Tthe 록히드 P-38 번개 차 세계 대전 시대 미국 피스톤 엔진 전투기입니다. 미 육군 공군 의 요구 사항에 개발 된 P-38은 독특한 쌍둥이 붐과 조종석과 무장이 들어있는 중앙 나셀을 가지고 있었습니다. 연합군선전은 루프트한자의 포크테일 악마(독일어: 데르 가벨슈완츠-투펠)와 "비행기 2대, 조종사 1대"(2기機 1호니 히코키, 이페로토)라는 별명을 얻었다고 주장했다. P-38은 요격, 다이빙 폭격, 레벨 폭격, 지상 공격, 야간 전투, 사진 정찰, 폭격기 및 대피 임무를 위한 레이더 및 시각적 경로 찾기, 그리고 날개 아래에 낙하 탱크를 장착할 때 장거리 호위 전투기로 광범위하게 사용되었습니다.
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a versatile and innovative fighter aircraft that served in various roles during World War II. It was designed by Lockheed Corporation in response to a US Army Air Corps specification for a high-performance interceptor with twin engines, a single seat, and a heavy armament. The P-38 had a unique twin-boom configuration with a central nacelle that housed the cockpit and weapons. The P-38 was one of the first fighters to feature a tricycle landing gear, a pressurized cockpit, and a turbo-supercharged engine that enabled it to operate at high altitudes. The P-38 was also equipped with drop tanks that extended its range for long-distance escort missions. The P-38 saw action in all theaters of the war, but it was especially effective in the Pacific, where it was used by some of the top American aces, such as Richard Bong, Thomas McGuire, and Charles MacDonald. The P-38 was also used for fighter-bomber, night fighter, reconnaissance, and pathfinder roles. The P-38 was capable of delivering a devastating punch with its four 12.7 mm machine guns and one 20 mm cannon mounted in the nose. The P-38 was also able to carry bombs, rockets, or torpedoes under its wings. The P-38 was nicknamed “Lightning” by the British, who also used it under lend-lease agreements. The Germans called it “der Gabelschwanz Teufel” (the fork-tailed devil), while the Japanese feared it as “two planes, one pilot”. The P-38 was produced from 1941 to 1945, with a total of 10,037 units built. It was the only American fighter aircraft in large-scale production throughout the war. The P-38 was retired from service in 1949 by the US Air Force, but some were used by other countries until 1965. The P-38 was a remarkable aircraft that combined speed, power, maneuverability, and versatility. It was a true force of nature that struck like lightning.