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United States' Lockheed P-38L Lightning fighter1,2,3,4
Lockheed P-38L Lightning fighter:
Lockheed P-38L Lightning fighter:
Production
The P-38L entered service in June 1944.1
Variants
- P-38L"droop snoot": Bomb aiming lead ships.1 Had larger nose installed.1 A navigator / bombardier would operate a Norden bombsight through a plexiglass section.1
| Lockheed P-38L Lightning1,2,3,4 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1,2,3 Fighter bomber1,2,3,4 |
| Crew | 11,2,3,4 |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Allison V-1710-111/113 turbo charged piston1,2 2: Allison V-1710-111/113 piston3,4 |
| Cylinders | Inline1,2 V 123 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 1,425 each1, 1,475 each2, 1,600 each1 |
| Propeller blades | 3 each1,4 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 52'1,2,3,4 15.85 m1,2,3,4 |
| Length | 37' 10"1,2,3,4 11.52 m2,3, 11.53 m1,4 |
| Height | 9' 10"1,2,3,4 2.99 m2,3, 3 m1,4 |
| Wing area | 327 ft2 1, 327.5 ft2 2,3 30.42 m2 1,2,3 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 12,800 lb2,3 5,806 kg2,3 |
| Loaded | 21,600 lb2, 21,800 lb3 9,798 kg2,3 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 25,000' 7,620 m |
414 mph1,2,3 666 kph1,2,3 |
| Climb to 20,000' / 6,095 m |
7 minutes2,3 |
| Service ceiling | 44,000'1,2,3 13,400 m1, 13,410 m2,3 |
| Range | 450 miles2,3 724 km2,3 |
| Range - internal fuel | 475 miles1 765 km1 |
| Armament | |
| Nose | 1: 20 mm1,2,3,4 4: 12.7 mm MG1,2,3 4: 0.5" MG1 |
| Bombs - under wings | 2: 1,000 lb1 2: 454 kg1 |
| OR | 2: 1,600 lb1,2,3 2: 726 kg1,2,3 |
| OR | 4,000 lb1 1,814 kg1 |
| OR | |
| Rockets - under wings | 10: 5"1 10: 127 mm1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, General Editor Chris Bishop, 1998
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
