The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was one of the most successful fighters in the Pacific during WWII. Designed in 1937 - 1939 in answer to an Army Air Corps requirement for pursuit aircraft in twin-engine configuration to achieve a specific speed/weight ratio with a given amount of armaments.

In March 1940, the French and the British put the P38 into service. After the fall of France in June 1940, the British christened the plane "Lightning". The P38 was used extensively as a long-range escort fighter to protect heavy bomber operations in both Europe and the Pacific, escorting bombers at altitudes between 18-25,000 ft. The P-38 was credited with destroying more Japanese aircraft than any other U.S. fighter.

Over 10,000 P38s were manufactured in all; becoming the only U.S. combat aircraft that remained in continuous production throughout the duration of American participation in World War II. After the war surplus P-38s were also used by other air forces around the world.