Lockheed P-38 Lightning (Crowood Aviation) by Jerry Scutts

by Jerry Scutts

Lightning! One of the best-named aircraft of WW2, the Lockheed P-38 was also one of the few fighters in production throughout hostilities. Immediately recognizable by its twin-boom tail layout, the P-38 Lightning was one of the mainstays of the USAAF's fighter inventory. Deployed in all theaters, Lightnings excelled in most, being one of the few American fighters armed with cannon. Subject to lengthy development throughout the war, the P-38 exemplified the technical peak reached by aeronautical engineers in the 1940s.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2006, 'P-38 Lightning' is another in the extensive 'Crowood Aviation Series' of books about famous aircraft types. The quality of each volume does vary depending on the author, but this one by Jerry Scutts is, like much of his aviation output, excellent. A well written history of the development of the type, together with some basic detail of it operational use is supported by over 160 well chosen and well captioned photos. Strangely, the appendix contains a list of all Lightnings originally contracted for by the RAF and their eventual fates. A great read.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went over to see the P-38 that they are rebuilding at Middleboro, Tennessee.

It was one of the very early originals that they found in the ice.

What I didn't realize was that it had an Allison engine and a Curtiss Electric propellor.

They were the two worst things you could possibly have on an airplane.

People in combat wanted them fitted with Rolls Royce engines and Hamilton Standard propellors.

I remember when you were not even allowed to fly passengers in an airplane if it had an Allison engine or a Curtiss Eletric propellor.

Those two things killed more people than anything else I know of.