The P-38 Lightning is possibly one of the most recognisable aircraft of the 1930s. Its twin boom configuration and central nacelle cockpit made it stand out from the generalised look of most other fighters of the time. Making its first flight on January 27, 1939, the P-38 had a top speed of over 400 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest fighters to date. To mark the anniversary of its first flight, we’ve put together 22 facts that you may not have known of the P-38 Lightning…
1. In 1939, one of the first P-38 prototype aircraft set a speed record from California to New York in 7 hours and 2 minutes, but it crashed short of its intended airport due to carburettor icing
