II—seven of the top scoring USAAF aces in the Pacific flew the P-38. It was as versatile as the de Havilland Mosquito, but it was the only truly successful twin-engine fighter of World War II. It was basically a hand-built airplane and was never meant to be mass produced.

The P-38 was originally conceived as an advanced, high-performance twin-engine interceptor. On Feb. 11, 1939, Lt. Ben Kelsey set a coast to coast record of 7 hours, 48 minutes in the sleek prototype Lightning, but crashed while landing.

The P-38 Lightning was a distinctive and highly versatile American fighter aircraft used extensively by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Developed by Lockheed, the P-38 was notable for its unique twin-boom design and twin-engine configuration.

Jan 14, 2013 · The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was the first military type developed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corps. It was designed to meet an Air Corps specification issued in 1936 for a twin-engined interceptor…

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was considered the most sophisticated aircraft Lockheed had ever built. The distinctive sight and sound of the P-38 would make it one of the best-known aircraft of the war. Learn more about the unique P-38 Lightning plane.

Oct 5, 2024 · The P-38 also saw action in the Pacific, where it was used to great effect against Japanese aircraft. The P-38’s top speed of over 400 mph made it one of the fastest fighters of its time, and its powerful armament, which included a 20mm cannon and four .50-caliber machine guns, made it a formidable opponent in air-to-air combat. Specifications