Lockheed Aircraft Corporation

P-38 Lightning

Twin-Engine FighterWWIIUnited States

Photo: CindyN · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

The P-38 Lightning was Lockheed's twin-engine, twin-boom fighter that served in every theater of World War II. It was the mount of America's two highest-scoring aces — Richard Bong (40 victories) and Thomas McGuire (38 victories) — and the aircraft that flew the longest-range fighter interception of the war: the mission that killed Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. With nose-mounted armament that eliminated convergence problems, turbo-supercharged engines for high-altitude performance, and range that no single-engine fighter could match, the P-38 was the defining American fighter of the Pacific air war.

Quick Facts

Role: Twin-Engine Fighter
Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
Nation: United States
Era: World War II
Produced: 10,037

10,037

Built

Bong (40) & McGuire (38)

Top Aces

Crew

414 mph / 667 km/h

Max Speed (P-38L)

Engines

All (ETO, MTO, PTO, CBI)

Theaters Served

Aircraft Description

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was the only American fighter aircraft in production throughout the entire United States involvement in World War II — from Pearl Harbor to V-J Day. Its radical twin-boom, twin-engine design gave it distinctive performance: concentrated nose-mounted firepower, exceptional range, and high speed at altitude. The P-38 was the primary long-range fighter in the Pacific Theater and served in every major combat zone of the war, from the Aleutians to North Africa to the skies over Germany.

Engines & Armament

Powerplant

2x Allison V-1710 series liquid-cooled V-12 engines with General Electric turbo-superchargers; counter-rotating propellers eliminated torque effects. Early models: V-1710-27/29 (1,150 hp); late P-38L: V-1710-111/113 (1,475 hp with War Emergency Power)

Armament

1x Hispano AN/M2(C) 20mm cannon with 150 rounds + 4x Browning AN/M2 .50 caliber machine guns with 500 rpg, all nose-mounted in the central nacelle. External: up to 4,000 lbs of bombs (2x 2,000 lb) or 10x 5-inch HVAR rockets on underwing pylons

Design Features

Twin-Boom Configuration

The P-38's most distinctive feature: twin fuselage booms extending aft from the engine nacelles, each carrying a turbo-supercharger, radiator, and tail surface. The pilot sat in a central nacelle between the booms. This layout provided structural rigidity, excellent engine cooling, and a compact, aerodynamically clean arrangement that no single-engine design could replicate.

Concentrated Nose Armament

Unlike wing-mounted guns on conventional fighters, the P-38's four .50 caliber machine guns and one 20mm cannon were clustered in the nose pod. This eliminated the convergence problem — the guns fired parallel, delivering a dense, devastating cone of fire at any range without needing to set convergence distance. Pilots reported being able to saw wings off enemy aircraft.

Counter-Rotating Propellers

The P-38's engines turned in opposite directions (the left engine clockwise, the right counterclockwise viewed from the rear), canceling out propeller torque. This gave the Lightning perfectly symmetrical handling — critical for single-engine emergencies and for precision gunnery. No other mass-produced WWII fighter had this feature.

Turbo-Supercharged Engines

Each Allison V-1710 was paired with a General Electric turbo-supercharger mounted in the tail boom, giving the P-38 exceptional high-altitude performance. While naturally-aspirated Allisons lost power above 15,000 feet, the turbocharged P-38 maintained full power to 25,000+ feet — essential for bomber escort and high-altitude interception.

Fowler Flaps

The P-38 was among the first fighters to use large-area Fowler flaps that extended rearward and downward from the wing trailing edge. These dramatically increased wing area and lift at low speeds, giving the heavy twin-engine fighter surprisingly good low-speed handling and short-field performance for its size and weight.

Specifications

Crew: 1
Length: 11.53 m
Wingspan: 15.85 m
Height: 3 m
Wing Area: 30.43 m²
Max Speed: 667 km/h

Variants & Models

Variant	Engines	Max Speed	Range	Ceiling	Armament	Built
XP-38	2x Allison V-1710-11/15, 1,150 hp	628 km/h	—	—	Planned: 1x 23mm Madsen + 2x .50 cal + 2x .30 cal (not armed on prototype)	1
P-38D	2x Allison V-1710-27/29, 1,150 hp	628 km/h	1,287 km	11,887 m	1x 37mm cannon + 4x .50 cal MG	36
P-38E	2x Allison V-1710-27/29, 1,150 hp	628 km/h	1,287 km	11,887 m	1x 20mm Hispano cannon + 4x .50 cal MG	210
P-38F	2x Allison V-1710-49/53, 1,325 hp (WEP)	626 km/h	1,287 km	11,887 m	1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; provision for 2x 1,000 lb bombs or drop tanks	527
P-38G	2x Allison V-1710-51/55, 1,325 hp (WEP)	640 km/h	1,287 km	11,887 m	1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; 2x 1,600 lb bombs or drop tanks	1,082
P-38H	2x Allison V-1710-89/91, 1,425 hp (WEP)	646 km/h	1,287 km	12,200 m	1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; up to 3,200 lbs external stores	601
P-38J	2x Allison V-1710-89/91, 1,425 hp (WEP)	666 km/h	3,637 km	13,400 m	1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; up to 4,000 lbs external stores	2,970
P-38L	2x Allison V-1710-111/113, 1,475 hp (WEP)	667 km/h	3,637 km	13,400 m	1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; up to 4,000 lbs bombs or 10x 5-inch HVAR rockets	3,923
F-4 / F-5 (Photo Recon)	2x Allison V-1710 (various)	—	—	—	Cameras replacing nose armament; typically unarmed	1,400
P-38M Night Lightning	2x Allison V-1710-111/113, 1,475 hp (WEP)	657 km/h	—	—	1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; AN/APS-6 radar pod under nose	75

XP-38

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710-11/15, 1,150 hp
Max Speed: 628 km/h
Built: 1
Armament: Planned: 1x 23mm Madsen + 2x .50 cal + 2x .30 cal (not armed on prototype)

More details

ID Features: Flush-riveted skin; early canopy design; no armament fitted

Notes: First flight January 27, 1939 at March Field, CA. Set a transcontinental speed record during delivery flight to Mitchell Field but crashed on landing due to carburetor icing. The airframe was destroyed but the design was validated.

P-38D

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710-27/29, 1,150 hp
Max Speed: 628 km/h
Range: 1,287 km
Ceiling: 11,887 m
Built: 36
Armament: 1x 37mm cannon + 4x .50 cal MG

More details

ID Features: First variant with self-sealing fuel tanks and armor plate; low-set tailplane

Notes: First combat-capable variant. Redesignated from P-38 (original 30 airframes) after adding self-sealing tanks and armor. Served in the Aleutians.

P-38E

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710-27/29, 1,150 hp
Max Speed: 628 km/h
Range: 1,287 km
Ceiling: 11,887 m
Built: 210
Armament: 1x 20mm Hispano cannon + 4x .50 cal MG

More details

ID Features: Revised instrument panel; SCR-274 radio

Notes: First variant with the definitive 20mm cannon replacing the 37mm. The 20mm had a much higher rate of fire and more ammunition capacity. Some converted to F-4 photo-reconnaissance configuration.

P-38F

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710-49/53, 1,325 hp (WEP)
Max Speed: 626 km/h
Range: 1,287 km
Ceiling: 11,887 m
Built: 527
Armament: 1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; provision for 2x 1,000 lb bombs or drop tanks

More details

ID Features: Underwing hardpoints for bombs or tanks; combat flap system

Notes: First variant with underwing pylons for bombs or drop tanks, dramatically increasing versatility. Saw first major combat in North Africa (Operation Torch, November 1942). Introduced combat maneuvering flaps.

P-38G

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710-51/55, 1,325 hp (WEP)
Max Speed: 640 km/h
Range: 1,287 km
Ceiling: 11,887 m
Built: 1,082
Armament: 1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; 2x 1,600 lb bombs or drop tanks

More details

ID Features: Improved radio equipment; otherwise externally similar to F

Notes: Widely used in the Mediterranean and Pacific from mid-1943. Some converted to F-5A photo-reconnaissance variants.

P-38H

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710-89/91, 1,425 hp (WEP)
Max Speed: 646 km/h
Range: 1,287 km
Ceiling: 12,200 m
Built: 601
Armament: 1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; up to 3,200 lbs external stores

More details

ID Features: Slightly revised cowlings for new engine variant

Notes: Incremental engine improvement; saw extensive service in the Mediterranean and Southwest Pacific. Higher power output improved climb rate and high-altitude performance.

P-38J

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710-89/91, 1,425 hp (WEP)
Max Speed: 666 km/h
Range: 3,637 km
Ceiling: 13,400 m
Built: 2,970
Armament: 1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; up to 4,000 lbs external stores

More details

ID Features: Chin-mounted intercoolers (relocated from wing leading edges); flat windscreen; boom-mounted fuel tanks increased internal capacity

Notes: The most significant upgrade in the Lightning lineage. Moving the intercoolers from the wing leading edges to chin scoops under the engines freed up wing space for 55-gallon fuel tanks in each leading edge, increasing range by nearly 40%. The P-38J-25 block introduced hydraulically boosted ailerons and electrically actuated dive flaps to address compressibility issues in high-speed dives.

P-38L

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710-111/113, 1,475 hp (WEP)
Max Speed: 667 km/h
Range: 3,637 km
Ceiling: 13,400 m
Built: 3,923
Armament: 1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; up to 4,000 lbs bombs or 10x 5-inch HVAR rockets

More details

ID Features: Rocket pylons under outer wing panels (late blocks); otherwise similar to late-J

Notes: The definitive and most-produced Lightning variant. Higher-output engines, rocket capability, and all late-J improvements as standard. Served extensively in the Pacific through V-J Day. The P-38L was the mount of both Bong and McGuire during their highest-scoring periods.

F-4 / F-5 (Photo Recon)

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710 (various)
Built: 1,400
Armament: Cameras replacing nose armament; typically unarmed

More details

ID Features: Camera ports in nose replacing gun muzzles; often unpainted (natural metal) for speed

Notes: Photo-reconnaissance conversions across multiple P-38 variants. The F-4 was based on the P-38E/F; the F-5 on the G/H/J/L. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince, disappeared flying an F-5B on a reconnaissance mission over southern France on July 31, 1944.

P-38M Night Lightning

Engines: 2x Allison V-1710-111/113, 1,475 hp (WEP)
Max Speed: 657 km/h
Built: 75
Armament: 1x 20mm + 4x .50 cal; AN/APS-6 radar pod under nose

More details

ID Features: Radar pod under nose; raised rear cockpit with separate canopy for radar operator

Notes: Two-seat night fighter conversion of the P-38L. A radar operator sat in a raised position behind the pilot under a separate canopy. Arrived in the Pacific in the final months of the war; saw limited combat but proved the concept of a twin-engine night interceptor.

Visual Identification Guide

XP-38

Flush-riveted skin; early canopy design; no armament fitted

P-38D

First variant with self-sealing fuel tanks and armor plate; low-set tailplane

P-38E

Revised instrument panel; SCR-274 radio

P-38F

Underwing hardpoints for bombs or tanks; combat flap system

P-38G

Improved radio equipment; otherwise externally similar to F

P-38H

Slightly revised cowlings for new engine variant

P-38J

Chin-mounted intercoolers (relocated from wing leading edges); flat windscreen; boom-mounted fuel tanks increased internal capacity

P-38L

Rocket pylons under outer wing panels (late blocks); otherwise similar to late-J

F-4 / F-5 (Photo Recon)

Camera ports in nose replacing gun muzzles; often unpainted (natural metal) for speed

P-38M Night Lightning

Radar pod under nose; raised rear cockpit with separate canopy for radar operator

Production & Service

Number Built: 10,037
First Service: 1941
Last Built: 1945
Retired: 1949
Status: Retired

Development & Operational Timeline

June 23, 1937Development

Lockheed Wins Design Competition

Lockheed submits its Model 22 proposal to the U.S. Army Air Corps Circular Proposal X-608, beating competing designs from Curtiss, Vultee, and other manufacturers. The twin-engine, twin-boom concept is radical but promises the range and firepower the Army requires.

January 27, 1939Development

XP-38 Prototype First Flight

The XP-38 makes its maiden flight from March Field, California, piloted by Lt. Benjamin Kelsey. The aircraft demonstrates exceptional performance, later setting an unofficial transcontinental speed record during its delivery flight — though the prototype is destroyed in a landing accident at Mitchell Field, New York.

August 1941Milestone

First P-38s Enter Service

The first production P-38s are delivered to the USAAF. Initially used for training and coastal defense patrols along the American West Coast following Pearl Harbor.

August 14, 1942Combat

First Aerial Victory

Lt. Elza Shahan of the 27th Fighter Squadron and 2nd Lt. Joseph Shaffer of the 33rd Fighter Squadron, flying P-38Fs on an Iceland-based patrol, shoot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor over the Atlantic — the first Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed by the USAAF.

November 1942Combat

Operation Torch — Combat Debut in Force

P-38F and P-38G Lightnings deploy to North Africa as part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. The Lightning quickly establishes air superiority and proves itself against Luftwaffe Bf 109s and Fw 190s in the Mediterranean Theater.

April 18, 1943Combat

Operation Vengeance — Yamamoto Interception

Sixteen P-38G Lightnings of the 339th Fighter Squadron fly a 1,000-mile round-trip mission over open ocean to intercept and shoot down the transport aircraft carrying Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto over Bougainville. It remains the longest-range fighter interception in aviation history.

1943-1944Combat

Southwest Pacific Dominance

Under General George Kenney's 5th Air Force, P-38s become the dominant American fighter in the Southwest Pacific. The Lightning's twin-engine reliability over vast ocean distances and concentrated firepower make it the preferred mount of top aces including Richard Bong and Thomas McGuire.

Late 1943Production

P-38J Enters Service

The P-38J variant introduces relocated intercoolers and leading-edge fuel tanks, dramatically increasing range. Combined with dive flaps and boosted ailerons on later blocks, the J-model addresses earlier high-altitude maneuverability concerns.

June 1944Combat

P-38s Over Normandy

P-38 groups of the 8th and 9th Air Forces provide fighter cover, ground attack, and tactical reconnaissance during the D-Day invasion and subsequent Normandy campaign. The Lightning's distinctive twin-boom silhouette makes it the easiest Allied fighter for ground troops to identify, reducing friendly-fire incidents.

December 17, 1944Milestone

Major Richard Bong — 40 Victories

Major Richard Bong scores his 40th and final aerial victory flying a P-38L in the Pacific, making him the highest-scoring American ace of all time. He is recalled from combat and awarded the Medal of Honor.

August 1945Production

V-J Day — End of Production

P-38 production ends with the conclusion of hostilities. The Lightning is the only American fighter that was in production from before Pearl Harbor through V-J Day. Remaining contracts for over 1,900 additional P-38Ls are canceled.

1949Retirement

Final USAF Retirement

The last P-38s and F-5 photo-reconnaissance variants are retired from active USAF service. Some continue flying with foreign air forces and civilian operators for several more years.

Combat History

North Africa & Mediterranean Air Campaign

1942-1943

P-38 groups deployed to North Africa beginning with Operation Torch and fought through Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy. In the Mediterranean, Lightnings provided bomber escort, conducted ground attack missions, and engaged in air superiority sweeps against Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica fighters.

The North Africa campaign was the P-38's first large-scale combat test. The aircraft proved its worth against experienced Luftwaffe opposition, though early models revealed shortcomings — notably compressibility problems in high-speed dives — that would be addressed in the J and L variants.

Southwest Pacific Fighter Operations

1942-1945

P-38s became the primary long-range fighter of the 5th Air Force under General George Kenney, conducting escort, air superiority, and ground attack missions across New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Dutch East Indies. The Lightning's twin-engine reliability was critical over the vast oceanic distances of the Pacific Theater, where a single-engine failure in a conventional fighter meant ditching in the ocean.

The P-38 was responsible for more Japanese aircraft destroyed than any other USAAF fighter in the Pacific. America's top two aces — Richard Bong (40 kills) and Thomas McGuire (38 kills) — both flew P-38s exclusively. The aircraft's range advantage over the P-47 and P-51 made it indispensable in the Pacific until the final months of the war.

Operation Vengeance

April 18, 1943

Sixteen P-38G Lightnings launched from Guadalcanal on a precisely timed 1,000-mile round-trip interception over the Solomon Sea. The flight navigated at wave-top level on a circuitous route to avoid detection, arriving within one minute of the predicted intercept time. The cover flight engaged escorting Zeros while the killer flight attacked the two Betty bombers carrying Admiral Yamamoto and his staff.

Dispatched

Aircraft Lost

Personnel Lost

Result: Admiral Yamamoto killed; both transport bombers destroyed

The longest-range fighter interception mission of World War II. The death of Japan's most capable naval strategist was a profound blow to Japanese morale and strategic leadership. The mission demonstrated the P-38's unmatched combination of range, speed, and firepower.

European Theater Operations (8th & 9th Air Forces)

1943-1945

P-38 groups served with both the 8th Air Force (strategic bomber escort) and 9th Air Force (tactical operations) in the European Theater. Lightnings provided bomber escort before sufficient P-51 Mustangs arrived, and later transitioned to ground attack and tactical reconnaissance roles. The 9th Air Force's P-38 groups provided close air support during the Normandy invasion and subsequent breakout.

The P-38's European record was mixed: excellent at ground attack and low-level work, but its high-altitude performance over Europe was hampered by extreme cold at 25,000+ feet affecting the Allison engines and turbocharger intercoolers — a problem less severe in the warmer Pacific. The distinctive twin-boom silhouette proved a significant advantage during D-Day, as ground troops could instantly identify the P-38 as friendly, reducing fratricide incidents.

Where to See One

Airworthy(3)

23 Skidoo

S/N: 42-67762

Variant: P-38J-10-LO

Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum

Everett, Washington

3407 109th Street SW, Everett, WA 98204

Strato-Art Inc.

Visit website →

Restored to flying condition. One of the few airworthy P-38J models in existence.

Glacier Girl

S/N: 41-7630

Variant: P-38F-1-LO

Lewis Air Legends

San Antonio, Texas

Rod Lewis

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Recovered in 1992 from beneath 268 feet of ice on the Greenland ice cap, where it had made an emergency landing in 1942. One of the most remarkable aircraft recoveries in history. Restored to flying condition and completed its first post-recovery flight in 2002.

Thoughts of Midnite

S/N: 44-53095

Variant: P-38L-5-LO

Planes of Fame Air Museum

Chino, California

7000 Merrill Avenue, Chino, CA 91710

Planes of Fame

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One of the few flyable P-38Ls. Regular airshow performer.

Static Display(3)

Joltin' Josie

S/N: 44-53097

Variant: P-38L-5-LO

March Field Air Museum

Riverside, California

22550 Van Buren Boulevard, March ARB, Riverside, CA 92518

March Field Air Museum

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Static display at the museum located on the former March Army Air Field — the same base where the original XP-38 made its first flight in 1939.

Marge

S/N: 44-53236

Variant: P-38L-5-LO

National Air and Space Museum (Udvar-Hazy Center)

Chantilly, Virginia

14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA 20151

Smithsonian Institution

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Painted as Richard Bong's personal aircraft "Marge," named for his fiancee Marge Vattendahl. Displayed in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center alongside other iconic WWII aircraft.

Putt Putt Maru

S/N: 44-23314

Variant: P-38J-20-LO

National Museum of the United States Air Force

Dayton, Ohio

1100 Spaatz Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433

United States Air Force

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Painted in the markings of the 475th Fighter Group. On permanent display in the WWII Gallery.

P-38 Lightning History

Paint Schemes and Markings

The P-38 Lightning's distinctive twin-boom silhouette made it one of the most recognizable aircraft of the war. Its paint schemes evolved from standard camouflage to gleaming natural metal as production increased and Allied air superiority was established.

Olive Drab over Neutral Gray (1941-1944): Standard USAAF scheme — Dark Olive Drab (ANA 613) upper surfaces over Neutral Gray (ANA 603) undersides. Applied to P-38E through P-38H models. Some aircraft in the Pacific received field-applied Medium Green blotching.
Photo-Reconnaissance "Haze Paint" (1942): F-4 and F-5 photo-recon variants received a distinctive scheme: black base coat with a synthetic blue-gray "Haze Paint" sprayed over upper surfaces, graduating from light blue to near-white on undersurfaces. Approximately 130 aircraft received this unusual finish.
Mediterranean Theater Schemes: Operation Torch aircraft (November 1942) carried yellow recognition rings around fuselage stars. Some North African P-38s received Sand (ANA 615) and Medium Green (ANA 612) upper surfaces over Azure Blue (ANA 609) undersides for desert operations.
Natural Metal Finish (1944 onward): P-38J and P-38L models delivered unpainted from mid-1944. NMF aircraft were common in both the ETO and Pacific by late 1944.
D-Day Invasion Stripes (June 1944): Standard black and white invasion stripes applied to wings and both twin booms. The P-38 was the only twin-engine U.S. fighter in the European theater, making the stripes particularly important for friendly-fire prevention.
Pacific Markings: 5th and 13th Air Force P-38s commonly carried white identification markings on spinners and tail tips. Unit-specific markings varied by fighter group.