Lockheed P-38F/H Lightning

Of advanced and unorthodox design to meet a 1937 U.S.Army.Air.Corps specification for a new interceptor, Lockeed`s model 22 became the PX-38 wich first flew in January 1937.Production contracts were placed and the first Pursuit Group of the USAAC re-equipped with early models P38s in mid-41.The first large-scale production version was the P-38E(210 built)before the F model entered production in 1942.This variant was equipped with underwing pylons for carriege of long range fuel tanks, bombs and other stores, and 566 were build during 1942.These served in the Pacific, European and North Africa theatres; the first large scale combat use of the Lighting was by the machines of the 1st and 14th Fighter Groups during '' Operation Torch '' landings in North Africa in november 1942.Altough effective in dealing with enemy transport aircraft during this operation.its low altitude performance was insufficient to adequately cope with enemy fighters, especially as many of their pilots were by this time very experieced. In the European theatre, Lightings could escort the American heavy bombers engaged in daylight raids on Germany ,while in the Mediterranean with the 12th Air Force the P-38scould roam far and wide over Southern Europe. Lightings were also succesflully used for long-range photographic (F-5). It was in the Pacific theatre that the Lighting exellend; its long range and ability to fly on one engine if necessary over vast areas of the Ocean, combined with a generally good all-round performance and hard-hitting arament made it an opponent much feared by the Japanese forces. Two of the top-scoring aces in that theatre, Majors Richard I. Bong and Thomas B. Mc Guire ,gained their fame while flying Lightings, and Mc Guire`s P-38H ''Puddy'' is featured in this kit.A total of 601 P-38Hs was built in 1943.

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