| The Lockheed P-38 Lightning (specifications), which the German Luftwaffe pilots referred to as “the Fork-tailed Devil”, was a beautiful fighter aircraft built with speed, power, and grace. It had the capability to fly fighter sweeps, reconnaissance missions, close-air support, strafing, bombing, bomber escort, and night-fighter missions. It was deployed across all combat theatres, and was the first U.S. fighter aircraft to escort U.S. bombers to Berlin. It was one of the most devastating fighters in the Pacific, downing more Japanese aircraft than any other Allied fighter, and was flown by America’s top two Aces, Richard Bong and Thomas McGuire. |
