When lightning strikes: How the Lockheed P-38 proved its versatility in combat

Discover the origins and the major variants that made the Lightning a legend.
The National Interest

P-38 Lightning: The Best Fighter of World War II?

Summary and Key Points: The Lockheed P-38 Lightning, the first aircraft produced by Skunk Works under Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, played a pivotal role in World War II. Some experts declare it the best ...
The National Interest

P-38 Lightning: The Backbone of America’s World War II Air Force

Before the arrival of the vaunted North American P-51D Mustang, towards the end of World War II, U.S. forces relied on other, less superlative aircraft for long-range bomber escorts—primarily the ...
insider.si.edu

Lockheed P-38J-10-LO Lightning

Click to open image viewer. In the P-38 Lockheed engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson and his team of designers created one of the most successful twin-engine fighters ever flown by any nation. From 1942 ...
insider.si.edu

Destructor Unit, Lockheed P-38J-10-LO Lightning

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. From 1942 to 1945, the thunder of ...