LOCKHEED P-38 LIGHTNING
P-38 SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | The Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Burbank, California, USA |
| Models: | Model 020, 022, 122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 622 |
| Designations: | P-38; F-4, F-5, F-38, FO, P-49, P-58, P-322 |
| Names: | Lightning; Chain Lightning (P-58), Night Lightning (P-38M) |
| First official flight: | (XP-38) 27/01/1939 |
| Factory production period: | 1938 - 1945 |
| Primary service period: | 1941 - 1946 |
| Last official flight: | (ZF-38J / L) 1949 |
P-38 VARIANTS
| 1939 | Model 022-64-01 | XP-38 | 1 | |
| 1940 | Model 122-62-02 | YP-38 | 13 | Total: 00014 |
| 1941 | Model 222-62-02 | P-38 | 30 | |
| 1941 | Model 222-62-08 | P-38D | 36 | Total: 00066 |
| 1941 | Model 222-62-09 | P-38E | 210 | |
| 1941 | Model 222-62-13 | F-4 | 99 | |
| 1941 | Model 322-61-04 | Lightning Mk. I | 143 | |
| 1942 | Model 222-60-09/-12/-15 Model 322-60-19 |
P-38F | 527 | |
| 1942 | Model 222-60-13 | F-4A | 20 | |
| 1942 | Model 222-68-12 Model 322-68-19 |
P-38G | 1082 | |
| 1942 | Model 222-62-16 Model 222-68-16 |
F-5A | 181 | |
| 1942 | Model 422-81-20 | P-38H | 601 | Total: 02863 |
| 1943 | Model 422-81-14/-22/-23 | P-38J | 2970 | |
| 1943 | Model 422-81-21 | F-5B | 200 | |
| 1943 | Model 422-85-14 | P-38K | 1 | |
| 1944 | Model 422-87-23 | P-38L | 3923 | Total: 07094 |
| 1942 | Model 522-66-07 | XP-49 | 1 | |
| 1944 | Model 020-86-04 | XP-58 | 1 | Total: 00002 |
|
Grand Total: 10039 |
P-38 PRODUCTION
XP-38
Prototype twin-engine, long-range fighter.
4 nose guns / 1 nose cannon.
Produced 1938
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 37-457 | 022-2201 | 1 | Total: 00001 |
YP-38
Service test version, engine / armament upgrade.
Produced 1940 - 1941
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 39-689 / 39-701 | 122-2202 / 2214 | 13 | Total: 00013 |
P-38
As YP-38, armour protection, XP-38 armament.
Produced 1941
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
|
40-744 / 40-773 1 (40-762), built as the XP-38A. |
222-2215 / 2244 | 30 | Total: 00030 |
P-38B - Reserved for projected development, cancelled.
P-38C - Reserved for projected development, cancelled.
P-38D
As P-38, modified tailplane, minor changes.
Produced 1941
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 40-774 / 40-809 | 222-2245 / 2280 | 36 | Total: 00036 |
P-38E
As P-38D, mechanical changes, cannon upgrade.
Produced 1941 - 1942
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
|
41-1983 / 41-2292 210 as P-38E-LO. 99 as F-4-LO. 1 as F-5A-LO. 3 to RAAF as A55-1 / A55-3. |
222-5201 / 5510 | 210 | Total: 00210 |
F-4-1
Photo reconn. version of the P-38E, unarmed.
Produced 1941
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 99 mixed with P-38E-LO s/n. |
Total: 00099 |
Lightning Mk. I
RAF version of the P-38E, minor changes.
Produced 1941 - 1942
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
Delivered as Lightning Mk. I to:
| (RAF) AE978 / AE980 | 322-3001 / 3003 |
3 |
Retained by USAAF with non-standard designation P-322:
| (RAF) AE981 / AE999 | 322-3004 / 3022 | ||
| (RAF) AF100 / AF220 | 322-3023 / 3143 | 140 | Total: 00143 |
| 60 additional airframes cancelled. | |||
P-38F
As P-38E, engine upgrade, external changes.
Produced 1942 - 1943
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
|
41-2293 / 41-2392 - 80 as P-38F-LO. - 20 as F-4A-LO. |
222-5511 / 5610 | ||
| 41-7484 / 41-7680 | 222-5611 / 5807 | ||
| 42-12567 / 42-12666 | 222-7001 / 7100 | ||
|
43-2035 / 43-2184 - 150 ex. Lightning Mk. II orders. |
322-3144 / 3293 | 527 | Total: 00527 |
F-4A-1
Photo reconn. version of the P-38F, unarmed.
Produced 1942
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 20 mixed with P-38F-LO s/n. |
Total: 00020 |
P-38G
As P-38F, engine / radio upgrade.
Produced 1942 - 1943
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
|
42-12667 / 42-12866 - 160 as P-38G-LO. - 40 as F-5A-LO. |
222-7101 / 7300 | ||
|
42-12870 / 42-13557 - 548 as P-38G-LO. - 140 as F-5A-LO. |
222-7304 / 7991 | ||
|
43-2185 / 43-2558 - 374 ex. Lightning Mk. II orders. |
322-3294 / 3667 | 1082 | Total: 01082 |
F-5A-1 / -2 / -3 / -10
Photo reconn. version of the P-38G, unarmed.
Produced 1942 - 1943
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 1 mixed with P-38E-LO s/n, was Model 222-62-16. | |
| 180 mixed with P-38G-LO s/n. |
Total: 00181 |
P-38H
As P-38G, engine / mechanical upgrade.
Produced 1942 - 1943
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 42-13559 | 422-1005 | ||
| 42-66502 / 42-67101 | 422-1013 / 1612 | 601 | Total: 00601 |
P-38I
- Not used.
P-38J
As P-38G, chin radiators on nacelles, many block no. changes.
Some converted with glass nose for bombing duties.
Produced 1943 - 1944
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 42-12867 / 42-12869 | 422-1001 / 1003 | ||
| 42-13560 / 42-13566 | 422-1006 / 1012 | ||
|
42-67102 / 42-68301 - 1000 as P-38J-LO. - 200 as F-5B-LO. |
422-1613 / 2812 | ||
| 42-103979 / 42-104428 | 422-2813 / 3262 | ||
| 43-28248 / 43-29047 | 422-3263 / 4062 | ||
| 44-23059 / 44-23768 | 422-4063 / 4772 | 2970 | Total: 02970 |
F-5B-1
Photo reconn. version of the P-38J, unarmed.
Produced 1943
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 200 mixed with P-38J-LO s/n. |
Total: 00200 |
P-38K
As P-38J, engine / prop upgrade, later cancelled.
Produced 1943
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 42-13558 | 422-1004 | 1 | Total: 00001 |
P-38L
As P-38J, engine upgrade, landing light on port wing.
Some converted with glass nose for bombing duties.
Produced 1944 - 1945
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 44-23769 / 44-27258 | 422-4773 / 8262 | ||
| 44-53008 / 44-53327 | 422-8263 / 8582 |
3810 |
|
| 1380 additional airframes cancelled. | |||
Consolidated-Vultee Nashville, Tennessee (VN)
| 43-50226 / 43-50338 | ? | 113 | Total: 03923 |
| 1887 additional airframes cancelled. | |||
XP-49
As YP-38, engine / armament upgrade.
Second cockpit added for pressurization tests.
Produced 1942
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 40-3055 | N/A | 1 | Total: 00001 |
XP-58 Chain Lightning
As P-38, 2-seater with provision for gun turrets,
engine upgrade.
Produced 1944
Lockheed Burbank, California (LO)
| 41-2670 | 020-1526 | 1 | Total: 00001 |
| 1 additional prototype cancelled. | |||
|
Grand Total: 10039 |
P-38 CONVERSIONS
USAAF
| RP-38 | 30 | P-38, 1942, redesignation as "restricted" from combat. |
| XP-38A | 1 | Model 622-62-10 P-38(40-762), 1942, conversion with a pressurized cockpit. |
| RP-38D | 36 | P-38D, 1942, redesignation as "restricted" from combat. |
| RP-38E | 210 | P-38E, 1943, redesignation as "restricted" from combat. |
| XP-38K | 1 | P-38E(41-1983), prototype with engine / prop upgrade. |
| TP-38L | 2 | P-38L, 1945, 2 seater operational trainers. |
| P-38M | 75 |
Night Lightning P-38L, 1945, 2 seater armed night-fighter with chin mounted radar. P-38L(44-25237) was the prototype, some conversions not completed. |
| RF-4 | 99 | F-4, 1943, redesignation as "restricted" from combat. |
| RF-4A | 20 | F-4A, 1943, redesignation as "restricted" from combat. |
| F-5C-1 | 128 | P-38H, post-factory conversions to photo reconn. aircraft. |
| XF-5D | 1 | F-5A(42-12975), modified with glazed nose for observer, armed. |
| F-5E-2/3/4 | 705 | P-38J / L, post-factory conversions to photo reconn. aircraft. |
| F-5F-3 | 1+ | P-38L, post-factory conversions to photo reconn. aircraft. |
| F-5G-6 | 1+ | P-38L, post-factory conversions to photo reconn. aircraft. |
| ZF-38J | 1+ | P-38J, 1948, redesignation as "obsolete". |
| ZF-38L | 1+ | P-38L, 1948, redesignation as "obsolete". |
| Droop Snoot | 1+ | P-38J, 1943, conversions as bomber with glass nose for bombardier. |
| Pathfinder | 1+ | P-38J / L, 1944, conversions with even larger nose section for bombing radar. |
| Swordfish | 1 | P-38E(41-2048), 1943, modified for flight testing. |
US Navy
| XFO-1 |
4 |
F-5B, temporarily loaned aircraft to the US Navy in North Africa. Assigned BuNo. 01209 / 01212. |
British RAF
| Lightning Mk. II |
1 |
Model 322-60-04. Single airframe completed, retained by USAAF for test duties. Assigned RAF s/n: AF221, later redesignated as P-38F-LO and assigned s/n: 43-2035. 149 orders became P-38F-LO, s/n: 43-2036 / 43-2184. 374 orders became P-38G-LO, s/n: 43-2185 / 43-2558. |
FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
- Some P-38's in service during and post WW2 with the foreign Air Forces of
Australia, France, China, Honduras, Italy and Portugal.
- Some P-38J / L's sold on the civil market as circuit racers and aerial surveyors.