January 27, 1939 - The prototype of the P-38 Lightning (right) first flies. Developed in response the US Army Air Force's request for a high-altitude interceptor, the P-38 became one of the most distinctive aircraft of World War II. Entering service in 1941, the Lightning was easily recognized by its twin booms and center cockpit nacelle. Flying in all theaters, the P-38 achieved its greatest successes in the skies over the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Benefiting from its long range and high speed, American P-38 pilots, such as Richard Bong and Thomas MacGuire, used the aircraft's heavy armament to down over 1,800 Japanese aircraft during the war. It was largely retired at war's end as the US Air Force moved into the jet age.
American Fighters of World War II:
Photograph Courtesy of the US Air Force
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