P-38G-10-LO Lightning (SN 42-13400) is a warplane built by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation during World War II and delivered to the US Army for use in the US Army Air Force.
The P-38 Lightning did not look like other planes of the time, as its two tails were a unique feature. Less than six months after being placed into active duty, a hysterical German pilot was captured in North Africa. He kept pointing to the sky and exclaiming, “der Gableschwanz Teufl.” Because of this, the Lightning gained the nickname, “the fork-tailed devil.”
Sleek and fast, she could climb to 3,300 feet in one minute. She was 100 MPH faster than any other plane. The P-38 could carry a larger cargo than the early B-17s. She had a range of 1,150 miles, and her nose-mounted machine guns could fire 409 rounds a minute.
P-38s were known to be able to sink ships. They could strafe the ground and destroy tanks. They were used to shoot down enemy planes and blow up enemy pillboxes. Ninety percent of the reconnaissance film captured in Europe was obtained by P-38s. They were the planes sent on a 1,000-mile mission to attack Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto when code breakers discovered he was making an inspection flight in the Pacific. That mission led to the successful capture of the admiral, breaking Japanese morale and hastening the end of the war.
Combat veteran assigned to the Historic 475th Fighter Group “SATAN’S ANGELS” . Dubbed by the enemy as “The Bloody Butchers of Rabaul”, the “Satan’s Angels” achievements are legendary. Fastest scoring Fighter Group – Two of the USA’s highest scoring aces as well as Lindbergh flew with the 475th
H-1 42-66534 History
On January 18, 1944, while on a fighter sweep over New Guinea, 66534 was attacked by a Japanese Oscar fighter. After this encounter 66534 was never seen again. In the 1990s, 66534 was discovered lying on its belly, undisturbed on the Wewak Plain, having executed a perfect wheels-up landing 70 years before. Evidence suggests that the left engine was on fire from the ensuing dogfight necessitating the emergency landing. Upon exiting the aircraft, the pilot fired his flare pistol into the cockpit (Standard Operating Practice) to destroy the avionics and radios, then left on foot.
There is high probability that various Aces of the 475th and or Charles Lindbergh may have flown this fighter on various missions before its disappearance. Research continues.
This is a viable fighter project with documented history. A substantial P-38 parts inventory is included with this fighter project.
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