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Vader’s Model Desk: Lockheed P-38J Lightning
Posted on 7/3/26 at 3:38 pm
Posted on 7/3/26 at 3:38 pm
quote:
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive twin boom design with a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. Along with its use as a general fighter, the P-38 was used in various aerial warfare roles, including as a highly effective fighter-bomber, a night fighter, and a long-range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks.[4] The P-38 was also used as a bomber-pathfinder, guiding streams of medium and heavy bombers, or even other P-38s equipped with bombs, to their targets.[5] Although it was not designated a heavy fighter or a bomber destroyer by the USAAC, the P-38 filled those roles and more; unlike German heavy fighters crewed by two or three airmen, the P-38, with its lone pilot, was nimble enough to compete with single-engined fighters.
LINK
Hasegawa 1:48 scale Lockheed P-38J Lightning
383rd Fighter Squadron
VIII Fighter Command
RAF Honington, England
Feb. 1944
13
Posted on 7/3/26 at 3:41 pm to Darth_Vader
My favorite plane.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 3:44 pm to Darth_Vader
Going with the OP’s handle… P38 to the SR71: “I am your father”
Posted on 7/3/26 at 3:45 pm to AtticusOSullivan
quote:
My favorite plane.
It’s one of my favorites as well. I have another one in my stash. I think I may do the next one with “invasion stripes”…
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:02 pm to Darth_Vader
My Dad told me a P-38 likely saved his life in December, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge.
He was pinned down by a German machine gun. He said he was in an open field stretched out on the ground in the snow trying to get as low as he could.
His backpack was shot off his back as the MG swept the field.
He told me it was the only time he was in combat where he thought, "This is it. I'm done." (It still makes me in awe he was only 23 years old at the time that happened.)
Then a P-38 passed low and strafed the German side of the line. The MG went silent and my dad got up and hauled arse until he found a ditch to take cover in.
He was pinned down by a German machine gun. He said he was in an open field stretched out on the ground in the snow trying to get as low as he could.
His backpack was shot off his back as the MG swept the field.
He told me it was the only time he was in combat where he thought, "This is it. I'm done." (It still makes me in awe he was only 23 years old at the time that happened.)
Then a P-38 passed low and strafed the German side of the line. The MG went silent and my dad got up and hauled arse until he found a ditch to take cover in.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:07 pm to Darth_Vader
Great looking build and as mentioned, has always been one of my favorite WWII planes.
I'll never understand the serial downvoters on your threads. Guess they just jump in and DV but don't have balls enough to say why.
I'll never understand the serial downvoters on your threads. Guess they just jump in and DV but don't have balls enough to say why.
quote:
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning has a top speed of about 414 to 443 miles per hour (mph), depending on the specific model and engine settings. Later variants like the P-38J and P-38L were the fastest, hitting their maximum speed at an altitude of 25,000 feet.
The P-38 Lightning got its speed from two powerful Allison V-12 engines. Each engine had a turbocharger.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:21 pm to Darth_Vader
Used to see The Scatter Brain Kid fly over Lafayette. Great Plane.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:22 pm to Darth_Vader
Awesome job Darth
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:25 pm to duckblind56
quote:
Great looking build and as mentioned, has always been one of my favorite WWII planes.
Thanks, glad you like it.
quote:
I'll never understand the serial downvoters on your threads. Guess they just jump in and DV but don't have balls enough to say why.
They’re petty and small. You’re right that they’ll never identify themselves or say what objections they have. They leave their meaningless down vote and sulk away like the chicken shits they are. Frankly, it gives me quite a bit of pleasure knowing I bother them.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:29 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
They’re petty and small. You’re right that they’ll never identify themselves or say what objections they have. They leave their meaningless down vote and sulk away like the chicken shits they are. Frankly, it gives me quite a bit of pleasure knowing I bother them.
If you post here long enough and are active enough, you'll amass a following of serial downvoters. Just how it is.
Awesome build as usual Darth.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:30 pm to Darth_Vader
Sweet...
I have researched Honington Station 375 for Movie and Museum information.
Mainly the repair depots.. Maint shops. MP units and Anti Aircraft Artillary Weapons battalions
In June 1942, the airfield was transferred to the USAAF and was upgraded to a Class A Bomber base. Honington was assigned USAAF designation Station 375.[14]
314th Service Group[15]
USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Honington were:[14]
467th Service Squadron; HHS 314th Service Group
18th Weather Squadron
68th Station Complement Squadron
9th Depot Repair Squadron
Headquarters (Western Base Section)
Regular Army Station Units included:
Headquarters & Headquarters Battery (386th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion)
386th Anti-Aircraft Artillery AW Battalion
386th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
1097th Signal Company
1178th Quartermaster Company
1221st Military Police Company
1599th Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company
2017th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon
1st Strategic Air Depot
edit
Under USAAF control, an additional facility, called Troston, was constructed to the west of the main airfield as a specialized air depot for the repair of badly damaged B-17 Flying Fortress bombers and supporting the 3d Bomb Division located in the area. Badly damaged Fortresses were often instructed to crash land at Honington on return from operations, particularly if their landing gear could not be lowered, as this avoided the necessity to dismantle and transport the aircraft from its home base for repair.
I have researched Honington Station 375 for Movie and Museum information.
Mainly the repair depots.. Maint shops. MP units and Anti Aircraft Artillary Weapons battalions
In June 1942, the airfield was transferred to the USAAF and was upgraded to a Class A Bomber base. Honington was assigned USAAF designation Station 375.[14]
314th Service Group[15]
USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Honington were:[14]
467th Service Squadron; HHS 314th Service Group
18th Weather Squadron
68th Station Complement Squadron
9th Depot Repair Squadron
Headquarters (Western Base Section)
Regular Army Station Units included:
Headquarters & Headquarters Battery (386th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion)
386th Anti-Aircraft Artillery AW Battalion
386th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
1097th Signal Company
1178th Quartermaster Company
1221st Military Police Company
1599th Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company
2017th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon
1st Strategic Air Depot
edit
Under USAAF control, an additional facility, called Troston, was constructed to the west of the main airfield as a specialized air depot for the repair of badly damaged B-17 Flying Fortress bombers and supporting the 3d Bomb Division located in the area. Badly damaged Fortresses were often instructed to crash land at Honington on return from operations, particularly if their landing gear could not be lowered, as this avoided the necessity to dismantle and transport the aircraft from its home base for repair.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:34 pm to Darth_Vader
Wasn’t it the P-38 and P-47 that escorted the B-17s as far as they could before the P-51s stole the show and really started decimating the Luftwaffe?
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:37 pm to Darth_Vader
I’ve been waiting on this one. Great job
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:44 pm to Darth_Vader
I think pilots were initially afraid to bail out due to the chance to hit the tail. The story goes Bob Hoover talked the guys into kicking off the control stick when leaving which greatly lessened the chance of getting hit by the tail. I don't know if that's a true story or not.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:44 pm to Centinel
quote:
If you post here long enough and are active enough, you'll amass a following of serial downvoters. Just how it is.
Yep. Wear it as a badge of honor.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:46 pm to sledgehammer
quote:
Wasn’t it the P-38 and P-47 that escorted the B-17s as far as they could before the P-51s stole the show and really started decimating the Luftwaffe?
I do believe you’re right.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:50 pm to ItzMe1972
Wasn't that the one they crashed on landing in Lafayette.
I also heard a story when the red,white and blue one in the Lafayette area would buzz camps and get reported they never had the tail number so when confronted the pilot would say must be another one around.
I also heard a story when the red,white and blue one in the Lafayette area would buzz camps and get reported they never had the tail number so when confronted the pilot would say must be another one around.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:58 pm to Darth_Vader
Test pilot Cass Hough supposedly broke the sound barrier in a P38 during a 43000 foot vertical dive and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross. There are references to it here and there online but nothing definite. It is well established that P38's and P47's encountered compressibility issues with their control surfaces in dives, so they at least did approach Mach 1 at times.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 5:31 pm to Darth_Vader
Hap Arnold opposing drop tanks certainly didn't help.
This post was edited on 7/3/26 at 5:39 pm
Posted on 7/3/26 at 5:52 pm to Darth_Vader
In North Africa after the disaster at Kesserine, my uncle was given orders to destroy and abandon new P-38s before his outfit “advanced to the rear” in front of the Germans.
He said it sickened him bc he knew they would be needed soon enough.
He said it sickened him bc he knew they would be needed soon enough.
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