P-38 "Lightning" - Lackland AFB - San Antonio, Texas - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

P-38
"Lightning"

The P-38 Lightning was one of the most versatile warplanes in service during World War II.  Although originally designed as an interceptor, it was also utilized for air to air, reconnaissance, interdiction and close air support.  The P-38's distinctive twin boom quickly identified the swift fighter on the battle front and helped earn the respect and fear of its adversaries who nicknamed the aircraft "Fork Tailed Devil".  First flown in 1939, the Lightning shares with the venerable B-17 bomber the record for length of continuous war service,  having served from the start to finish of World War II.  During its impressive span of wartime service, this Lightning underwent continual improvements in air speed, rate of climb, ceiling, range and firepower to keep abreast of increasing combat requirements  In its 18th and final upgrade, the P-38 mounted ten 5" high velocity rockets making its  ordnance payload greater than that of an early heavy bomber.  The P-38 had a 20mm cannon capable of smashing the heaviest enemy tank, and carried more weight in fuel than the weight of a typical Japanese fighter.  The P-38 was the first to break the 400-mile-an-hour barrier, as well as encounter the phenomenon of compressibility as the speed of sound was approached.  In 1942 P-38's equipped with special oxygen equipment and auxiliary fuel tanks made the first transatlantic ferry flight by a fighter aircraft.

Wing Span: 52'	Useful Load:  2,655 lbs
Length:  37' 10"	Max. Speed:  390 mph
Height:  9' 10"	Service Ceiling:  39,000'
Empty Weight:  11,880 lbs	Range:  400 miles
Max. Weight: 14,424 lbs	Crew:  One
Armament:  One MI 20mm Cannon & Four .50 cal. Machine Guns	Powerplant:  Two 1,150 hp Allison V-7170-27 (29)
Manufacture:  Lockheed	Liquid Cooled Engines

As an added note:  While visiting this P-38 to get the photo for this waymark an older woman (mid to upper 80's) drove up and slowly walked to the aircraft.  We waited for her and then she came up to us and started to talk about her former husband who had been a P-38 pilot in World War II.  She was saying how good the P-38 was as an airplane.  As we talked a little, she told of a story of her husband saving Charles Lindbergh's life.  She related how Lindbergh was in the Pacific to teach them how to extend the range of the P-38 and while there he went on combat missions (Lindbergh actually scored a kill).    On Lindbergh's final mission a Zero had gotten behind him and he was not able to shake him.  And she said her husband had shot the zero and Lindbergh was able to escape.  We asked what her husband's name was and she said "Danforth".  She then holding a small plastic bag said she had just spread the last of his ashes under the plane and said "maybe the grass will grow a little greener in that spot"

To read more about Lindbergh in the Pacific and the role that Captain Danforth "Danny" Miller played in saving his life see Charles Lindbergh and the 475th Fighter Group

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): P-38 "Lightning" Tail Number: (S/N): 378538 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Lackland AFB inside / outside: outside Other Information:: Not listed Access restrictions: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   02/02/2013 VT9A5CC visited it 01/02/2011 Camp7Chris visited it 08/07/2010 Team 57 visited it 06/25/2009 wanda texas visited it

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