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Lockheed P-38 “Lightning” Fighter.
No doubt, this is one of the most original fighters of WWII, especially among the ones in mass production. It is a creation of an ingenious aircraft engineer Clarence Johnson. On the eve of the coming war, engineers of most countries were studying the concept of “flying cruiser” – an aircraft with increased range and durability, carrying powerful weaponry. The result of Johnson’s efforts was a double-girder, double-engine, single-manned fighter “Model 22”. The final set-up was born as a result of six (!) possible schemes’ analysis.
The result was a very original aircraft, which sported many advantages: high speed, high ceiling, long range and high reliability, powerful battery of 4 “Browning M2.50” machineguns and 20mm “Hispano” cannon, fair maneuverability, which was achieved by the world’s first implementation of the booster aileron control. This aircraft had a single disadvantage – high cost, which didn’t stop Lockheed from manufacturing 10.000 aircraft. It wasn’t the most numerous aircraft, there were many more “Mustangs” and “Thunderbirds”, and P-38 was used mainly as a scout in Europe. But in the Pacific it was unquestionably the most popular army fighter. Pilots called it a “round-the-world ticket”.
Another, not less flattering nickname – “aces factory”. This aircraft had produced the most effective pilots in the USA: Major Richard Bong (40 victories), Major Thomas A. McGuire (38 victories), Colonel Charles H. McDonald (27 victories) and many others. At the other side of the front line, Germans called this fighter a “fork-tailed devil”, and Japanese invented a colorful phrase, which may be translated as “Two aircraft, one pilot”.
The aircraft had enormous modifying potential, and was in mass production from July 1941 to September 1945. Apart from the long-range fighter, on its base were being created photo scouts, night fighters, leader aircraft “Droop Snoot”, and numerous experimental aircraft, including torpedo carriers. With time, the fighter’s arsenal was enriched with bombs (up to 2x908 kg bombs) and 127mm HVAR missiles (10 pieces standard).
The peak of the fighter’s career was the destruction of the brain center and the spiritual leader of the Japanese United Navy – Admiral Yamamoto. 16 of 18 “Lightnings” on April 18, 1943 shot down the “Mitsubishi G4M” bomber carrying the Japanese admiral above the Bougainville jungle.
P-38 “Lightning” Fighter in the "Pacific Storm"
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