Lockheed P-38 Lightning

The 'Cadillac' of USAAF fighters in World War 2, the Lightning was a highly innovative design produced by Lockheed of Burbank, California, in response to a challenging requirement for a long range, high speed and high altitude fighter to escort the AAF's rapidly expanding B-17 bomber fleet. To meet the criterion laid down in the requirement the company adopted a revolutionary twin boom layout and supercharged Allison engines. The latter initially proved troublesome, but the gremlins were eventually sorted out and the type went into action both in Europe and the Pacific.