The P-38 Lightning was one of the more successful planes of World War Two. Designed by Lockheed,
the P-38 was a fast and manouvrable plane that could be used in a wide range of roles.
The pilot and the P38's armaments were in the central nacelle. The plane had two booms with the
engines mounted on them. Powered by two Allison V-1710 engines, the P-38 had a maximum speed of
414 mph and a combat range of 1,100 miles. It could fly at a maximum of 44,000 feet. The first P-38's
delivered to the USSAF in 1941 were armed with four Browning .50 machine guns in the nose of the
plane which were spaced around a Oldsmobile 37mm cannon.
The first combat P-38's were produced in October 1941 and first flew in combat in April 1942. They were
armed with four .50 machine guns and a 20mm Hispano cannon which was considered to be more
reliable than the Oldsmobile.
The P-38 had numerous variants and saw service in the Far East, North Africa and Europe. It was a
maneuverable plane that could fly well at both low and high altitude and had an excellent rate of climb.
Another virtue was the long range that the plane had which made it ideal for the Pacific War. In Western
Europe, the P-38 was used to escort bombers on their raids into occupied Europe.
In April 1943, America's intelligence decoded a Japanese message that informed them that Admiral
Yamamoto was going to visit the northern Solomon Islands on April 18th. Yamamoto was still considered
to be a major figure in the Pacific War and the decision was taken to kill him. Sixteen P-38 Lightning
fighters from 339th Fighter Squadron were ordered to intercept and shoot down Yamamoto's plane.
They intercepted two G4M 'Betty' bombers escorted by six Zero fighter planes. Both 'Betty' bombers
were shot down and Yamamoto was killed.
By the end of the war, over 10,000 P-38 Lightning's had been built in a variety of versions, ranging from
fighter, to bomber escort, to photo reconnaissance to night fighter.
the P-38 was a fast and manouvrable plane that could be used in a wide range of roles.
The pilot and the P38's armaments were in the central nacelle. The plane had two booms with the
engines mounted on them. Powered by two Allison V-1710 engines, the P-38 had a maximum speed of
414 mph and a combat range of 1,100 miles. It could fly at a maximum of 44,000 feet. The first P-38's
delivered to the USSAF in 1941 were armed with four Browning .50 machine guns in the nose of the
plane which were spaced around a Oldsmobile 37mm cannon.
The first combat P-38's were produced in October 1941 and first flew in combat in April 1942. They were
armed with four .50 machine guns and a 20mm Hispano cannon which was considered to be more
reliable than the Oldsmobile.
The P-38 had numerous variants and saw service in the Far East, North Africa and Europe. It was a
maneuverable plane that could fly well at both low and high altitude and had an excellent rate of climb.
Another virtue was the long range that the plane had which made it ideal for the Pacific War. In Western
Europe, the P-38 was used to escort bombers on their raids into occupied Europe.
In April 1943, America's intelligence decoded a Japanese message that informed them that Admiral
Yamamoto was going to visit the northern Solomon Islands on April 18th. Yamamoto was still considered
to be a major figure in the Pacific War and the decision was taken to kill him. Sixteen P-38 Lightning
fighters from 339th Fighter Squadron were ordered to intercept and shoot down Yamamoto's plane.
They intercepted two G4M 'Betty' bombers escorted by six Zero fighter planes. Both 'Betty' bombers
were shot down and Yamamoto was killed.
By the end of the war, over 10,000 P-38 Lightning's had been built in a variety of versions, ranging from
fighter, to bomber escort, to photo reconnaissance to night fighter.
| "Lightning" |
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| Lightning |
Copyright 2008, Victoria Heilshorn
All rights reserved.
All published materials and images are
protected under copyright law.
All rights reserved.
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protected under copyright law.
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