Originally designed as a high-altitude interceptor, the P-38 which was used by the 475th FG "Satan's Angels" as well, proved very versatile and went on to become one of the most famous aircraft of all time. The Air Corps was so impressed with the XP-38 in its early trials that on February I1, 1939, even though the prototype had less than five hours of flight time, lst Lt. Benjamin S. Kelsey tried to break the transcontinental speed record; but he crashed on approach to Mitchel Field, N. Y. Despite this setback, ground speeds of 420 mph and an elapsed time of only seven hours convinced the Air Corps to order the type into production.
Britain ordered 667 P.38s, which it nicknamed "Lightning," but only three P-38s were delivered. The rest (and the nickname) were absorbed by the US.
After some developmental troubles, the P-38 entered US service in 1941 and served in every theater of the war. 2nd Lt. Elza Shahan, flying a P-38F, recorded the first American victory in the European theater of operations when he and a P-40 pilot downed a Focke-Wulf FW-200 near lceland on August 14, 1942.
The P-38 saw extensive service in North Africa, where the Germans called the aircraft the "Fork-Tailed Devil." On April 18, 1943, P-38 pilots from the 339th Fighter Squadron, using external tanks, flew from Guadalcanal to Bougainville and shot down Japanese Adm. lsoroku Yamamoto.
The top two American aces of all time, Maj. Richard I. Bong (40 Confirmed victories) and Maj. Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. (38), both flew P-38s in the southwest Pacific. P-38s also were used for photoreconnaissance (these dedicated aircraft were designated F-4 and F-5), bomber, and night fighter. Consolidated-Vultee built 113 P-38Ls in Nashville, Tenn., to meet. wartime needs.
Between the "G" and "L" models, the P-38 saw several improvements made to its combat capabilities. In the "H" model, the center wing pylons were further strengthened to allow bombs of up to 2,000 lbs. weight to be carried. Additionally, the Lightning was successfully tested carrying one or two torpedoes, but was seldom used in combat as there were more suitable aircraft available for such duty.
The "J" model added two more fuel tanks, bringing the total internal capacity to over 400 gallons. More powerful Allison engines were introduced and for the first time, the clean lines of the Lightning were changed with the addition of large "chin" radiators under each engine. While the larger surface area increased drag somewhat, the improved engine cooling gave the plane more power, which more than compensated for the additional drag. The improved Lightning was capable of reaching a top speed of over 420 mph at altitude.
In an effort to improve overall maneuverability, the "J" model featured hydraulically operated ailerons, the first example of power-operated controls on a fighter. Additionally, a small electrically operated dive flap was introduced, which helped offset problems due to compressibility in high-speed dives.
With the P-38L version came even more powerful engines, with an output of 1,475 hp for take-off and 1,600 hp war emergency power. This version also saw the introduction of underwing racks enabling the use of ten 5-inch HVAR rockets. Initially mounted flush with the bottom of the wing, the rocket rails eventually were formed as a "tree", which hung down under the wing. The P-38L began to appear in squadron service in June 1944 and delivery continued until the end of the war. The "L" model was the last day-fighter variant to see service in WWII.
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Lockheed P-38 "Lightning"