Chronologically, the Lightning Mark I for the RAF was the next model produced.
In France, as early as the spring of 1939, the Comite du Materiel and the Etat Major
had been taking a look at the P-38 as a possible substitute for the Breguet 700, Potez 671,
and Sud-Est S.E.100 twin-engined fighters then under development. In April 1940,
the Anglo-French Purchasing Committee ordered 667 P-38 fighters. The two versions
were the Model 322-61-03 (or 322-F) for France and 322-61-04 (or 322-B) for Britain.
Both the British and French delegations insisted that the Lockheed fighters be
equipped with Allison engines without turbosuperchargers and with strictly right-handed rotation.
This was because they wanted the engines to be interchangeable with those of the Curtiss H.81A
Tomahawk which had been ordered by both Britain and France in great numbers. In addition, the
Committee wanted to optimize the aircraft for medium-altitude combat as was currently the dominant
mode of aerial warfare in Europe, rather than the high-altitude role for which the P-38 had
originally been designed. The Anglo-French delegation was also aware of the problems
currently being experienced by the War Department in the delivery of turbosuperchargers, and
did not want to run the risk of costly, time-consuming delays since they wanted all the
planes delivered in less than a year. It turned out that this decision was particularly unfortunate.
The British and French Model 322s were to be powered by Allison V-1710-C15 engines
without turbosuperchargers that were rated at 1010 hp at 14,000 feet. These aircraft
were to have both engines rotating in the right-handed sense. The French version of
the fighter was to have French (i.e. metric-calibrated) instruments, French-built radios
and French-supplied armament, and were to have throttles which operated in the “French fashion”,
ie. in the reverse direction from British/American throttles. With these engines, guaranteed
maximum speed was 400 mph at 16,900 feet.
After the fall of France in June of 1940, the entire contract for the Model
322s was taken over by Britain. By July of 1941, the RAF recognized that there
probably would be a need for high altitude capabilities, and the original
contract was amended to provide for the delivery of 143 Lightning Is (British military
serials AE978/999 and AF100/220) with the originally-specified V-1710-15 un-turbosupercharged
engines, with the remaining 524 aircraft (serials AF221/AF744) to be delivered as Lightning
IIs (Model 322-60-04) with turbosupercharged V-1710-F5L and -F5R engines with guaranteed top
speeds of 415 mph at 20,000 feet.
Because of its unturbosupercharged right-handed Allison engines, the
Lightning I for the RAF was christened the “castrated P-38” by the
factory. It turned out that this nickname was apt.
The first three Lightnings arrived in the UK by sea transport in March of 1942. AF105 was sent to the Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft Limited at Swaythling, Southampton for examination and experiments. AF106 was sent to the A&AEE; at Boscombe Down for flight evaluation. AF107 went to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough for experiments and evaluation.
The performance
of this hybrid was quite poor, and the RAF refused any further
deliveries of the Lightning I after receiving and testing only three
examples.
The remaining 140 Lightning Is of the British contract were completed
by Lockheed and were taken over by the USA and designated P-322, P for
pursuit and 322 for the Lockheed model designation. They were sent to
a special modification center in Dallas, Texas where they were adapted
for US service, most of them being used as trainers and for various
experimental roles. They retained their original British serial
numbers while in USAAF service. Twenty of the P-322s retained their
V-1710-C15 engines (USAAF designation V-1710-33) with unhanded
propellers They were assigned to operational use in the critical days
following Pearl Harbor. The rest of the P-322s were fitted with
handed engines (V-1710-27 and -29) but were not given
turbosuperchargers. They were used as operational trainers with
reduced armament (two 0.50-in and two 0.30-inch machine guns, no
cannon).
Only one Lightning II (AF221) was completed. It was taken over by the
USAAF as P-38F-13-10, painted with US national markings, but retained
its British serial number. It was used by Lockheed for the testing of
smoke- laying canisters on racks between the booms and the nacelle,
and for the air-dropping of two torpedoes from the same racks.
Twenty-eight other British-ordered aircraft were completed as
P-38F-13-LO for the USAAF, 121 as P-38F-15-LO, 174 as P-38G-13-LO, and
200 as P-38G-15-LO.
RAF Serials of Lockheed Lightning I:
AE978/AE999 Lockheed Lightning I
AE978 surveyed Oct 20, 1946
AE979 scrapped San Bernardino, CA Nov 13, 1945
AE980 scrapped at San Bernardino, CA Nov 13, 1945
AE981 to CL-26
AE982 crashed at Bradley Field, CT Apr 8, 1942. Pilot killed
AE983 to March Field May 26, 1942
AE984 to CL-26 Mar 20, 1942
AE985 to CL-26 Aug 10, 1942
AE986 to March Field Jun 30, 1942
AE987 force landed at Selfridge Field, MI Jan 12, 1943. Pilot OK
AE989 crashed into Puget Sound and Sank Mar 22 ,1942. Pilot killed
AE990 to CL-26 at Lincoln, NB Sep 25, 1942
AE991 to CL-26 at Lincoln, NB Sep 11, 1942
AE992 condemned at Chanute, KA Nov 25, 1942
AE993 to CL-26 at Lincoln, NB
AE994 scrapped at Syracuse, NY Aug 23, 1946
AE995 Surveyed Apr 7, 1944.
AE996 to CL-26 at Lincoln, NB Oct 22 ,1942
AE997 Surveyed Apr 7, 1944
AE998 Surveyed Mar 8, 1944
AE999 wrecked near Casa Grande, AZ Aug 10, 1943.
AF100/AF220 Lockheed Lightning I
AF100 wrecked at Bradley Field, CT Mar 22, 1942. Pilot OK.
AF101 scrapped Cincinatti, OH Apr 12, 1945
AF102 scrapped San Berdardino, CA Nov 28, 1945.
AF105 condemned Jan 1, 1946
AF106 condemned Mar 1, 1946
AF107 AZ, WILLIAMS FLD Surveyed
AF108 AF 421206 GLUE GLUE CON IV FOR BRITS AS P-38 WAS OF 01 JAN 46
AF109 421008 KA, CHANUTE;CL-26
AF110 440105; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Surveyed
AF111 AvCad.Robert G. Stanley/?;430407;AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Wrecked;
1mi.S, OF WILLIAMS FLD BOUNDRY ROARD;SURVEY 7 APR 43
AF112 ;2nd.Lt.Raymond A. Keeney/Killed ;420406;CT,
WINDSOR-LOCKS Wrecked HIT TREE AT LOW ALT, SUMMERVILLE;SURVEY WINDSOR-LOCKS 20
AUG 42
AF113 431108; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF114 430625; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed;981ST FLYING GP
AF115 2nd.Lt. Donald O. Starbuch/OK;4AF ;420208; CA, McCLELLAND FLD;
Wrecked; CL-26 18 MAR 42
AF116 450115; SCRAP; RFC WHITE HAV?; 65th AIR BASE
GP,VICTORIA;982nd 4 ENG ADV FLYING TRNG SQ, WILLIAMS FLD;554th AIR BASE
GP,MEMPHIS;
AF117 4AF; 451113;CA, SAN BERNARDINO; SCRAP
AF118 450615; NY, SYRACUSE; SCRAP; 5th FRY GP,LOVE FLD;981st ADV TWIN ENG FTR GP,WILLIAMS
FLD.
AF119 4AF; 420831; CA, NORTH ISL; CL-26
AF120 430309; TX, LOVE FLD; CL-26
AF121 450615; TX, LOVE FLD; SCRAP; LOVE FLD MOD CENTER
AF122 431027; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF123 450629; OH, PATTERSON; SCRAP
AF124 450629;OH, PATTERSON; SCRAP
AF125 430826; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Wrecked 1mi.,SE OF WILLIAMS
FLD;C&B;SURVEY 29 AUG 43
AF126 451113; NJ, NEWARK AAF; SCRAP; 928th FLYING SQ
AF127 430721; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; 981st TWIN ENG ADV FYING SQ
AF128 4AF; 451113; CA, SAN BERNARDINO; SCRAP
AF129 450105; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; CL-26 26 JUN 43
AF130 440508; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF131 430615; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; CL-26
AF132 430701; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed;5 th FRY GP
AF133 451231; TX, KELLY FLD; SCRAP
AF134 460131; GA, WARNER-ROBINS; SCRAP;9 81st ADV FLYING TRNG SQ
AF135 450615; GA, WARNER-ROBINS; SCRAP;982nd TWIN ENG ADV FTR GRP
AF136 AvCad.Herbert Brenner/Ok 430510 AZ,
CHANDLER FLD; Wrecked 5mi.,SE OF CHANDLER FLD;FIRE IN AIR; 535th FLYING SQD;TO
CL-26 13 MAY 43
AF137 4AF; 451113; CA, SAN BERNARDINO; SCRAP
AF138 431130; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF139 AvCad.Russell W. Sly/Ok; 430801; AZ, CASA
GRANDE; Wrecked 1mi.,NE OF CASA GRANDE,AZ;F/L;SURVEY 2 AUG 43
AF140 Maj.Fred E. Hild/Ok; 430216; TX, MOORE
FLD; Wrecked 1mi.W, MOORE FLD,TX; TO CL-26 28 APR 43
AF141 Av.Cad.Raymond J. Cayman/Ok; 430507; AZ, WILLIAMS
FLD Wrecked 5mi. S OF DESERT PK MTN, AZ; PILOT BAILED; TO CL-26 13 MAY 43
AF142 P/O Basil E. Park..RAF/Ok; 430513; AL, HIGLEY; Surveyed; 1/4mi.E, HIGLEY,AL;
981st FLYING TRNG SQ,WILLIAMS FLD,AZ;55th AIR BASE SQ,FOSTER FLD;
AF143 450600; NY, SYRACUSE; SCRAP; BOLLING FLD;58th SINGLE NEG TRNG SQ
AF144 450600; NY, SYRACUSE; SCRAP
AF145 431015; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; 92nd FLYING SQ, CRAIG FLD,AL.
AF146 431031; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; 535Zth ADV FLYING GRP
AF147 4AF; 460702; CA, LONG BEACH AB; SCRAP
AF148 430309; TX, LOVE FLD; CL-26; LOVE FLD MOD CENTER,DALLAS,TX
AF149 490509;AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF150 450200; OK, TINKER FLD; SCRAP;
AF151 431031 AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF152 440407; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; 982nd ADV FLYING GP
AF153 450500; AZ, DAVIS-MONTHAN; SCRAP
AF154 430909; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;S urveyed
AF155 451128; TX, AUSTIN; SCRAP
AF156 Av/Cad.Benjamine G. Conrath/Killed 430403; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Wrecked
3mi.NE, RITTENHOUSE AUX FLD; 982nd TWIN ENG ADV FYLING SQD
AF157 431010; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF158 431010; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; 982nd FLYING TRNG SQD
AF159 450600; OH, CINCINATTI; SCRAP
AF160 450803; OK, WILL ROGERS FLD; SCRAP; WEST COAST FLYING TRNG
AF161 440219; AL, HIGLEY; Surveyed
AF162 430803; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;S urveyed; 535th ADV FLYING TRNG SQD
AF163 430706; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; 982nd ADV FLYING TRNG SQD
AF164 4AF; 451113; CA, SAN BERNARDINO; SCRAP
AF165 430809; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; 5th FRY GP
AF166 460313; AL, BROOKLEY FLD; SCRAP
AF167 4AF; 451113 CA, SAN BERNARDINO; SCRAP
AF168 431012; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF169 to 981st Flying Training Squadron, Williams Field,AZ. Scrapped Jun 1945.
AF170 440509; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF171 431216; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF172 430810; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD Surveyed
AF173 450600; NY, SYRACUSE; SCRAP
AF174 431028; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; CHANDLER,AZ;
AF175 450600; NY, SYRACUSE; SCRAP
AF176 to 981st Twin Engine Advance Straining Sqdn, Williams Field, AZ. Scrapped Jun 1945.
AF177 (981st Twin Engine Advanced Training Squadron, Williams Field, AZ)wrecked Jul 28, 1943.
AF178 4AF; 451128; CA, SAN BERNARDINO;SCRAP
AF179 4AF; 451128; CA, SAN BERDARDIN;SCRAP; 535th TWIN ENG ADV FLYING TRNG SQD;F/L & NOSED
OVER;DBR;SURVEY 29 JUL 43
AF180 430812; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed
AF181 4AF; 451113;CA, SAN BERNARDINO; SCRAP 5th FRY GP;535 ADV FLYING TRNG TWIN ENG SQ
AF182 to 981st Advanced Flying Training Squadron, Williams Field, AZ. Scrapped Jun 1945.
AF183 4AF; 451113; CA, SAN BERNARDINO; SCRAP; 982nd TWIN ENG ADV FLYING TRNG
AF184 4AF; 451113; CA, SAN BERNARDINO; SCRAP
AF185 440712; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; 5th FERRY GP
AF186 430719; TX, KELLY FLD;Surveyed; 55th AIR BASE SQ;535th TWIN ENG ADV TRINING SQ
AF187 440318; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD Surveyed; 535th TWIN ENG ADV TRNG SQ
AF188;
AF189 430428; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Surveyed;981st ADV FLYING TRNG SQ
AF190 430814; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Surveyed;982nd TWIN ENG ADV FLYING TRING SQ;F/L 2 AUG 43
AF191 to 981st Twin Engine Advance Flying Training Squadron, Williams Field, AZ. Scrapped Jun 1945.
AF192 431117; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;CL-26
AF193 460213; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; SCRAP; FOUR ENG ADV FLYING HQ; CL-26 26 JUN 43
AF194 430931; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Wrecked; FIRE IN AIR ,CRASH
AF195 431201; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Surveyed; 982nd FLYING TRING SQ
AF196 451128;A Z, WILLIAMS FLD;SCRAP; 982nd FLYING SQ; CL-26 8 MAY 44
AF197 to 75th Air Base Squadron, Moultire, Ontario. Scrapped Apr 1945.
AF198 451113; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; SCRAP; 982nd FLY TRNG;CL-26 8 JUN 44
AF199 to 982nd Advanced Flying Group, Williams Field, AZ. Scrapped Apr 20, 1945.
AF200 451102; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; SCRAP; 981st TWIN END ADV FLYING
TRNG SQ; CL-26 JUN 44
AF201 440217; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD Surveyed; 5th FRY GP;982nd FOUR ENG ADV FLYING TRNG SQD
AF202 450600;NY, SYRACUSE; SCRAP
AF203 440508;AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed;5th FERRY GP;982nd.ADV FLN TRNG
AF204 450600;NY, SYRACUSE;SCRAP
AF205 440918;NM, DEMING AAF;CL-26
AF206 430304;AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Surveyed
AF207 431010 Surveyed
AF208 CL-26 at Williams Field, AZ. Scrapped Feb 1946.
AF209 430909; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Wrecked;982nd FLYING TRNG
SQ;CRASH LANDING
AF210 430908; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Surveyed;535th TWIN ENG FLYING TRNG SQ
AF211 to 473rd FG at Glendale, CA. Scrapped Apr 13, 1945.
AF212 440407; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Surveyed
AF213 450509; NY, SYRACUSE;SCRAP
AF214 450529; NY, SYRACUSE;SCRAP
AF215 450529; NY, SYRACUSE;SCRAP
AF216 440508; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD;Surveyed; 5th FTR GP;4 ENG ADV FTR TRNG GP;
AF217 430830; AZ, CASA GRANDE; Wrecked; 5TH FRY GP;981ST TWIN ENG ADV FTR SQD, WILLIAM FLD,AZ;C&B
AF218 450615; US; SCRAP
AF219 to 535th Four Engine Advanced Flying Training Group. Scrapped Jun 1, 1945.
AF220 430213; AZ, WILLIAMS FLD; Surveyed; 4 ENG FLYING TRNG
AF221 P-38F-13-LO
References:
