P-38 Lightning - 75 years old today!

[Elliott Marsh - GAR]

27 January 1939 marked the first flight of the P-38 Lightning - certainly one of the finest looking WWII aircraft in my book, and one which I feel has often been overlooked when put up against the likes of the Spitfire and Mustang. Even the Thunderbolt has gained more recognition than the P-38, which seems to have been forgotten by many, despite its extensive service.

My good friend Kieran has written a potted history of the Lightning's developments and combat history here, for those interested: http://globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/01/27/aviation-feature-lockheed-p-38-lightning-75th-anniversary/

Interested to hear people's thoughts - forgotten stalwart or under-achiever? Do we have any Lightning pilots on here who might shed some light on what it's like to fly?

Anyway, happy birthday to the old girl!

[SaxMan]

I don't know if I necessarily agree that the P-38 doesn't get the recognition that the P-47 and P-51 receive. The P-38 was the most unique looking plane of the war, at least until the P-61 arrived on the scene. It was truly in its element in the Southwest Pacific, where it decimated the Japanese Army Air Forces and produced the leading American aces of the war: Bong and McGuire. It had good success in the Mediterranean Theater as well. Only over Northwest Europe did the plane have some issues, mostly related to the extreme cold and a very determined and skilled foe. Even there it accounted for itself reasonably well, although certainly not with the kind of dominance it had in other theaters.

Growing up in the 70s & 80s, the Lighting was far more recognizable to the casual observer than the P-47 or the F6F. The P-51 has always been a star, and the TV series "Baa Baa Black Sheep" elevated the Corsair to equal standing with the P-51. But, the Lightning was right up there.

Lastly, the P-38 will always be associated with the mission to Bougainville to intercept Admiral Yammamoto's plane. Long before Seal Team Six took out Osama Bin Laden, we had the 339th Fighter Squadron take out the last man who planned a surprise attack on Americans.

[PbyCat-Guy]

Happy Bday to the P-38, one of my favorites

[tom d. friedman]

happy birthday to 1 still sexy old geezer!!

[Dan K]

Yes, a most-happy birthday to the P-38..."slim & pointed; doubled-jointed".

In honor, a link back to poetry of the highest order:

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... hp?p=41124


HUZZAH!

[JohnH]

It's a day of triumph and tragedy as today is the 47th of Apollo 1 as well.

[daviemax]

My perception is that the P-38 was widely considered to be the most glamorous U.S. fighter throughout the war itself. Only after the war have the images of other aircraft caught up with it, notably that the P-51 and F4U. While this opinion is subjective, it is bolstered by the fact that the P-38 was the mount of the two leading aces of the war, performed the most brilliant long-range interception of the war (Yamamoto), and was used in all theaters in a wide variety of tactical roles. In addition, Harley Earl, the famed head of design and General Motors, was inspired by the twin tail boom/fin configuration to apply this feature to automobile design - hence tail fins of the 50's were directly influenced by the P-38.

To me the P-38 evokes a mystique that is very hard to describe fully and has really never been duplicated. Like the B-17 it carries with it mystical meaning that goes well beyond actual exploits (however significant) and stirs the psyche in ways profound and mysterious. Absolutely a great aircraft.

[tom d. friedman]

very well conveyed!!

[Pat Carry]

May the Fork Tailed Devil fly on for another 75 years!

[daviemax]

Too bad the high-performance P-38K isn't still with us.

[Pat Carry]

Its sad the AF allows a P-38 to slowly rot away in New Jersey instead of finding a museum that would take it and place it inside.

[tom d. friedman]

pat, please elaborate on this!! 1st I've heard of it!!

[Warbird Kid]

It flew in. It probably never will again.
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p38registry/p38-4453015.html

[leo]

First P-38 I really got to see up close, back in Chino in 1974 when Tallichet (sp?) owned it. It was flyable then, sitting out on the ramp. Took a ton of pics, my favorite aircraft.
I could never understand why it ended up there versus a replica. With what they are worth today...
I've seen several attempts over the years to cover it but nothing seems to ever happen. A shame to see it corrode away.

[mazdaP5]