Lockheed P-38 Lightning facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids

P-38H of the AAF Tactical Center, Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, carrying two 1,000 lb bombs during capability tests in March 1944
Role	Heavy fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Corporation
Designer	Clarence "Kelly" Johnson
First flight	27 January 1939
Introduction	July 1941
Retired	1949 (United States Air Force) 1965 (Honduran Air Force)
Primary users	United States Army Air Forces Free French Air Force
Produced	1941–45
Number built	10,037
Unit cost	US$97,147 in 1944
Developed into	Lockheed XP-49 Lockheed XP-58

The P-38 Lightning was a very special World War II fighter plane. It was made by the Lockheed company. This aircraft was mainly used by the United States Army Air Forces. It first flew in 1939, before the war officially began for the U.S.

What made the P-38 different was its unique design. Unlike most fighter planes that had one engine, the P-38 had two! It also had a twin-boom tail, which looked like two separate tails joined together. This gave it a very distinct shape. The Germans even nicknamed it the "fork-tailed devil" because of its unusual look and how dangerous it was.

The P-38 Lightning was one of the fastest planes of its time. It could fly at over 400 miles per hour. It carried powerful weapons, including four .50-caliber machine guns and a 20mm cannon. This made it a strong opponent in air battles.

This amazing aircraft fought in both the Pacific and European parts of World War II. It was not just a fighter; it also took many important aerial photos. In fact, it captured about 90% of all air footage over Europe during the war. The P-38 was the only American fighter plane that was being built at both the start and the end of the war.

Design and Features
Role in World War II
Legacy of the Lightning
Images for kids
See also

Design and Features

The P-38 Lightning had a very unusual design for a fighter plane. Most fighters had a single body with one engine. But the P-38 had a central pod for the pilot and weapons. On either side of this pod, there were two long "booms" that held the engines and ended in tail sections.

Twin Engines and Speed

Having two engines made the P-38 very powerful. It could fly faster and higher than many other planes. If one engine was damaged, the pilot could sometimes still fly the plane with the other engine. This was a big advantage in combat.

The P-38 was one of the fastest planes in the world when it was first introduced. Its speed helped it to catch enemy planes and escape danger. It was also very good at climbing quickly to high altitudes.

Powerful Weapons

The P-38 carried its weapons in the nose of the central pod. This included four .50-caliber machine guns and a 20mm cannon. Having all the weapons in the nose meant that the bullets and shells flew in a straight line. This made it easier for pilots to hit their targets.

This concentrated firepower was very effective against enemy aircraft and ground targets. The P-38 could deliver a lot of damage in a short amount of time.

Pilot Controls

Unlike many other fighter planes that used a stick, the P-38 was flown with a yoke, similar to what you might find in a larger transport plane. This was another unique feature of the Lightning.

Role in World War II

The P-38 Lightning played many important roles during World War II. It was used for fighting enemy planes, attacking targets on the ground, and taking reconnaissance photos.

Fighting in the Pacific

In the Pacific Ocean, the P-38 was especially important. Its long range meant it could fly long distances over the ocean. This was crucial for battles against Japan. It was also very good at fighting at high altitudes, which was common in the Pacific theater.

Many famous American "ace" pilots, who shot down many enemy planes, flew the P-38 in the Pacific. One of the most famous was Major Richard Bong, who became America's top ace with 40 victories.

Missions in Europe

While the P-38 was very successful in the Pacific, it faced different challenges in Europe. The weather conditions were often colder, and German fighter planes were very skilled. By 1944, the P-38 was often replaced by the P-51 Mustang in Europe, which was even faster and had a longer range.

However, the P-38 still performed vital missions. It was used for bombing, ground attacks, and especially for photo reconnaissance. Its ability to fly high and fast made it perfect for taking pictures of enemy positions.

Reconnaissance Missions

The P-38 was excellent at taking aerial photographs. Special versions of the plane, called F-4 and F-5 Lightnings, were made just for this purpose. They had cameras instead of guns in their noses. These planes flew over enemy territory, taking pictures that helped military leaders plan their strategies.

The famous French writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry flew a P-38 for reconnaissance missions during the war. His plane disappeared during one of these flights in 1944. Parts of his plane were found many years later in the Mediterranean Sea.

Legacy of the Lightning

Over 10,000 P-38 Lightnings were built during World War II. It was a very important aircraft for the United States. Even after the war, some countries, like the Honduras Air Force, continued to use the P-38 for many years.

The P-38 Lightning remains a symbol of American air power and innovation during World War II. Its unique design and impressive performance make it one of the most recognizable planes from that era.

Images for kids

Preliminary Lockheed twin-engine P-38 fighter concepts
P-38 armament, concentrated in the nose of the aircraft
One of 13 YP-38s constructed
Mechanized P-38 assembly lines in Burbank, California: Planes start at the back of the building on the far right (without wings, so that section of the line is narrower). When they reach the end of that line, they shift to the center line, gain wings, and move backward down this line. Upon reaching the end, they are then shifted to the line at the left, and progress forward to the end of the line.
The P-38 was flown with a yoke, rather than the more-usual stick.
The P-38 pilot training manual compressibility chart shows speed limit vs. altitude.
Airfield crew working on Lockheed P-38 fighter plane engines, c. 1944
P-38 rear view
Cocooned Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and North American Aviation P-51 Mustangs line the decks of a U.S. Navy Escort "Jeep" Carrier (CVE) ready for shipment to Europe from New York.
Reconnaissance P-38 with bold black and white invasion stripes participating in the Normandy Campaign
P-38s of the 370th Fighter Group at RAF Andover in southern England
Wartime poster encouraging greater production of P-38s
Col. MacDonald and Al Nelson in the Pacific with MacDonald's P-38J
Pilot and aircraft armorer inspect ammunition for the central 20 mm cannon
P-38J 42-68008 flying over Southern California
Ground crew members of the 459th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the "Twin Dragon Squadron", working on a Lockheed P-38 at an air base in Chittagong, India – January 1945
Lockheed P-38G-1-LO Lightning, serial 42-12723
A P-38H
Four P-38Hs flying in formation
F-5A Lightning of the 7th Photo Group, 8th Air Force based at Mount Farm: The national insignia was bordered in red with overall finish in synthetic haze.
44-27234, a former P-38L converted as a P-38M Night Lightning
P-38E testbed 41-1986 shown with second version of upswept tail designed to keep tail out of water upon takeoff for a proposed twin-float variant
P-38J Lightning YIPPEE
Major Richard Bong in his P-38
(L–R) Thomas B. McGuire and Charles Lindbergh discussing a mission on Biak Island in July 1944
The left main landing gear of Saint-Exupéry's F-5B Lightning, recovered in 2003 from the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Marseille, France
Lockheed P-38L Lightning at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, marked as a P-38J of the 55th Fighter Squadron, based in England
M2 machine gun armament in the nose of the P-38
1950 Studebaker Champion