Lockheed P-38 Lightning (Osprey Production Line to Frontline 3) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Michael O'Leary (Author) "AS LT BENJAMIN KELSEY surveyed the crumpled wreckage of the Lockheed XP-38 interceptor, he probably reflected on the radical aircraft's future with the Army Air..." (more)
Key Phrases: empennage boom, fuselage pod, photo fighters, Air Corps, Milo Burcham, Wright Field (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The 'Cadillac' of USAAF fighters in World War 2, the Lightning was a highly innovative design produced by Lockheed of Burbank, California, in response to a challenging requirement for a long range, high speed and high altitude fighter to escort the AAF's rapidly expanding B-17 bomber fleet. To meet the criterion laid down in the requirement the company adopted a revolutionary twin boom layout and supercharged Allison engines. The latter initially proved troublesome, but the gremlins were eventually sorted out and the type went into action both in Europe and the Pacific.

From the Publisher
Text outlining aircraft production and history, combined with photography, scale drawings and cutaways and full appendices make these books an invaluable resource for aircraft lovers everywhere.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; First Edition edition (June 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185532749X
• ISBN-13: 978-1855327498
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #959,694 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Apperance of P-38 Lightening ! It also showed outstanding difficulties on Production Line !, April 26, 2009

By	Woong B. Lee - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I like introduce my friend,Young Ki Moon,a Academic Researcher
of Miliary Aircrafts,Seoul,Korea. he sent me a Review on this book.
Review: The out standing attractive,affectionated Military Airplanes are
coming from Korean War oriented F-80 Shootig Star, MIG-15, F7F Tigercat,
and B-29 Superfortress.
Especially,my deep affections become absentminded with P-38 Lightening
of WWII. After the VJ-day,15,Aug,1945,near the season of Christmas,
I accidently found a silvery white P-38's fligt-drawing X MAS on
sky over Seoul,Korea !
By late 1943,P-38 proved high altitude sweeping fighter,escotting
B-17,B-24 heavy bombers over the Europian Theater,medium altitude
"Dog fight" fighter,ground supporting fighter, Reconaissance even
night fighter.
Allison Air cooling V-1710 series power planted,especially prominent,
famous GM motor produced Turbosuperchargers, contra rotated Curtis
3 blade propeellers,and specially located Radiators which housed in large blisters behind the Turbosuperchargers. Especially, P-38j's elegagant,
swpt-back "Shark' air intakes give extremly streamlined appertances.
Many connecting tubes from specially allocated equipments make many
troublesome works (My impression on many mechanical failures during
WWII may arose from this complicated stuffs !)
During WWII,first action of P-38 was effective ground straffing and
bombing on German African Korps. In Europian theater,their main roles
is escorting B-17 heavy bomber formations until acive involvment of
P-51 Mustang whih has longer ranges,suitable lighter, better maeuvers.
But in Pacific theater, P-38 was best Japanese fighter killing
fighter incluing all of another US Fighters !
Also, 1st ranking ace-of-aces among US Fighters came out from p-38 flyer,
Capt. Richard Bonng credetd 40 Japanese kills!
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