Happy Birthday To The Lockheed P-38 Lightning

P-38L Lightning "Ruff Stuff" at the 2012 Thunder Over Michigan Air Show.
United Fuel Cells


P-38L Lightning "Ruff Stuff" at the 2012 Thunder Over Michigan Air Show.
P-38L Lightning “Ruff Stuff” at the 2012 Thunder Over Michigan Air Show.

By Aviation Enthusiasts LLC

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning flew for the first time seventy-five years ago today.  The twin-boomed P-38 was fast, heavily armed and extremely versatile.  The P-38 was the first American fighter capable of flying faster than 400 miles per hour.  Turbo-supercharged engines with boom-mounted radiators gave the Lightning superb high-altitude performance and the tricycle landing gear made engine maintenance easier for maintainers and helped to reduce accidents during take-off and landing.  P-38 pilots executed the long-range intercept mission that killed Japan’s Admiral Yamamoto, who planned the Pearl Harbor attack.  The P-38M variant was one of the fastest night fighters of World War II and the F-4 and F-5 photo-gathering Lightnings were among the best reconnaissance aircraft of the war.  The P-38 was flown by Majors Richard I. Bong and Thomas B. McGuire, America’s top-scoring aces of all time with 40 and 38 victories, respectively.

IN this article you can see a photo of the P-38L Lightning “Ruff Stuff” at the 2012 Thunder Over Michigan Air Show.  The P-38L was the most numerous model produced with 3,923 built.  Visit www.aviation-enthusiasts.com for more aviation and air show memories!

Moreno-Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

Array
About Moreno Aguiari 3378 Articles
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

1 Comment

Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*