<article><hdr>Shot of a P-38 Lightning banking</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>The P-38 Lightning served in both the European and Pacific theatres during World War Two, although it was more widely involved in the battles to liberate the islands in the latter. P-38s were instrumental in securing air superiority in the central and western Pacific due to the types long range which was enhanced by the fitment of underwing drop tanks. The Lightning could have claimed to be a multi role combat aircraft, had the term been invented in the forties, as the type performed intercept, high and low level fighter, bomber escort, fighter-bomber, reconnaissance, attack, and even glider tug !</hi>
