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P-38 Trivia
(From various sources. See Resource at end of Info
article)
 | Lockheed spent $761,000 to develop and build the first P-38 prototype XP-38, which flew
Jan 1939. At that time, a Packard coupe cost about $900, and a new 2-bedroom home in
California cost about $3,000. After the end of the war, the Army Air Force surplused most
of the P-38s for $1,200 a piece. Today, a restored Lightning sells for nearly $2 million. |
| The P-38 was the only US fighter to remain in production throughout the war. |
| A fully-loaded P-38J (ammunition and fuel, no bombs) could take-off in just under 1,100
ft of runway. Not bad for a plane weighing nearly 18,000 lbs! |
| The P-38L was voted "Worst cockpit" at a conference of fighter pilots in late
1944. |
| Originally conceived as a high-altitude interceptor, the P-38 was used in a variety of
roles, including long-range escort, photo reconnaissance, fighter/interceptor, ground
attack, night-patrol, even formation bombing. Equipped with "personnel pods"
mounted under wings (where bombs or drop tanks would normally go) the P-38 was even used
to relocate people! Some other configurations tested include: ski gear (instead of
wheels), large-paddle propellers for high-altitude, off-center cockpit (to test effects of
same on pilot), torpedoes, pressurized cpckpit, 'bent-up' booms for possible use with
floats, and glider-tug. Lockheed even explored air-cooled P-38s with hinged wings, for
possible Navy use. |
| the machine gun trigger was located next to the microphone switch on the control wheel.
Sometimes during the frantic excitement of battle, the P-38 pilot would confuse the two,
with unpredictable results. |
| A captured P-38 shot down several B-17's and at least one P-38 before being shot down. |
| Flown with care, and equipped with external tanks, a P-38L could travel nearly 2,000
miles round trip, with enough fuel to conduct 'business' at the target. (When Lockheed
considered attaching pontoon floats for transpacific delivery, they projected a non-stop
range of 5,000 miles!) |
| Just over 10,000 P-38s were made, counting the 113 P-38L-5's made by Vultee and the many
F4/F-5 Photo Lightnings. |
| After the War, the remaining P-38s retained by the USAF were dubbed 'F-38' until 1949,
when they were officialy declared surplus.
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