ONE OF A KIND

Known by the German Luftwaffe as "Der Gabelschwanz Teufel" (The Fork-Tailed Devil) the P-38 Lockheed Lightning was light years ahead of its time. Designed as a high-altitude interceptor, contrary to what some think, the P-38 was not just a fighter; it also carried high explosive and incendiary bomb loads -- competing with the early WWII bomber aircraft (with bomb loads of up to 4000 pounds). It was the fighter of choice for pilots.

 
Approximately 10,000 P-38's were built, and they flew in every combat theater, around the world during WWII.

CAPABILITIES
The P-38 did everything a fighter aircraft could do:

	Long-range, high- and low-altitude bomber escort
	Air-to-air combat
	Dive bombing
	Skip bombing
	Night fighter
	High altitude level bombing; using a bombardier with bomb sight
	Ground support bombing and strafing
	Day and night air reconnaissance (photographic & visual)
	Operated in the every imaginable weather condition

Bad weather areas
  the Aleutians and Alaska
Hot, humid areas
  the Pacific, Central America, Far east, 
  China, Burma, India, Panama and the
  Philippines)
Impossibly muddy and dusty conditions
  North Africa and Italy 

(There are many great sites on the internet with very detailed specs on the 38 and the theaters of operation in which they were flown.  Check our links page for some ideas.)

Now, let's have a look at the personnel involved with the P-38, including the designers, the pilots and the crew.