Lockheed P-38 Lightning model airplane

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The first P-38 prototype airplane first flew on January 27, 1939, and production aircraft began to enter service in late 1941. Built to a total of 10,037 airplanes, the Lightning was used by the USAAF in every theater of action. In the Pacific, Lightnings were credited with the destruction of more Japanese aircraft than any other fighter in USAAF service, and the airplane is well recorded in air force history for a string of memorable actions, including the interception and destruction, some 500 miles from their base on Guadalcanal, of the Mitsubishi GrM carrying Japan's Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. And, of course, the USAAF's "ace of aces" of World War II, Major Richard I. Bong, scored all of his 40 confirmed victories while flying P-38s in the Pacific zone. In Europe, P-38s served mainly with the 9th Air Force, the airplane being used extensively on long-range fighter escort duties in support of 8th Air Force daylight bombing missions against German targets. But with the end of World War II, and the inevitable contract cancellations that followed VJ-Day, most of the USAAF's Lightnings disappeared very quickly, with only a few late models of the airplane remaining in service until 1949. The P-38J (with 2,970 aircraft built), was for use in a light bomber role. Some of these airplanes were modified to have a glazed nose to the center nacelle for use by a bomb aimer, or were equipped with bombing radar. The P38L was powered by two 1,475-hp Allison V-1710-111/-113 V-12 piston engines, giving the airplane a maximum speed of 414 mph at 25,000 feet, service ceiling of 44,000 feet and a normal range of 450 miles. Airplane armament was four 50-caliber machine guns and one 20-mm cannon, plus up to 3,200 lbs of bombs.

(Loaded versions come wth bombs and/or missiles)