This photo shows two days of P-38 production at the Lockheed "Skunk Works" (between 24-30 planes)

To see the "triple lines" (which Lockheed was told couldn't be done), click here. Takes a minute to load, so ...patience please.
 

When demand and production was at its height, the final assembly had to be moved outside to accommodate all the P-38s being produced for the war effort.

REFUELING

Click on this photo to
see a close-up shot of
a refueling.

This unusual photo shows
a test of a P-38 in full-scale wind tunnel, Dec. '44

...must have passed the test, eh?

 
TARMAC
1942 photograph

LONG RANGE

One of the 38s best features was its ability to travel long, over-water flights. Very useful in the Pacific Theatre.

CLASSIC!

This is a beautiful and classic shot of the 38.  We liked it so much, we've put it on some of our Gift Shop items. 

FEATHERED

A P-38 flying with one prop feathered, putting the kibosh on those rumors that it can't be flown on one engine. Ha!

Drawing courtesy of the Air Force News website. 

Any landing you walk away from is a good one...

COMBAT

Guaranteed to strike fear in the hearts of the enemy...a flight of 38s coming at you!

PUTT-PUTT BEFORE

Lightning Ace, Charles MacDonald with his plane Putt Putt Maru. See plane today.

CROSS SECTION

It is our hope to one day have complete details for this cross section. In the meantime, here's the graphic and here's the t-shirt

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

A close view of that famous P-38 fire power. How'd you like to see THAT in your rear-view mirror?!

GROUP OF P-38s

BADLY DAMAGED 38

Not sure how, but this one made it back safely after a strike on Iwo Jima. Its left engine is out and its right wing has a big ole hole in it and is in flames. 

Here's a picture to break your heart.  After the war, hundreds of P-38s were dumped in an aircraft graveyard.  Little did they know how sorely we'd miss them.

Click to see Personnel Gallery

STRIPES

Burbank plant 1941, new P-38s in pre-war metal finish with tail stripes and red national insignia.

ASS OVER
TEAKETTLE

The P-38 Museum is housed in the Tony Levier Hangar.  Here's a shot of Levier during a 1977 air show. He's doing this loop in the same airspace where he tested P-38s over 40 years ago.  Watch Tony LeVier tell the story.

COCKPIT VIEWS
(click to enlarge)

PUTT-PUTT AFTER

Putt Putt Maru as it appears today. See Putt Putt circa 1940s.

JOLTIN' JOSIE

The stripes on this 38 are called "Invasion Stripes." Just before D-Day these black and white stripes were applied almost overnight to clearly identify them as being part of the invasion.

WHITE LIGHTNIN'

"Lefty" Gardner's beautiful  P-38.  It crashed awhile back. You can read about it here or buy a video of it still in glorious flight.

YIPPEE!

May 17, 1944, this colorful  P-38J-20-LO, celebrated the 5,000th P-38 built. "Yippee" wall clock.

P-38 AT MUSEUM

The P-38 which was displayed at the P-38 National Association Museum in Riverside CA.

P-38 AMBULANCE

Two modified drop tanks with clear noses were used to carry two stretcher cases each.

P-38 ON SNOW

One of the nice features of the P-38 was it's versatility in all kinds of weather.

TWIN-SEATED P-38

Check out the "Fork-Tailed Devil" squadron insignia on the nose (49th Fighter Squadron) 49th FS ball cap can be ordered here.)

NIGHT FIGHTER

In the final days of the Pacific War a handful of Lightnings were fitted with air-intercept radar for use as night fighters.
 

NIGHT FIGHTER ITEMS (CLICK TO VIEW) BOOK ART MODEL