One of the few World War II aircraft that attracted both admiration and controversy was the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The psychological aspect of its reign was as pronounced as its technological side: on earth, it was known as the ‘fork-tailed devil,’ a name given by German pilots who feared it. The thing about a captured pilot who used the term in exasperation after running into the Lightning, which was actually the one that best reflected the aura around the P-38, is the story.
The P-38 was conceived by Lockheed engineers Hall Hibbard and the young, yet brilliant Clarence “Kelly” Johnson in the late 1930s. The production was daring and not orthodox: the aircraft had twin turbo-supercharged engines in booms, a central cockpit pod, and concentrated firepower in the nose – four .50 caliber machine guns and a 20mm cannon.
By doing so, the engineers eliminated the complicated synchronization gear that was required for firing through propellers and gave the pilots a firepower capable of unleashing a devastating, pinpoint stream of fire. Some of the figures back the words: More than 3000 ft/min in climb rate, top speed of approx. 400 miles per hour, which is almost 100 mph faster than most fighters from that time were, and a range stretching well over 1000 miles. Early variants even made it possible to carry heavier bombs than some bombers, thus making it a unique combination of speed, endurance, and striking power.
It did away with the idea that it was a specialist and instead was a master of all trades, as the Lightning rapidly became. It battled in the air, bombed at altitudes, strafed landed targets, and was an indispensable aerial scout for the Allies. Actually, P-38 photo modifications were mainly used for aerial photography during the war in Europe and giving the military a clear view of the enemy’s activities. At this point, it is worth mentioning that the double engines also gave more security to the pilot; if one of the engines stopped, the other could take the aircraft home. For those flying over water or very deep into enemy territory, this feature alone could be a matter of life or death.
The success of the Lightning depended on the area of its operation. In the Pacific, the P-38 was excellent. Its range, speed, and heavy armament were the advantages that American pilots needed to control, and more enemy planes were shot down by the P-38 than by any other U.S. fighter in that theater. The ability to cover the huge Pacific Ocean and fly at very high altitudes made it almost ideal for that side of the war. But the situation in Europe was different.
Apart from the cold, the aircraft had some mechanical problems and was also heavily opposed by the Germans. Though many pilots continued to admire it, others shifted their allegiance to the P-51 Mustang, which was easier to maintain and was better in tight dogfights. The distinctive shape of the P-38, which could be seen from as far as enemy territory, also meant that the enemy could spot it immediately – sometimes a help, sometimes a disadvantage.
The P-38’s most famous mission is probably the one in April 1943, as it is remembered all over the war. Thanks to the American codebreakers’ work, it was known that Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the mastermind of Pearl Harbor, would be flying between bases in the Solomon Islands. To be able to hit a thousand-mile round trip was needed, which was impossible for most fighters of that time except for the P-38.
The only aircraft that could make the trip was the P-38. A daring low-level approach to avoid detection and arrive just in time was the flight that Major John W. Mitchell led with eighteen Lightnings. They shot down Yamamoto’s escort, lowering the Japanese morale significantly, although the debate about which pilot fired the fatal shots will continue for years. What was not open to doubt was the exactness, the far reach, the bravery, and the mission-defining characteristics of the P-38 that became immortalized in history.
During the war, Lockheed always kept up with the development of the P-38. The new planes that came later made the functions, reliability, and firepower of even the last one better. Thus, it kept up with the competition even as the technology moved fast. The ambitious after-project like the XP-49 was only a hint of greater things to come, but by that time, the advent of the jet era was already in sight, and the P-38 was heading towards its sunset. However, its achievements were there to be acknowledged. The P-51 Mustang later became famous as a long-range escort in Europe, yet the P-38’s unparalleled flexibility, specifically in the Pacific and special missions, ensured that its contribution to the victory of the Allies was not forgotten.
The P-38’s story is still told long after the war. It is not by chance that the U.S. named its modern F-35 the Lightning II, a direct reference to the P-38 era. The main mission profiles of both planes had one goal – to give U.S. pilots an incredible combination of speed, adaptability, and fighting power. In the opinion of the men who flew the original, it was much more than a machine.
The test pilot Colonel Ben Kelsey said it was like a “comfortable old cluck” that “could fly as fast as hell, fight like a wasp at the top, and land like a butterfly.” That mix of aggression and beauty was the hallmark of the Lightning. The P-38 not only took part in World War II but was instrumental in debates about the outcome of the war, leaving behind a legacy as unique and lasting as its twin tails.