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.

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American two-engine fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces and other Allied air forces during World War II. Of the 10,037 planes built, 26 survive today, 22 of which are located in the United States, and 10 of which are airworthy.

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.

The twin-engine design of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and its high fuel capacity made it an ideal fighter and recon plane.

Even though P-38s were never stationed at Hill, the installation performed maintenance on this aircraft’s engines during World War II. The Lighting’s legacy as a formidable fighter lives on today at Hill Air Force Base in the form of the US Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, the …

When the Lightning began combat operations from England in September 1943, it was the only fighter with the range to escort bombers into Germany. The Lightning truly shined in the Pacific theater; seven of the top eight scoring USAAF aces in the Pacific flew the P-38.

The pilot in a new American fighter, the P-38 Lightning, peeled down from the skies over Iceland on August14, 1942. True to its name, the P-38 was akin to a force of nature: fast, unforeseen and immensely powerful. The aircraft’s target, was a German Focke-Wulf …

Apr 10, 2025 · 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.

Mar 5, 2025 · Instantly recognizable for its twin-boom design and central nacelle, the P-38 cut one of the war’s most distinctive silhouettes, and was mass-produced with over 10,000 units made.

Jan 29, 2016 · On 27 January 1939 at March Field in Riverside, California, the prototype XP-38 (37-457) was taken aloft on its maiden flight by Lieutenant Benjamin S. Kelsey. With Thunderbolt and Mustang, the name Lightning has become synonymous with American fighter aviation.