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{P-38}
Type: Single Seat Long Range Fighter
Origin: Lockheed
Models: XP-38 to P-38M, F-4 and F-5
First Flight: January 27 1939 (XP-38)
Service Delivery: June 8, 1941 (USAAC)
Combat Debut: August 1942
Final Delivery: September 1945
Total Produced: 9,942
Powerplant:
Allison V-1710 Liquid Cooled V12
(All P-38 engines handed with opposite propeller rotation, hence pairs of engine sub-type numbers)
   XP-38: 1,090hp V-1710-11/15 (C9)¹
   YP-38: 1,150hp V-1710-27/29 (F2)
   P-38E: 1,225hp V-1710-49/52
   P-38F: 1,225hp V-1710-49/53 (F5)
   P-38G: 1,325hp V-1710-51/55
   P-38H to P-38J: 1,425hp V-1710-89/91
   P-38M: 1,600hp V-1710-111/113
      ¹Inwardly rotating airscrews.
Fluids:
Fuel Capacity: Internal
    Early model through H: 306 U.S. Gallons
    P-38L & J: 416 U.S. Gallons
Fuel Capacity: External
    Typical: (2) 165 U.S. gallon tanks
    Ferry: (2) 300 U.S.gallon tanks.
Fuel Grade: 115/145 in the 8th Air Force
Fuel Specifications:
    AN-7-28, Grde 100/130 or AN-7-26, Grade 91
Engine Oil Capacity: 13 U.S. Gallons¹
    Type: AN-VV-O-446, Grade 1120²
      ¹ Each Engine
       ² AN-VV-O-446, Grade 1100A for cold weather operations
Supercharger Oil Type:
   AN-VV-446, Grade 1065
Engine Coolant Type:
   AN-E-2 (Ethylene Glycol-inhibited w. NaMBT)
Hydraulic Fluid Type: AN-VV-O-366

Other systems:
Oxygen System Low pressure: 400-450 psi
Dimensions: Typical
Wing span: 15.86m (52 ft.)
Length: 11.53m (37 ft. 10 in.)*
Height: 3.9m (9 ft. 10 in.)
Wing Surface Area: 327.5 sq. ft.
*F-5G, P-38M and certain "droop-snoot" conversions fractionally longer
Click for larger image
XP-38
   Weights:
Empty:
   P-38F-15-LO: 12,264 lbs.
   P-38G-1-LO: 12,200 lbs.
   P-38J-25-LO: 12,780 lbs.
Loaded:
   P-38F-15-LO: 15,900 lbs.
   P-38G-1-LO: 15,800 lbs.
   P-38J-25-LO: 17,500 lbs.
Maximum:
   YP-38: 14,348 lbs. (6,508kg)
   P-38D: 15,500 lbs.
   P-38E: 15,482 lbs.
   P-38F-15-LO: 19,900 lbs.
   P-38G-1-LO: 19,800 lbs.
   P-38H: 20,300 lbs.
   P-38J-25-LO: 21,600 lbs.
   P-38L & M: 21,600 lbs. (9798 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed:
    YP-38: 405 mph at 20,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 347 mph at 5,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 351 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 395 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 345 mph at 5,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 360 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 400 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 360 mph at 5,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 390 mph at 15,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 414 mph at 25,000 ft.
Initial climb: About 2,850 ft. (870m) per minute
Time To Climb:
    YP-38: 6 minutes to 20,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 4 minutes to 10,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 8.8 minutes to 20,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 3.7 minutes to 10,000 ft.
    P-38FG-1-LO: 8.5 minutes to 20,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 2 minutes to 5,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 5 minutes to 15,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 7 minutes to 20,000 ft.
Service Ceiling:
    P-38F-15-LO & P-38G-1-LO: 39,000 ft.
    P-38H, J, L: 44,000 ft.
Range: Internal Fuel
    P-38F-15-LO: 400 miles at 333 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38F-15-LO: 900 miles at 219 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 350 miles at 333 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38G-1-LO: 850 miles at 219 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 475 miles at 339 mph at 25,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 800 miles at 285 mph at 10,000 ft.
    P-38J-25-LO: 1,175 miles at 175 mph at 10,000 ft.
Range: Max. Fuel
    2,260 Miles at 186 mph at 10,000 ft.
Avionics:
P-38G - SCR-274N radio.
P-38M - nightfighter equipped with ASH radar)
Armament:
XP-38:
Four 23mm Madsen Cannon with 50 r.p.g.
Four .50 Colt-Browning MG 53 m.g. with 1,000 r.p.g.
YP-38: 37mm Oldsmobile cannon, two .50 and two .30 machine guns
P-38: 37mm Oldsmobile cannon and four .50 machine guns.
   P-38E:
20mm Hispano M1 Cannon with 150 rounds
Four .50 Colt-Browning MG 53-2 m.g. with 500 rounds per gun.
P-38L:
20mm Hispano M2(C) Cannon with 150 rounds
Four .50 Colt-Browning MG 53-2 m.g. with 500 rounds per gun.
Bombs and other Drop Ordnance:
P-38F First model to incorporate in wing pylons and could accomodate 1,000lbs of bombs, torpedoes, tanks or other stores. P-38L: This model had a bomb load of 4,000 lbs of bombs or ten rockets. This model was often used in level flight bombing with formations being led by a Droop-Snoot conversion. (See below)
COMMENTS:
There were at least two major structural variants of the P-38 built. The F-4 and F-5 series of photographic recon aircraft had the nose armament replaced with various cameras. (If anybody has more info on these two models I would appreciate it.) The second major variant was the Droop-Snoot conversion (see Image 7 below). This variant had it's armament removed and the entire nose rebuilt with a glass nose to accomodate a bombadier. The unfortunate bombadier spent the entire trip lying prone within the nose and his chances for bail out were slim at best. The Droop-Snoot would lead a formation of P-38L's loaded with bombs. The L's would drop thier bombs when the Droop-Snoot did.
    The P-38M was a night fighter variant with a nose mounted radar (see Image 4 and 14).
    Lightnings were used for numerous roles including towing gliders, operating on skis, and equipped as fast ambulances (two stretcher cases, if anyone has a photo I would appreciate it). At wars end thousands were scrapped but a handful were used a photo survey aircraft. The Lightning is one of the most sought after warbirds on the market today with rebuilt examples bringing in $5,000,000(US) or more.

Image 1 - P-38 "Elsie" having a bad day.
Image 2 - F-5B with a P-38J flying wing position.
Image 3 - P-38 undergoing field maintenance.
Image 4 - P-38M Nightfighter.
Image 5 - F-5 Photorecon aircraft.
Image 6 - "Arkansas Traveller".
Image 7 - P-38 Droop-Snoot (Plexiglass Nose).
Image 8 - P-38 Firing
Image 9 - Twin seat P-38
Image 10 - "Little Buckaroo" - Unknown pilot
Image 11 - P-38 on skis.
Image 12 - F-5 with unknown pilot/groundcrew.
Image 13 - Warbird "California Cutie".
Image 14 - Another P-38M Nightfighter.
Image 15 - P-38 Flying with F-15 & P-51.
Image 16 - Unknown warbird.
Image 17 - Warbird "Joltin Josie".
Image 18 - F-5 "Awaitin Autumn".
Image 19 - P-38 Warming Up
Image 20 - Interesting shot of 4 P-38s
   Image 21 - P-38M 3-view illustration.
Image 22 - P-38F - 94th FS/1st FG, North Africa 1942.
Image 23 - Pilot climbs aboard 8th AF P-38J.
Image 24 - Cockpit view
Image 25 - In Flight.
Image 26 - British Lightning I.
Image 27 - Another "Droop Snoot" Lightning.
Image 28 - Two photo recon Lightnings at airport.
Image 29 - Two Lightnings in flight.
Image 30 - Lightning with early model P-51 & P-47.
Image 31 - Lightning ambulance pods.
Image 32 - Flight of eight P-38Fs.
Image 33 - Whole lot of P-38s.
Image 34 - Another cockpit shot.
Image 35 - P-38 with hole in wing.
Image 36 - Fueling drop tanks.
Image 37 - A sad end.
Special Thanks to Stan Richardson,Jr. for helping fill in some missing information.
   
Sources:
The Complete Encyclodepia of World Aircraft, 1997, Barnes & Nobles Books, ISBN: 0 7607 0592 5
Green, William - War Planes Of The Second World War - Fighters - Vol. 4, 1964, Doubleday And Company, Inc., New York
AN 01-75-1, Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions for Army Models P-38H Series, P-38J Series, P-38-L1 and F-5B Airplanes