Lockheed P-38 J Lightning TMY-61123

Description

The Lockheed P38 was a U.S. twin-engine fighter that was active during the entire World War II where it operated mainly in the Pacific theater of operations and where it gained well-deserved fame thanks to its fantastic performance as a long-range support fighter, bombing, ground bombing and observation aircraft.

The P38 is credited with the feat of having shot down the Mitsubishi G4M aircraft carrying the most famous Japanese admiral of the war: Isoroku Yamamoto. The interception occurred almost 900 km away from its base in Guadalcanal.

The P38J version was the largest production version of this aircraft with almost 3,000 built.

The P38J aircraft was not ready until the summer of 1943 and its major change with respect to previous versions was the area where the cooling of the engine feeders was located.The new engine, which was placed between the oil radiators, changed the physical appearance of each engine and differentiated it from the previous versions.

Photograph of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning Yippee of the U.S. Army Air Forces; this aircraft was the 5000th P-38 to be produced.