The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive twin-boom design with a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament.

In Roy Grinnell’s “Danger Lightning” a Lockheed P-38 fighter gains altitude to confront high-flying Japanese aircraft. The Lightning was the first Allied fighter to seriously challenge Japanese …

Explore the Legacy of the P-38 Lightning, the iconic twin-tailed fighter aircraft that redefined aviation with its speed, innovation, and unmatched versatility.

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was originally designed as a bomber-interceptor and was never intended to be a fighter. Weight was kept to a minimum and it was far more advanced and faster than its U.S. counterparts, the Bell P-39 Airacobra and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

The P-38 was originally conceived as an advanced, high-performance twin-engine interceptor. On Feb. 11, 1939, Lt. Ben Kelsey set a coast to coast record of 7 hours, 48 minutes in the sleek prototype Lightning, but crashed while landing.

2013年1月14日 · The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was the first military type developed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corps. It was designed to meet an Air Corps specification issued in 1936 for a twin-engined interceptor fighter a specification which called for, among many other stringent requirements, a minimum speed of 360 m.p.h. (576 km.h.) at 20,000 ft. (6,100 m.).

2025年1月31日 · P-38, fighter and fighter-bomber employed by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. A large and powerful aircraft, it served as a bomber escort, a tactical bomber, and a photo-reconnaissance platform.

The P-38 Lightning was a twin-engine, twin-boom fighter with a centrally located cockpit and a streamlined fuselage. Its design included a tricycle landing gear, which was advanced for its time and contributed to its stability during takeoff and landing.

Originally conceived as a high-altitude interceptor to meet a 1937 Army Air Corps requirement, Lockheed's Model 22, designated P-38 Lightning, was to become one of the most successful fighters of World War II.

Features the development history, photos, technical specification and line drawings of USA's single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft.