The P-38

Below are Lochkeed Chief Design Engineer, Clarence “Kelly” Johnson's, original design sketches for the XP-38 and the patent application. It's pretty obvious which design he went with.  Johnson's preliminary drawings of the XP‑38Patent Number:D119714 Filing date:Jun...

Sleek, Fast and Luckless - Time Magazine, Feb 20, 1939 She was sleek as freshly peeled willow. As overalled mechanics trundled her out for the warm-up at March Field one day last week she gleamed slimly among the bulb-nosed fighters, the potbellied bombers on the Army...

The P-38 had several variations which made it all the more versatile for use in combat. The Lightning was noted for its powerful firepower in the nose of the plane, but it could also be outfitted with rockets or bombs as part of its armament. In addition to installing...

The P-38 had several variations which made it all the more versatile for use in combat. The Lightning was noted for its powerful firepower in the nose of the plane, but it could also be outfitted with rockets or bombs as part of its armament. In addition to installing...

The P-38 had several variations which made it all the more versatile for use in combat. The Lightning was noted for its powerful firepower in the nose of the plane, but it could also be outfitted with rockets or bombs as part of its armament. In addition to installing...

The P-38 had several variations which made it all the more versatile for use in combat. The Lightning was noted for its powerful firepower in the nose of the plane, but it could also be outfitted with rockets or bombs as part of its armament. In addition to installing...

P-38 Flight Characteristics, 1943 Experience the American Journey through our country's visual heritage in this historical recording provided by the National Archives of the United States. Shows normal and emergency operating characteristics of the P-38. Demonstrates...

Check out these very detailed, original photos of the Lockheed plant in Burbank. You should be able to find just about any part in it's assembly stage. Amazing.When you click on the thumbnail +, it will take you to a larger version of the photo. Just click the x at...

Here are a few photos to show you just how versatile the P‑38 was, as well as some just for fun. To see the "triple lines" (which Lockheed was told couldn't be done), click here. If you'd like to see a ton of photos of the P‑38 during assembly, check this out.When you...

Visit the "Surviving P‑38s" page to see where all of them are, including the ones that are still airworthy (and do let us know if you hear about updates!).23 Skidoo Serial #44-23314This P‑38 has gone through many name (nose art) changes over the years. She was bought...

The XP‑38 was the first effort at designing this extraordinary airplane. Here are some rare, classic images of that beautiful bird. The high-gloss finish on this P‑38 puts us in mind of the present-day Flying Bulls P‑38 in Austria.When you click on the thumbnail +, it...

The following cartoons poke a little fun at some of the "unusual" quirks in the P‑38. Sometimes, you've just gotta laugh at yourself... All of them are not cartoons in the ha-ha sense of the word, but rather cartoon-like drawings of the era. We've given credit where...

In the Beginning... On July 15, 1942, a flight of six P-38s and two B-17 bombers, with a total of 25 crew members on board, took off from Presque Isle Air Base in Maine headed for the U.K.  What followed was a harrowing and life-threatening landing of the entire...

History Before Glacier Girl, Lefty Gardner's "White Lightnin'" was arguably the most famous airworthy P‑38 in America. People would make a point to attend vintage air shows just so they could see her.HISTORY NEWS COVERAGE CRASH PHOTOS INCIDENT REPORT Marvin L. “Lefty”...

Following are a list of the surviving P‑38s. Clicking on each picture will open a separate window if a larger picture is available. When you are finished looking at the picture, just close the window. This page will remain open. (Make sure your browser is not...

This section is the music and poems which have been written over the years honoring the P­38. It's pretty amazing when you realize how many there actually are that are dedicated solely to our favorite plane.The following poem was preserved in a journal kept by former...

This section is just for the FUN of it.  It includes photos of fun or unusual uses of the P‑38, and is strictly intended for those of us who are a little "over the top" about this classic plane! If you have a "unique" representation of the P-38, please email it to us...