P-38 Lightning

On January 27, the renowned heavy fighter of World War II, the P-38 Lightning, marked its 85th anniversary. Lockheed designed the aircraft in accordance with specifications issued by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) in early 1937. The experimental XP-38 aircraft was constructed in a converted old distillery, and within two years, it completed its maiden flight.

Serial production commenced in 1940 at the Lockheed plant in Burbank, California, and persisted throughout the war. In total, more than 10,000 units were manufactured in over 20 major variants, including unarmed reconnaissance planes.

The most produced version of the P-38 fighter was the P-38L (with 3,923 units manufactured), equipped with two Allison V-1710 engines, each boasting 1600 horsepower. The aircraft measured 11.5 meters in length, had a wingspan of 15.8 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of nearly 9800 kg, a ferry range of 5300 km, and a maximum speed of 666 km/h. Armament included one 20mm cannon and four 12.7mm machine guns. Additionally, the P-38L could carry unguided rockets and bombs under its wings, with a total weight exceeding 1800 kg.

Throughout the war, the P-38 served as a long-range escort fighter, reconnaissance aircraft, and fighter-bomber. The USAAC actively deployed these aircraft in the European and Pacific theaters of war. The most successful American fighter ace, Richard Bong, piloted the Lightning, achieving 40 Japanese aircraft kills. The esteemed French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who perished during a combat sortie over the Mediterranean Sea on July 31, 1944, flew a P-38F-5 reconnaissance variant.

In the United States, the P-38 remained in service until 1949. During World War II and the post-war years, aircraft from this family also served in the air forces of eight other countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, China, and France. Furthermore, after the war, many demilitarized P-38s were sold to private owners who utilized the aircraft for aerial photography, air racing, and demonstration flights.