P-38 Lightning (World Fighter Aircraft Collection)

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is less revered than the P-51 Mustang, but the Lightning was the steed of America's two top aces, Richard Bong with 40 kills to his credit and Thomas McGuire with 38.

The Lightning was designed by Kelly Johnson, who later sealed his claim to fame by designing aircraft like the P-80 Shooting Star, F-104 Starfighter, the U-2 and the SR-71 Blackbird.   The P-38 was one of America's most unusual fighters of World War Two, being one of only two fighters with twin tails and the only one-man land-based fighter with two engines.   The P-38 and the P-47 Thunderbolt were the only two American fighters with turbo superchargers, and along with the P-39 Airacobra and its cousin the , the P-38 was one of the few American land-based fighters with tricycle undercarriage consisting of two main wheels and a nose wheel.