CADILLAC OF THE AIR CORPS

摘要

Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson and Hall Livingstone Hibbard designed an exceptionally versatile aircraft when they formulated the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Two versions were fitted with a glazed nose and equipped with a Norden bombsight or H2X radar: the P-38J 'Pathfinder' and P-38L 'Droop Snoot', both of which served in the European theatre. In the Pacific, during early operational evaluation of the P-38, some examples were converted into crude night-fighters to contend with high-flying Mitsubishi G4M Betty bombers. The Lightning would ride the wing of a radar-equipped Douglas P-70 (a modified A-20 Havoc light bomber) until a Betty was located. If the enemy was beyond the service ceiling of the P-70, the P-38 would climb to engage. Other P-38s worked with searchlights under the wing; but both of these tactics were short-lived.