Despite these revolting developments, the pilots of the 8th knew that the p 38 could outturn, outclimb, outrun and outfight anybodys airplane in the air so they set about rectifying their problems. Lockheed p38 lightning specifications technical data. Ww2 aircraft fighter aircraft military aircraft lightning fighter lockheed p 38 lightning aviation theme american fighter nose art military history united states army air corps a blog following the history of the usaac and later usaaf, from the birth of aviation until the creation of the usaf in 1947. It was the first fighter with sufficient range to make ferry flights across the atlantic. This was the last of the lockheed production of the reconnaissance version of the lightning, subsequent f5 versions being modifications of standard p 38 fighter airframes performed after delivery. Add to vintage 1982 lockheed p38 lightning p38 fighter plane diecast metal airplane mint conditionfactory sealed. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. Neither p 38 pilots, mechanics, facilities or logistics were prepared to operate efficiently in one of the bitterest european winters on record 194344, he noted. Have a good look at some pics of the p 38 and you will see that the nose gear is longer.
An early model lighting over southern california in 1941. In its designed role, the p 38 was an effective fighter and was the main aircraft for most of the aces in the pacific theater of operations. Army air corps released a request for a new plane that required climb capabilities, speed and range that werent possible with the single engine planes of the day. The j power p 38 suffers from very poor under carriage, the wheels are too small, even for scale, and the nose gear must be longer than the main gear. Designed by a skilled team of engineers led by clarence johnson and hal hibbard, the p38 was the only american fighter that was continually produced from before pearl harbor in 1941 to after the japanese surrender in 1945. Charles lindbergh, the lone eagle, joined the 433rd fighter squadron, 475th fighter group in the summer of 1944.
The p 38 was a complex aircraft and there were serious problems that prevented it from being the effective high altitude long range fighter that the usaaf needed to defeat the luftwaffe in the run up to dday. The lightning gained fame in the hands of army major richard i. The lockheed p 38 lightning was one of the most important american fighters of the second world war. Variants lockheed xp49 xp58 chain lightning the lockheed p 38 lightning was a world war ii american fighter aircraft. Famous war birds p38 lightning pdf download toymakingplans. This was not known in the upper circles of washington dc, not even by president. With drop tanks under its wings,the p38 was used most successfully in the pacific theater of operations and the chinaburmaindia theater of operations where it enabled two airmen to achieve the highestever per pilot tally of american aerial victories. Bodie writes that the p38 recorded some 2500 kills in aerial combat in the eto. The first fully printable airplane with suitable files prepared for your 3dprinter. P38s from the j25s onward were what we should have had when we went operational in october 1943. Of the 10,037 planes built, 26 survive today, 22 of which are located in the united states, and 10 of which are airworthy.
Every one of these problems was solved with the introduction of the p 38l. Lockheed p38 lightning this twin boomed innovation was so powerful with its twin supercharged engines that it could fly higher than the bombers it was designed to escort. Trumpeter 2nd scale lockheed p38 l5lo large scale planes. The lockheed p 38 lighting is an american twoengine fighter used by the united states army air forces and other allied air forces during world war ii.
The legendary p38 lightning revolutionized aviation history in world war ii. Lockheed p38 lightning, history the lockheed p38 lightning was a world war ii american pistonengined fighter aircraft. Developed for the united states army air corps, the p 38 had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. The lockheed p 38 lightning was a revolutionary fighter for the time with its tricycle landing gear, twin boom and turbosuperchargers. Lockheed p38 lightning specifications howstuffworks. The yp38s model 122s of which were built for evaluation were rdesigned for production and included the installation of v17102729 f2 engines rated at 1150 h. The p38 lightning was the brain child of the lockheeds famous kelley johnson, of the skunk works, as a result of a request for proposal of he army air corps in 1937. The pilot in a new american fighter, the p 38 lightning, peeled down from the skies over iceland on august14, 1942. The real story of lockheed s xp58 chain lightning july 1980. List of surviving lockheed p38 lightnings wikipedia. Bodie wrote that the lightning should have been converted from allison to merlin power, exactly as was done with the p 51.
Variants lockheed xp49 xp58 chain lightning the lockheed p38 lightning was a world war ii american fighter aircraft. The lockheed p38 lightning is a world war ii era american pistonengined fighter aircraft. Get the latest updates on nasa missions, watch nasa tv live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. In its designed role, the p38 was an effective fighter and was the main aircraft for most of the aces in the pacific theater of operations. Because of its firepower its speed and the reliability of its twin engines, this versatile advanced design proved one of americas most durable and valuable investments in 1933. The lockheed p38 lightning is a twinengined singleseat fighter and fighter bomber aircraft produced by the usamerican manufacturer lockheed corporation. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The last p 38 was delivered in september 1945, and the type was phased out of service in 1949. The pilot in a new american fighter, the p38 lightning, peeled down from the skies over iceland on august14, 1942. Mar 21, 2019 at the time of its creation the p38 lightning fighter was thought of as the most advanced plane developed by lockheed up to that point in the war.
This was the last of the lockheed production of the reconnaissance version of the lightning, subsequent f5 versions being modifications of standard p38 fighter airframes performed after delivery. Developed to a united states army air corps requirement, the p38 had distinctive twin booms with forwardmounted engines and a single, central nacelle containing the pilot and armament. This prototype 42558 combined a p38g10lo airframe with more powerful 1425 hp v17107577 v1710f15 engines, rated at over 1875 hp war emergency power. Lockheed p38 lightning aircraft, lockheed p 38 lightning. True to its name, the p38 was akin to a force of nature. Allied propaganda claimed it had been nicknamed the forktailed devil german. Why nazi germany feared the p 38 lightning by sebastien roblin in 1937, the u. Developed to a united states army air corps requirement, the p 38 had distinctive twin booms with forwardmounted engines and a single, central nacelle containing the pilot and armament. One of its early problems, however, was the lack of cockpit heating and at formation altitude it can be as cold as minus 50 f. The requirement was for a high altitude interceptor capable of doing 360 mph at 20,000 ft and 290 mph at sea level. Feb 25, 2007 i have made a small clip about the lockheed p 38 lightning, a military aircraft which was used by the us airforce during the second world war.
Charles lindbergh p38 lightning 184 433rd fighter squadro. This is the planes of fame museums chino, california p 38j. The lockheed p38 lightning is a world war iiera american pistonengined fighter aircraft. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Originally designed as a highaltitude interceptor, the p38 proved very versatile and went on to become one of the most famous aircraft of all time. Also, make sure that it has proper scale looking, and working, gear doors. Army air corp called for proposals for an interceptor capable of flying 360 milesperhour and. Combat flying in the p 38 lightning with the lone eagle charles lindbergh in the pacific. P38 lightning history, photos, and specs of lockheeds. Developed for the united states army air corps, the p38 had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament.
Bodie writes that the p 38 recorded some 2500 kills in aerial combat in the eto. Of all the us fighters of world war two only one continued in production throughout the entire conflict. After a lengthy developmental period, the p38 eventually flourished in multiple roles. Consolidatedvultee built 1 p 38ls in nashville, tenn. Bong, whose 40 aerial victories were scored in the p38, making him the highestscoring american ace of the war. The problem i can see is, most japanese pilots died when facing the p38. Flying the forktailed devil a p38 pursuit pilot remembers. Part ii of lockheed xp58 story, could it have been the best heavy fighter of wwii. Bodie wrote that the lightning should have been converted from allison to merlin power, exactly as was done with the p51. Problem with lockheed p38 lightning realistic battle. Its crew had never encountered anything quite like. The p38 lightning is arguably the most exotic singleseat fighter to see service with the usaaf in wwii, and is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive aircraft designs of all time. Although its operational record was somewhat mixed, in general the p 38 was a fast, powerful and capable aircraft that performed well in a wide range of roles.
The p38 was not the only airplane to encounter this effect in dives from very high altitudes where the air is thin, the p47 and f4u both suffered the same problem. Lockheed p38 lightning the plane that changed the course of history. Rectractable and steerable landing gear, flaps and much more. It was a p38 lightning, and the last time admiral yamamoto checked, the nipponese air force wasnt flying any of those. The big radial engine fighters would dive uncontrollably toward the earth until they reached the thicker air at lower altitudes. Along with the introduction of the p38, the fighter doctrine for. After a lengthy developmental period, the p 38 eventually flourished in multiple roles. P38 lightning references 1943 an 0175ff2 erection and maintenance instructions for army model p38l1 airplane, last viewed. The final variants of the lightning design, the f4 and f5, were photo. The lockheed p38 lightning was a revolutionary fighter for the time with its tricycle landing gear, twin boom and turbosuperchargers. Hey guys, i got pictures in tonight from fms of their prototype p38. Flight characteristics are comparable or even better than classic build model airplanes.
So far as i am aware, no p 38s were ever even retrofitted in the field with merlin engines. In spite of the awesome array of gauges and dials in the cockpit of the lockheed p38, the basic instruments were easily located. Lockheed p38 lightning wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Lockheed p 38 lightning, history the lockheed p 38 lightning was a world war ii american pistonengined fighter aircraft. The lockheed p38 lightning was one of the most important american fighters of the second world war. The lockheed p 38 lightning was one of the most versatile aircraft used in world war ii. Developed to a united states army air corps requirement, the p38 had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. The name lightning was believed bestowed on the aircraft by the british who, for a short time, considered the fighter for their own inventory. The engines were housed in nacelles similar to those of the p38j and driving broaderchord.
The f5c1lo was the designation given to p38j airframes converted at the dallas modification center to a standard basically similar to that of. Lockheed p38 lightning singleseat, twinengine heavy. Oct 28, 2015 in september 1945, the p 38 f5g6lo with serial number 4453254 was dismissed from the air force and registered as civil aircraft n25y by the lilee products co. In fact there were only 497 aerial victories in the eto. Ww2 aircraft fighter aircraft military aircraft lightning fighter lockheed p 38 lightning aviation theme american fighter nose art military history united states army air corps a blog following the history of the usaac and later usaaf, from the. The f5c1lo was the designation given to p 38j airframes converted at the dallas modification center to a standard basically similar to that of. The lockheed p 38 lightning was originally designed as a bomberinterceptor and was never intended to be a fighter. Lockheed lightning p38j a 1944 flight article, last viewed april 21 st, 2014. P 38s also were used for photoreconnaissance these dedicated aircraft were designated f4 and f5, bomber, and night fighter. The lockheed p38 lightning was originally designed as a bomberinterceptor and was never intended to be a fighter. Further, the various handles, knobs and gadgets required for landing gear, flaps, etc. Flightline p38l lightning pacific silver 1600mm 63. The compressibility problem of the p38 was also experienced by p47 thunderbolts, and was not a mystery to aeronautical design engineers. The p38 was a complex aircraft and there were serious problems that prevented it from being the effective high altitude long range fighter that the usaaf needed to defeat the luftwaffe in the run up to dday.
Tame lightning, flying exhibitions in the p 38 lightning. Developed to a united states army air corps requirement, the p 38 had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. The first models were accepted by the army air force in october 1941 and, by the end of the war, nearly 10,000 had rolled from the production lines. In september 1945, the p38 f5g6lo with serial number 4453254 was dismissed from the air force and registered as civil aircraft n25y by the lilee products co. The lockheed p38 lightning was one of the most versatile aircraft used in world war ii. Lockheed p38 lightning flight demonstration youtube. Although its operational record was somewhat mixed, in general the p38 was a fast, powerful and capable aircraft that performed well in a wide range of roles. According to saburo sakai, a japanese ace with 64 victories wrote, the p38 first used in combat against the zeros appeared to lack any distinctive features other than speed at great altitudes and very high diving speed.
It was the only usaaf fighter to be in production prior to the start of the war and still in production on vjday, august 15, 1945. May 08, 20 in spite of the awesome array of gauges and dials in the cockpit of the lockheed p 38, the basic instruments were easily located. I have made a small clip about the lockheed p38 lightning, a military aircraft which was used by the us airforce during the second world war. True to its name, the p 38 was akin to a force of nature. The air corps was so impressed with the xp38 in its early trials that on february 11, 1939, even though the prototype had less than five hours of flight time, 1st lt. The lockheed p38 lighting is an american twoengine fighter used by the united states army air forces and other allied air forces during world war ii. Like all the other prototypes from fms we saw before, this is a handcarved prototype model for testing and the pictures have already been taken two months ago, so they have kept this one totally in secret so far. See more ideas about lockheed p 38 lightning, lightning and ww2 aircraft. P38 pilots were also credited with the downing of japanese admiral yamamoto.
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