P-38 Lightning

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a U.S. high performance heavy fighter plane used extensively as a long-range escort fighter during World War II.The P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. During the war the P-38 was used most successfully in the Pacific Theater of Operations where it enabled two airmen to achieve the highest ever per pilot tally of American aerial victories.
 The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed; it had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. The P-38 was the only American fighter aircraft in production throughout American involvement in the war.

 

  

FACTS & STATS:

First Flown
1939
Range
2,600 miles (4,186 km)
Length 37 ft 10 in (11.54 m)
Engine Two Allison V-1710-111/113 liquid cooled engines
Wingspan 52 ft (15.85 m)
Max Speed 414 mph (667 kmh)
Ceiling 40,000 ft (12,192 m)
Weight

Empty: 12,780 lb (5,797 kg);
max take off: 21,600 lb (9,798 kg)

Number Built

10,037

Armament

Four .50 cal. Browning machine guns and one 20 mm cannon

 

P-38 test of 50 caliber machine guns firing with every fifth shell a tracer in three second bursts.
Image Description: P-38 test of 50 caliber machine guns firing with every fifth shell a tracer in three second bursts.
Image Description:This image shows three mechanized conveyor lines at the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation that more than doubled the daily output of the old assembly line. The P-38 Lightning fighters would come down the line at the right then got shunted over to the middle line where they then received their wings and engines. They then would move back to the far end of the huge final assembly hangar,out the door and into a nearby paint hangar where they were painted in camouflage.