The Lockheed P-38 Lightning

by Warren M. Bodie

Warren Bodie's book is a marvel of completeness, including photos of all series and one-offs, and favorably presents what was arguably the best all-around fighter of World War Two. All the subjective criticisms of the famous Lockheed twin-boom plane are clearly discussed in their proper historical context, with ample support from the main historical actors. The book also demonstrates that the P-38, as a good child of Clarence "Kelly" Johnson's genius, was several years ahead of its time both in its technology and in the capacity of air strategists and pilots to fully exploit the advances it had over current aviation designs, as well as to foresee its potential. For example, the P-51 Mustang was a pig (and used the same Allison engine of the P-38) before being refitted with the famous Rolls-Royce Merlin engine which made it the masterpiece we know; just imagine a P-38 with two Merlins, something that never happened but that could have dramatically changed the air war before 1944 in all

Genres: History, Aviation

258 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1991

Reviews

[Dirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you only want to buy on book about the P-38, buy this one! 276 pages full of information, background history, photographs and drawings.

[Austin Arndt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my personal favorites. Has a lot of facts and good pictures.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so much a operational history(the author admits as much)as the story of the development and refinement of the P-38 Lightning. Fine book. High quality production.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a fantastic book ! Finally a book that gives proper coverage of the xp38 and yp38 in detail, then on to the production types etc !