North American Aviation Inc, designed during 1937 the prototype of a lightweight primary trainer which it designated North American NA-35. Powered by a 93kW Menasco Pirate inline engine, it was of low-wing monoplane configuration with fixed tail-wheel landing gear, and seated the instructor and pupil in tandem open cockpits. First flown in October 1940, piloted by B A “Bud” Martin.
Vega 35-67 NX14299
When the NA-35 failed to win a US Army Air Corps contract in 1939, North American sold all rights, along with prototype NX14299 and 4 unfinished planes, to Lockheed’s Vega subsidiary in October 1940.
Vega 35-67 NX14299
Vega built only four of these Vega 35 aircraft (ATC 741), NX21760, and NX28351-28353, two converted to 35-70 (ATC 741) with more powerful 119kW Menasco Pirate D-B engines, the first flown in 1941, but by then the company had no manufacturing capacity available and Vega 35 production was abandoned. The wing design was used as basis for prototype NAvion.
Vega 35-67 NX21760
The model 37 of 1941 was wartime production of Lockheed Vega.
35-67 Engine: 125hp Menasco D-4 Wingspan: 9.07 m / 29 ft 9 in Length: 25’6″ Useful load: 549 lb Max. speed: 124 mph Cruise speed: 108 mph Stall: 48 mph Range: 320 mi Seats: 2
35-70 Engine: 150hp Menasco C-4S Wingspan: 9.07 m / 29 ft 9 in Length: 25’6″ Useful load: 542 lb Max speed: 140 mph Cruise speed: 124 mph Stall: 46 mph Range: 305 mi Seats: 2
In 1939 TWA formulated a requirement for a long-range transport and C. L. Johnson designed the 558km/h Constellation. The earliest Constellation was initially flown in January 1943. Designed for commercial transport, the first Constellations were produced for the U.S. Air Force as C-29s.
Engines: 4 x Wright R-3350-35 Cyclone 18, 2170 hp Length: 95.177 ft / 29.01 m Height: 23.655 ft / 7.21 m Wingspan: 122.999 ft / 37.49 m Wing area: 1650.014 sqft / 153.29 sq.m Max take off weight: 72013.1 lb / 32659.0 kg Weight empty: 50507.7 lb / 22906.0 kg Max. speed: 287 kts / 531 km/h Cruising speed: 261 kts / 483 km/h Service ceiling: 25000 ft / 7620 m Wing loading: 43.67 lb/sq.ft / 213.00 kg/sq.m Range: 2085 nm / 3862 km
In the spring of 1943 Allied intelligence became aware of the ME262 jet fighter, little was known about it but under the direction of Henry H. Arnold, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces the decision was taken to bring the USA into the jet age. The development of the earlier XP59 Airacomet had not inspired confidence in the turbojet jet but with the reliability and power of the British developed engines increasing by the day the Americans decided that they could not afford to be left behind.
Arnold went to Lockheed and convinced them to build an airframe around the de Havilland Halford H1 (Goblin) which was already produced almost 2,300 lbs of thrust of the drawing board with promise of a great deal more. A design was submitted by what would be known as the ‘Skunk Works’ team led by Kelly Johnson claiming that the airframe could be built and ready for testing in 180 days, in the end it took just 143 being delivered to Muroc field (now Edwards AFB) on the 16th November 1943.
The design proved acceptable to the USAAF was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a knife-edge laminar-flow wing section; engine within the rear fuselage; air intakes on each side of the fuselage forward of the wing leading edge; and retractable tricycle-type landing gear. Equally attractive was the company’s proposal to complete an initial prototype within 180 days and little time was lost in awarding contracts for three prototypes and 13 service trials aircraft. Work on the first prototype began in August 1943 and just 143 days later (on 8 January 1944) this aircraft flew for the first time.
XP-80
The first flight was delayed by foreign object damage which destroyed the engine on the first run up. A new engine was shipped from Britain allowing the first prototype (44-83020) nicknamed Lulu-Bell to get airbourne on the 8th January 1944. It was flown by Lockheed test pilot Tony LeVier. Service designation of the prototype was XP-80. Its power plant was a 13.34kN de Havilland H-1 turbojet.
Plans for this engine to be built by the Allis-Chalmers Company in America did not happen, so the next two prototypes each had a 16.68kN General Electric 1-40 turbojet, based on the Rolls Royce Derwent and also built by Allison as the J33. This was a larger and more powerful engine than the intended Allis-Chalmers J36, involving redesign which included increased span and length, a taller fin and strengthened landing gear. The exercise cost five months, for it was not until 10 June 1944 that the first of these two XP-80A was flown, by Tony Le Vier. Its first flight performance was not impressive and even with the technical difficulties rectified it was still considered worse than the H1 powered XP-80.
XP-80A 44-83021 Gray Ghost
The XP-80A’s were primarily testbeds for bigger engines and intake duct design, and consequently were larger and 25% heavier than the XP-80, a big factor in their poor performance. The P-80 testing program proved very dangerous. Milo Burcham was killed on 20 October 1944 while flying the third YP-80A, 44-83025 while the “Gray Ghost” was lost on a test flight on 20 March 1945, although pilot Tony LeVier escaped being able to bail out when the engine failed due to a turbine blade failure.
These two prototypes were designated XP-80A and were powered by the Allison-developed General Electric J33 engine of 1814-kg (4,000-1b) thrust, with low-set equi-tapered laminar-flow wings and engine air intakes set into the fuselage just forward of the wing roots, this version had a top speed of 898 km/h (558 mph) at sea level.
Thirteen development YP-80A aircraft for service trials, with J33-GE-9 or J33-GE-11 engines and an armament of six machine guns in the nose, started delivery to test establishments in October 1944 and it was aircraft of this type that arrived in Italy in May 1945. Two examples reached the Italian war zone just before VE-day, but failed to fly an operational sortie.
Ordered into quantity production during April 1944, the Shooting Star subsequently suffered cancellations after VJ-Day, but was proceeded with and as the P-80A attained operational service with the 412th Fighter Group during 1946, although poor serviceability and a very high accident rate significantly reduced its value. Production P-80A had wingtip tanks and provision for bombs, rockets and fuel tanks to be carried beneath the wings, plus six 12.7mm guns mounted in the fuselage nose.
Production deliveries of the P-80A did not start until December 1945, four months too late to see action against the Japanese.
The Shooting Star made a number of important flights, these including the first west-to-east trans-atlantic crossing by jet which was accomplished by 16 F-80s of the 56th Fighter Group in July 1948. One Shooting Star has set a world speed record of 1,003.91km/h on 19 June 1947. The P-80 designation changed to F-80 in 1948.
The second model to enter production was the F-80B, which featured numerous refinements such as thinner wing section with thicker skin, stronger bulkheads in the nose section to support greater fire-power, more power, stainless steel armoured engine compartment, provisions for JATO, and provision for rocket launchers. But only 240 of this model were completed before manufacture switched to the definitive F-80C. This possessed even greater power and also better armament and increased underwing weapons capability, no less than 670 being completed by the end of 1950, by which time the USA was in the Korean War.
The RF-80C being an unarmed photographic reconnaissance sub-variant.
The F-80C saw extensive action in the Korean War, one highlight occurring on 8 November 1950 when an F-80C flown by Lieut Russell J. Brown succeeded in downing a MiG-15 in what was believed to be the first conclusive aerial combat between jet fighters. On the whole, though, the Shooting Star possessed inferior performance and was mainly employed as a fighter-bomber. For Korea, F-80 were adapted to carry two 227kg and four 118kg fragmentation bombs or two 450kg bombs plus eight rockets or four 40 US gallon napalm bombs.
F-80 Shooting Star, Suan, Korea
Variants have included reconnaissance RF-80, QF-80A and QF-80F drones, and one F-80C was converted as a prototype two-seat trainer.
XP-80 Engine: de Havilland Goblin centrifugal flow turbojet, 3000 lb Max speed: 502 mph.
P 80A Shooting Star Engine: one 1814 kg (4000 lb) thrust General Electric J33 A 11 tur¬bojet. Max speed 933 km/h (580 mph) at 8535 m (28,000ft) Initial climb rate 1395m (4,580ft) per minute Service ceiling 13715 m (45,000 ft) Range 870 km (540 miles) Empty weight: 3593 kg (7,920 lb) Maximum take off weight: 6577 kg (14,500 lb) Wing span 12.17 m (39 ft 11 in) Length 10.52 m (34 ft 6 in) Height 3.45 m (11 ft 4 in) Wing area 22.11 sq.m (238.0 sq.ft). Crew: 1 Armament: six 12.7mm (0.5 in) machine guns in the nose, 2 x 454kg Bomb / 10x 5″ Rockets.
F-80C Shooting Star Engine: one 2449-kg (5,400-lb) thrust Allison J33-A-35 turbojet Wingspan 12.15 m (39 ft 10.5 in) Wing area 22.02 sq.m (237 sq ft) Length 10.52 m (34 ft6 in) Height 3.45 m (11 ft 4 in) Wheel track: 8 ft 7 in Empty weight: 3738 kg (8,240 lb) Maximum take-off weight: 7646 kg (16,856 lb) Maximum speed 956 km/h (594 mph) at sea level Initial climb rate 2094 m (6,870 ft) per minute Service ceiling 13030 m (42,750 ft) Range 1706 krn (1,060miles) Max endurance: 3 hr 12 min Crew: 1 Armament: six 12.7-mm (0.5-in) M3 machine-guns, 907 kg (2,000 lb) external ordnance or 16 127-mm (5-in) rockets.
In early 1940, the US Army reserved for itself the right to refuse permission for its American military aircraft suppliers to export these aircraft to overseas customers. This was particularly true if the Army felt that the foreign order might possibly result in undue delays in deliveries of these aircraft to its own squadrons. Consequently, when Britain and France wanted to purchase the Model 322 Lightning from Lockheed, the Army was reluctant to give its approval since it had already ordered YP-38 Lightnings for its own use. However, the USAAC finally did grant authorization to export the un-turbosupercharged Lightning to Britain and France, but only under the condition that Lockheed agree to develop and produce at no cost to the U.S. government a prototype of an advanced version of the Lightning. The formal agreement was signed on April 12, 1940.
This advanced Lightning was given the company designation of L-121, and James Gerschler was named as project engineer. The L-121 was to be powered by a pair of turbo-supercharged Continental IV-1430 liquid-cooled engines. It was to be offered in two versions, a single- seater and a two-seater. The single-seat version was to retain the standard P-38 armament of one 20-mm cannon and four 0.50-inch machine guns. The two-seat version was to have an additional armament of a single 0.50-inch machine gun mounted in a remotely-controlled barbette situated at the end of each tail boom. Gross weight was estimated at 16,500 pounds, and the aircraft was expected to attain 450 mph at 25,000 feet.
During a meeting at Wright Field in May 1940, it was decided to drop the single-seater and proceed with the two-seat version, which was assigned the designation XP-58. In July 1940, it was concluded that the XP-58 would be underpowered with the Continental engines, and the decision was made to switch to a pair of 1800 hp Pratt & Whitney XH-2600-9/11 liquid-cooled engines. The re-engined XP-58 was given the company designation of Model 20-14, and revised specifications were issued by Lockheed on September 10, 1940. A second 20-mm cannon was added to the forward-firing armament. The tail boom guns were deemed to be highly impractical, and were replaced by a single remotely-controlled dorsal turret containing a pair of 0.50-inch machine guns. The serial number 41-2670 was assigned to the prototype. Estimated gross weight had crawled upward to 24,000 pounds, and estimated top speed had fallen to 402 mph. Range on internal fuel was anticipated to be 1600 miles.
Scarcely a month after these revised specifications had been issued, Lockheed’s new project engineer, Neil Harrison, was told that Pratt & Whitney was suspending development of the XH-2600 engine. The XP-58 was without an engine and attention focused on the XH-2470, the Continental XH-2860, and on the Pratt & Whitney R-2800, as possible choices for the XP-58 power plants.
Lockheed preferred the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine, and estimated that with these power plants the XP-58 would have a a loaded weight of 26,000 pounds and a maximum speed of 418 mph at 25,000 feet. However, the USAAC considered this performance to be inadequate, and suggested that Lockheed turn to the experimental Wright XR-2160 Tornado forty-two cylinder, six-row engine offering a power output of 2350 hp. This engine had an extremely small frontal area but the Tornado engine development was fraught with problems from the start. Still, in March of 1941 the USAAC announced that it was going to go with the Tornado for the XP-58.
Two months later, the USAAC issued a change order for the installation of cabin pressurization for the pilot and the aft-facing gunner, and for the addition of a remotely-controlled ventral turret to supplement the dorsal turret. These changes caused the estimated gross weight upward to 34,242 pounds. Estimated range had dropped to 1300 miles. Nevertheless, the top speed of the Tornado-powered XP-58 was estimated to be no less than 450 mph.
The XP-58 was scheduled for delivery to the USAAF in August of 1942, and to meet this deadline the project team grew to a peak of 187 people by October of 1941. However, following Pearl Harbor, the XP-58 was assigned a lower priority and most of the engineering staff were moved off to other more pressing projects. By early 1942, the XP-58 staff was down to twelve people.
In March of 1942, Lockheed suggested that the USAAF order a second XP-58 prototype using Government funds. Since the Tornado engines were already experiencing serious delays and were now not expected to be delivered until the spring of 1943, Lockheed felt that there was sufficient time to redesign the second XP-58 machine in order to provide it with enough fuel capacity to increase the range to 3000 miles. The USAAF agreed to this request and placed the order in May of 1942.
Shortly after, the USAAF began to rethink the ultimate mission for the XP-58. First, the USAAF suggested that the nose-mounted forward-firing armament should be changed to a 75-mm cannon with a 20-round automatic feeder plus a pair of 0.50-inch machine guns as a ground attack aircraft. This led to considerations of several different alternative configurations, including a two-seat attack aircraft with six forward-firing 20-mm cannon and a three-seat bomber with a bombardier in the nose, an enlarged central nacelle containing an internal bomb bay, and with or without the 75-mm nose cannon. In both the attack and bomber versions, the dorsal and ventral turrets were to be deleted, and un-supercharged engines were to be used.
With the Douglas A-26 Invader in production as an attack bomber, and the experimental Beech XA-38 Grizzly then under development as a low-altitude tank buster and ground attack aircraft. Consequently, the XP-58 program was then re-oriented back to its original role as a high-altitude aircraft, as a bomber destroyer rather than an escort fighter. The turbo-superchargers and the dorsal and ventral turrets were put back on.
The first prototype was to have four forward-firing 37-mm cannon, whereas the second was to have a 75-mm cannon and two 0.50-inch machine guns. Gross weight was now up to 38,275 pounds, and top speed was down to 414 mph at 25,000 feet. Range was only 1150 miles.
By early 1943, the XP-58 program was in chaos because of the constantly changing Army requirements. In desperation, Lockheed recommended in January 1943 that only one prototype actually be built, and that it have interchangeable noses that would permit the fitting of either type of forward-firing armament.
The trouble-ridden Tornado engine program finally collapsed in February 1943, leaving the XP-58 without engines once again. Lockheed and the USAAF both agreed to switch to a pair of turbo-supercharged Allison V-3420-11/13 twenty-four cylinder liquid-cooled engines, rated at 2600 hp for takeoff and 3000 hp at 28,000 feet.
The US Army contract, of 27 April 1943, tasked Lockheed to build ‘one (1) airplane, pursuit, fighter, two-engine, two-place, known as the XP-58, complete and conforming to the contractor’s specifications’. In the final configuration, the aircraft had two crewmen; a pilot and a rear-gunner operating two power turrets although the turrets and the forward firing armament was never actually installed.
With these Allison engines, the XP-58 (serial number 41-2670) was finally completed in June of 1944, more than four years after its design had begun. Its company designation was now Model 20-86. When the XP-58 rolled out of the factory it was really only half-finished. No cabin pressurisation equipment was provided, no forward-firing armament was installed, and dummy dorsal and ventral turrets were fitted in place of the real things. It made its initial flight from Lockheed Air Terminal at Burban on June 6, 1944, piloted by test pilot Joe Towle. Its first flight was a 50-minute shakedown which took the XP-58 from the manufacturer’s Burbank plant to Muroc AAF. Twenty-five flights totalling 19.3 hours were made at Muroc prior to the delivery of the XP-58 to Wright Field in Ohio on October 22, 1944. These flights were marred by turbo-supercharger problems.
The second airframe was never fully completed but was trucked in parts to Muroc Dry Lake. Because of the cost of continuing a marginal programme with a ‘one-off’ machine, even with a second for spare parts, the programme was terminated in 1945 and it was transferred for use as a non-flying instructional airframe. Derelict at Wright Field as late as January 1946, the Chain Lightning was scrapped in 1947.
The XP-58 project, which started off its career as having absolutely no cost to the US government, ended up costing the taxpayer over two million dollars. $400,000 of this money covered the USAAF requested changes to the first prototype, and the rest of the money covered the government-ordered, but then cancelled, second prototype.
XP-58 Engines: Two turbo-supercharged Allison V-3420-11/13, 2,600 hp / 1950kW Span: 70 ft 0 in / 21.33 m Length: 49 ft 3 in Height: 16 ft 0 in / 4.88 m Wing area: 600 sq. ft / 55.74 sq.m Empty weight: 31,306- lb Gross weight: 38,874 – 42990 lb Maximum speed: 436 mph / 700 km/h at 25,000 ft. Cruising speed: 274 mph at 25,000 ft Service ceiling: 38,400 ft Initial climb rate: 2660 fpm Normal range: 1250 miles / 2000 km Maximum range: 2650 miles
The success of the Hudson in RAF service led Lockheed to propose a military version of the larger Lockheed 18 Lodestar and resulting British interest led to development of the Lockheed 37. Based on the existing Lodestar, the modifications were to provide increased power and an added lift capability of three tons, on the same wings and flaps, and the fuselage was to be re-designed to accommodate bombs, gun positions and other military equipment. The entire Lodestar double tail was retained along with its tendency to be blanketed out in certain landing attitudes by the large and effective Fowler wing flaps. As a replacement for the Hudson, and the Venture promised a 300mph top speed, an eight machine gun armament, twice the bomb load, and a range of up to 500 miles from base.
In February 1940 a proposal submitted by Lockheed for a Blenheim replacement was accepted by the Air Ministry. The aircraft was basically a military version of the Lockheed 18 Lodestar transport.
Lightning and Ventura
A direct purchase order was placed for 300 aircraft in May 1940, followed by a further order for 375. There were considerable delays in producing the first machine, which first flew on 31st July 1941, and it was not until April 1942 that the first Venturas arrived at Lockheed’s facility at Speke, Liverpool, from the Vega aircraft plant at Burbank, California. In the event, only 394 of the initial orders for Ventura Mk.Is and Mk.IIs (the latter having uprated engines) were delivered.
First used operationally by the RAF on 3 November 1942, the type was soon found to be unsuited to daylight operations and was transferred to Coastal Command.
In 1943 the GR.V version entered service. These machines were supplied under Lease Lend and were patrol aircraft based on the U.S. Navy PV 1. They had modified bomb bays to accommodate six depth -charges. A large proportion of the GR.Vs were delivered direct to the Middle East, South Africa, New Zea-land, Australia and Canada. In Britain No.519 Squadron was the first to receive the GR.V, replacing Hudsons and Hampdens at Wick, followed shortly afterwards by No. 521 Squadron at Docking, both squadrons being engaged in Meteorological flights. These two squadrons reverted to Hudsons the following year when the Venturas were required elsewhere.
By November 1942 the US Navy had taken over the patrolling of the US coastal water from the USAAF and had ordered their own version of the Ventura, the PV-1, for the role. The Vega production line was easily converted to this model from the previous B-34 variant in production for the USAAF. The PV-1 differed primarily from the B-34 Ventura in having two underwing stations capable of holding one 1,000lb bomb or one 155 US gallon drop tank. The streamlined Martin 250 electric turret, first fitted to the USAAF B-34, was retained. The most significant difference internally was the installation of the advanced ASD radar in the nose of the aircraft behind an opaque plastic nose cap. Indicators (or screens) were provided for the navigator in the nose compartment, and for the radio operator stationed behind the pilot. A new under-nose gun pack equipped with 3 x .50 Brownings was developed to replace the original nose mounted depress¬able guns fitted to earlier Venturas.
PV-2
Venturas served with all the Commonwealth nations, the Free French and with the Brazilian air force. A long-range version, the PV-2, had been ordered by the US Navy in June 1943 and, differing in several respects from the Ventura, was named the Harpoon; Ventura and Harpoon production totalled 3,028 in September 1945. Post-war surplus PV-2 aircraft were supplied to Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru and Portugal.
PV-2
A few Ventura 5s had been modified for target towing duties with the RCAF and were still operating in 1955. Powered by two 2,000 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R2800-31 engines, they carry sleeve targets in their bomb-bay.
Ventura 5
California-based Oakland Airmotive specialized in civilian executive transport conversions of surplus U.S. Navy Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon patrol bombers. The resultant Oakland Centaurus seated 8/14 passengers and was offered as a high speed corporate transport in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney GR2800-¬S1A4 G, 2,000 h.p. Span: 65 ft. 6 in. Length 51 ft. 2.5 in. Height: 11 ft. 10.5 in. Weight loaded: 26,000 lb. Max. speed: 300 m.p.h. Cruising speed: 260 m.p.h. Range: 1,000 miles. Service ceiling: 25,000 ft. Armament: Two fixed 0.50 in. machine guns and two depressable 0.303 in. guns in nose, two or four 0.303 in. guns in dorsal turret, two 0.303 in. guns in ventral position; bomb load 2,500 lb. Crew 5.
PV-1 Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R2800-31 Twin Wasps, 2000 hp / 1491kW. Max take-off weight: 14096 kg / 31077 lb Empty weight: 9161 kg / 20197 lb Wingspan: 19.96 m / 65 ft 6 in Length: 15.77 m / 51 ft 9 in Height: 3.63 m / 11 ft 11 in Wing area: 51.19 sq.m / 551.00 sq ft Max. speed: 518 km/h / 322 mph Cruising speed: 200 kts / 370 kph Service ceiling : 24,000 ft / 7315 m Ceiling: 8015 m / 26300 ft Range: 2189 km / 1360 miles Bomb load: 2500 lb. Armament: 2 x .5 in & 8 x .303 in mg, 1134kg Bomb Crew: 5.
Ventura 5 Engines: two 2,000 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R2800-31 Span: 65 ft. 6 in Weight: 26,500 lb Max. Speed: over 300 mph
A conception of pre-war years, the Lockheed XP-49, was designed in 1939 with the goal of attaining 761km/h in level flight at 4572m. The XP-49 was to be armed with two 20mm cannon and four 12.7mm machine-guns. The XP-49 was an outgrowth of the P-38 Lightning but in most respects was an entirely new design by the Lockheed-Burbank fighter team under H. L. Hibbard and Clarence (Kelly) Johnson. Ordered by the US Army on 3 August 1939 to meet a twin-engine fighter requirement (which also produced the Grumman XP-50) the sole XP-49 was expected to attain unprecedented performance by mating the Lightning’s familiar twin-boom layout with two 1715kW Pratt & Whitney X-1800 24-cylinder inline engines. When plans to develop the powerplant proved too ambitious, twin 1006kW Continental XIV-1430-1 engines had to be substituted, reducing speed to 737km/h, although this was reached because the test ship lacked the added weight of protective armour which would have been fitted on a production variant. “We still felt we had a winner,” says a Lockheed engineer. “We had a roomy, pressurised cabin, good handling characteristics and, eventually, good manoeuvrability.” The XP-49 first flew 11 November 1942 at Burbank. When it became necessary to increase the vertical fin area to improve yaw characteristics, the result was an unusual set of markings: Army directives called for 13 alternating red and white horizontal stripes on the rudder, symbolic of the original 13 American colonies. When the tail was heightened, painters simply added non-regulation extra stripes. repaired, and was ferried to Wright Field, Ohio, on 25 June 1943. Though it was a clear improvement over the P-38, able to “fly rings around the Lightning” in the words of one pilot, minor but troublesome fuel leakage problems led to XP-49 tests being discontinued and the airframe being scrapped, just when Mustangs with long-range drop tanks were appearing over Berlin.
XP-49 Engine: 2 x Continental XIV-1430-13/15, 1010kW Max take-off weight: 9047-9977 kg / 19945 – 21996 lb Empty weight: 7013 kg / 15461 lb Wingspan: 15.85 m / 52 ft 0 in Length: 12.22 m / 40 ft 1 in Height: 2.98 m / 9 ft 9 in Wing area: 30.42 sq.m / 327.44 sq ft Max. speed: 650 km/h / 404 mph Cruise speed: 600 km/h / 373 mph Ceiling: 11400 m / 37400 ft Range: 1095 km / 680 miles Crew: 1
The first aeroplane developed from the start as a military type by Lockheed, the P-38 was designed to meet an Air Corps specification issued in February 1937.
The P-38 was powered by two Allison engines with GEC turbochargers recessed into the tops of the tail booms, tricycle landing gear, small central nacelle mounting a 23mm Madsen cannon and four 0.5in Brownings, twin fins, Fowler flaps, radiators on the booms, and induction intercoolers in the wing leading edges.
The XP-38 prototype flew for the first time on 27 January 1939 and the XP-38 had run into a ditch on its first taxi test and two weeks after the first flight undershot at Michell Field, NY, and was demolished. The XP-38 had flown to New York in 7 hr 2 min, with two refuelling stops.
The first YP-38 service-evaluation aircraft (first flown on 16 September 1940) of a limited procurement order for 13 was delivered to the USAAF in March 1941. By 1941 the first YP-38 was being tested, with a 37 mm Oldsmobile cannon, two 0.5s and two Colt 0.3s.
XP-38
It utilised a unique fuel system with separate fuel tanks for each engine. Each tank was divided into three cells, all self-sealing. Two main tanks were in the centre fuselage and one tank was in each leading wing edge. The entire system was interconnected so that fuel from any tank, except the outer wing tanks, could be routed to either engine. The Lightning’s armament included one 20mm cannon and four .50-caliber machine guns in the nose along with racks to carry up to 1,600 pounds of bombs.
Thirteen YP-38s were followed by 20 P-38s, with one 37mm and four 0.5in, plus armour and, in 36 D models, self-sealing tanks.
P-38D in US service differed from the original P-38 by introducing self-sealing tanks and tail-unit revisions to overcome buffeting. The first service delivery was on 8 June 1941 and the he P-38D was the first version of the Lightning to go into service in the war – an aircraft of this mark was the first American fighter to shoot down an enemy aeroplane, flying over Iceland a few minutes after the US declared war on Germany.
In March 1940 the British Purchasing Commission had ordered 143 of the type, similar to the P-38D which followed the P-38 into production, with the 37mm replaced by a 20mm Hispano and far greater ammunition capacity. The State Department prohibited export of the F2 Allison engine and the RAF aircraft, called Lightning I, had early 775kW Allison V-1710-33 engines without turbochargers, both having right hand rotation. The result was poor and the RAF rejected these machines, which were later brought up to US standard.
The P-38E adopted the British name Lightning and the Hispano gun and were followed by the P-38F with more powerful engines and underwing racks (between engines and fuselage nacelle) for drop-tanks or weapons: late production examples introduced Fowler-type flaps which had a ‘droop’ setting to enhance manoeuvrability.
Within minutes of the US declaration of war, on 7 December 1941, an E shot down a FW 200C near Iceland.
The F model was the first to have inner wing pylons, with 1000 lb capacity.
P-38F on test from Burbank 1942
Production of the P-38 Lightning accelerated steadily at Lockheed’s principal plant in Burbank, California, rising from 207 in 1941 to 1,478 in 1942, the year in which the P-38 entered service in the European and Pacific arenas. Lockheed also modified 200 P-38Fs, providing a pair of 165-US gal (625-lt) drop tanks for each aircraft plus two pairs for each for initial combat use. The F-4 service delivery began in Mach 1942 and P-38F in September 1942.
On Sunday 8 October 1939: During a patrol flight over the North Sea, a Lockheed Hudson coastal reconnaissance plane of 224 Sqn became the first English aircraft to shoot down a German plane, a Dornier Do.18 flying boat.
While the Lightning had been receiving its combat initiation in Europe, North Africa and the Pacific, Lockheed had been at work to overcome the remaining basic flaws in the P-38 design – the inadequate engine cooling and the compressibility “tuck” problem. The first of these was attributable to the fixed space available in the wing leading edges for the intercoolers; sized to cope with the engines first used in the P-38, these were inadequate for the uprated V-1710s that had been introduced in successive models of the fighter to take advantage of Allison’s own development work. The intercoolers received supercharged air from the turbo-compressors in the tailbooms and reduced its temperature before supplying it to the carburettor; however, the inlet temperature actually achieved at the carburettor imposed restrictions on usable manifold pressures, in turn reducing the maximum power that could be extracted from the engines, particularly in the P-38H. The only solution to this was to move the intercoolers to a chin position in each engine nacelle, where they could be sized for the engine powers now available.
Using substantially the same nacelle shape that was already flying on the Curtiss P-40F Warhawk, a P-38E was tested in the summer of 1942 with the new cooling system, which was found to bestow major improvements on the high altitude performance of the Lightning, without any adverse effects. To establish a production standard, this prototype was subsequently fitted with redesigned air intakes for the Prestone coolant radiators on each side of the tailbooms, which although wider than the original type had less drag. Coupled with the use of the same V-1710-89/91 engines already powering the P-38H, these modifications marked the P-38J model of the Lightning – the first to differ significantly in outward appearance from the YP-38. The J model had intercoolers moved under the wings, providing room for 55 extra gallons of fuel in the outer wings. Later J models had hydraulicly boosted ailerons, but retained the wheel-type lateral control instead of a stick. Thanks to the new cooling system, the engines could now be cruised at 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m) and deliver a war emergency rating of 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m). Flying at a combat weight of 16,450 lb (7 468 kg), without drop tanks, the P-38J achieved 413 mph (665 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9 145 m), to become the fastest of all Lightning service versions, and with the big 300 US gal (1136 1) drop tanks, it could cruise for more than 2,000 mls (3 218 km).
Production up to the end of 1942 had been entirely of the earlier P-38 versions, and some 1,400 P-38Gs and Hs were still on order at the beginning of 1943. To handle an increased volume of output, a mechanised moving production line was put in at Burbank, and a major modification centre was established at Dallas, Texas, to prevent constant interruption in the main production progress to accommodate small changes. As a result of these measures, and the use of 22 major sub-contractors to feed components to the Burbank line, the production rate eventually peaked at 432 a month in January 1945.
Production of the P-38J itself totalled 2,970
With effect from the P-38J-15-LO the space in the leading edges previously occupied by the inter-coolers was taken up by two bladder fuel tanks, increasing overall capacity by 110 US gal (416 lt); all but the earliest aircraft also introduced a flat-panel front windshield, and the P-38J-25 and subsequent blocks incorporated the electrically-operated dive flaps that finally cured the compressibility problem. These small flaps, just outboard of the tailbooms, had a span of 4ft 10 in (1,47 m) each, and could be deflected 35 deg in 1 sec; they changed the wing airflow characteristics in such a way as to make recovery from the steepest dive possible. A further contribution to the fighting capability of the P-38J was made by the adoption of hydraulic boosters in the aileron circuits, making the Lightning the first fighter in the world to feature powered flight controls.
The final stage in the evolution of the P-38 was the introduction of Allison V-1710-111/113 engines, with similar ratings to the engines of the P-38J but potential for further development. This model was produced as the P-38L. The L with higher war emergency power, could carry 4000 lb of bombs or ten rockets. Lockheed built 3,810 at Burbank and a second production source for Lightning manufacture was established at Nashville under the direction of Consolidated-Vultee, this unit turning out 113 P-38Ls up to V-J Day, of 2,000 on order, the balance being cancelled.
The P-38L was the last fighter version to see combat service, which took in the final stages of the Pacific War. Two P-38L Lightnings escorting a Boeing Fortress were actually the first Allied fighters to land on Japanese soil after the surrender.
More than 700 P-38J/L Lightnings were converted at Dallas to F-5E photo reconnaissance configuration; the F-5F and F-5G were similar apart from the camera installations. The P-38K designation had been intended for another variant with more powerful V-171075/77 engines and Hamilton Standard high-activity paddle-bladed propellers, but to accommodate the latter the engine thrust line needed to be raised one degree and this would have caused a major interruption in the production flow, so the P38K was abandoned after one prototype had been flown.
Experimentally, Lockheed had tested a P-38G with retractable Federal skis at Ladd Field, Alaska, in 1943/44 and USAAF then ordered the conversion of one of the first P-38Js for similar testing in March 1944. The need for a ski-equipped operational variant did not materialise, however. Among trial armament installations made on P-38Ls at Wright Field were three machine guns of 0.60-in (15,24-mm) calibre, with long barrels projecting out of the nose, and eight of the standard 0.50-in (12,7-mm) guns in the nose plus a twin-gun pod beneath each wing, outboard of the engines. Of more importance operationally was the addition of rockets to the Lightning’s armament. In 1943, the early “bazooka” launching tubes were attached to P-38Fs and P-38Gs, in triple packs beneath the outboard wings or close in alongside the fuselage. With the advent of the zero-length launcher, Lockheed tried a 14-rocket installation, seven under each outer wing, but the final standard on the P-38L was a five-rocket “Christmas Tree” pack under each wing.
A captured P-38G was operated by the Luftwaffe 2./Versuchsverband Ob.d.L as T9+XB
P-38G T9+XB
Lockheed built 2,497 P-38s in 1943, of which about 1,000 were the new P-38Js, with the first P-38J-10s coming off the line in October.
The P-38 groups became involved in bombing missions, aided by the P-38J Droop Snoot variant evolved in Britain to serve as a navigation bomb-aiming lead ship. The conversions, engineered by Lockheed Overseas Corporation at Langford Lodge, near Belfast, comprised a Plexiglas nose fairing, replacing all the Lightning’s armament, in which was located a seat for the navigator/bombardier, plus a Norden bombsight and a navigation table, with necessary instruments and controls. With an empty weight of 14,206 lb (6 450 kg) and grossing 19,291 lb (8 758 kg) with two 165-US gal (625-1) drop tanks, the first P-38J Droop Snoot flew at Belfast in late February 1944, and about 25 are believed to have been converted for the Eighth Air Force P-38 groups.
P-38J “Droop-snoot”
Also during 1944, Lockheed developed a two-seat P-38 variant with AN/APS-15 radar bombsight in a lengthened nose together with an operator. The bomb-through-overcast (BTO) radar was usually known as Mickey and small numbers of P-38Ls were converted, seeing service in both the European and CBI theatres.
The most numerous model was the P-38L (3,923 built) powered by the same 1,425-hp engine as the P-38H, but with improved performance ratings. When needed, the engine could produce a “war emergency” 1,600 hp. A bulletproof window was installed, the radiators in the twin tailbooms were increased in capacity, and fuel tanks were placed in the leading-wing edges.
The ability of the P-38L to carry rocket projectiles (10, beneath the centre section), gave these units an added punch during the last year of the war, and some Lightnings were also adapted to carry the early-style rocket launching tubes alongside the fuselage nose, leaving the wing pylons available for fuel tanks.
The P-38s continued operating in this theatre right up to the end of the war, and these units included among their pilots two of the leading USAAF fighter aces – Richard Bong, with 40 confirmed victories, and Tommy MeGuire, with 38.
Pilot Steve Hinton
Adaptation of the Lightning as a night fighter, to fill the gap in the USAAF inventory caused by late delivery of the Northrop P-61, accounted for the last-designated variant of the Lockheed twin, the P-38M, although the use of Lightnings in the nocturnal role actually originated at squadron level rather than as a factory-designed innovation. Detachments of the 6th Fighter Squadron flying Douglas P-70s in New Guinea and at Guadalcanal, both operated P-38Gs in this role, and the New Guinea detachment actually converted two Lightnings to two-seaters, carrying SCR-540 radar in a drop tank; the unit was, however, disbanded before these aircraft could be tested in combat.
To permit rapid evacuation of casualties from forward bases, this modified fuel tank was developed in Hawaii, for carriage by the P-38. It had portholes, air vents and earphones, and could accommodate a standard stretcher. While these operational innovations had been going on, a P-38J had been adapted at Wright Field to serve as a test-bed for AN/APS-4 radar, installed in the first instance in a pod under the fuselage behind the nose wheel. As it was struck by cartridges ejected when the nose guns were fired, this pod was later moved to an underwing position, outboard of the starboard engine. Several similar radar conversions of P-38Js, including “piggy-back” two-seaters (known, probably unofficially, as TP-38Js) were then made for the 481st NF Operational Training Group, which conducted field trials, and the USAAF then contracted with Lockheed, in late 1944, to convert a P-38L as a night fighter, carrying a radar operator in a second cockpit behind and above the pilot, and radar in a long pod under the nose ahead of the nosewheel doors. The first flight with all modifications in place was made on 5 February 1945, and although only six flights were made before this aircraft was destroyed, the USAAF then ordered 75 similar P-38L conversions, to be redesignated P-38Ms. Testing of the first P-38Ms began in July 1945, and five of these aircraft arrived at the training establishment at Hammer Field, California, in the same month. Found to have a better overall performance than the P-61B but to suffer some operational limitations, the P-38M saw brief service in Japan in late 1945 and early 1946, being flown by the 418th and 421st Night Fighter Squadrons.
Some P-38J were converted to serve as two-seat ‘Pathfinders’; some P-38L as TP-38L two-seat trainers; and other versions included F-4 and F-5 photo-reconnaissance aircraft.
Total production was 9942. The final delivery was in September 1945. After the end of the war, the P-38 was rapidly withdrawn from USAF service, and as a consequence it did not see such wide use in other air forces as did its principal contemporaries. A small number of P-38Ls was supplied to Honduras in 1947 as part of American aid under the terms of the Rio Pact, but the only significant quantity of Lightnings delivered overseas after 1945 comprised a batch of 50 P-38Js for Italy. These were supplied in 1949 immediately following Italy’s signature of the North Atlantic Pact, but were used only briefly, pending the introduction of the AMI’s first jet equipment in the shape of the de Havilland Vampire.
In the USAF itself, a few Lightnings survived long enough to be redesignated F-38J and F-38L when the “fighter” category replaced “pursuit” in 1948; the type was finally declared surplus in 1949.
The Lightning is remembered for the long-range interception and destruction of the Mitsubishi G4M1 (Betty) bomber carrying Japan’s Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.
XP-38 prototype Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-27/29, 1150 hp Wingspan: 52 ft / 15.86 m Length: 37 ft 10 in / 11.53 m Height: 12 ft 10 in / 3.9 m
YP-38 Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710 Wingspan: 52 ft / 15.86 m Length: 37 ft 10 in / 11.53 m Height: 12 ft 10 in / 3.9 m Empty weight: 11,000 lb / 4990 kg MAUW: 14,348 lb / 6508 kg
P-38D Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710 Wingspan: 52 ft / 15.86 m Length: 37 ft 10 in / 11.53 m Height: 12 ft 10 in / 3.9 m MAUW: 15,500 lb Service ceiling: 38,000-40,000 ft
P-38 (RAF) Engines: 2 x unsupercharged 775kW Allison V-1710-33
P-38E Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-49/52 or – 51/55, 1325 hp Wingspan: 52 ft / 15.86 m Length: 37 ft 10 in / 11.53 m Height: 12 ft 10 in / 3.9 m MAUW: 15,482 lb Service ceiling: 38,000-40,000 ft
P-38F Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-49/52 or – 51/55, 1325 hp Wingspan: 52 ft / 15.86 m Length: 37 ft 10 in / 11.53 m Height: 12 ft 10 in / 3.9 m MAUW: 18,000 lb Service ceiling: 38,000-40,000 ft
P-38G Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-49/52 or – 51/55, 1325 hp Wingspan: 52 ft / 15.86 m Length: 37 ft 10 in / 11.53 m Height: 12 ft 10 in / 3.9 m MAUW: 19,800 lb Service ceiling: 38,000-40,000 ft
P-38H Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-89/91, 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m) / emergency 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m) Wingspan: 52 ft / 15.86 m Length: 37 ft 10 in / 11.53 m Height: 12 ft 10 in / 3.9 m MAUW: 20,300 lb Service ceiling: 44,000 ft / 13,410 m
P-38J Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-89/91, 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m) / emergency 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m) Length: 37.828 ft / 11.53 m Height: 9.843 ft / 3.0 m Wingspan: 52.001 ft / 15.85 m Wing area: 327.441 sq.ft / 30.42 sq.m Max take off weight: 21604.6 lb / 9798.0 kg Weight empty: 12782.4 lb / 5797.0 kg Combat weight: 16,450 lb (7 468 kg) Max speed: 360 kts / 413 mph / 665 km/h at 30,000 ft (9 145 m) Cruising speed: 252 kts / 467 km/h Service ceiling: 43996 ft / 13410 m Wing loading: 66.01 lb/sq.ft / 322.0 kg/sq.m Range: 413 nm / 764 km Range 300 US gal (1136 1) drop tanks: 2,000 mls (3 218 km). Crew: 1 Armament: 4x .50 MG (12,7mm), 1x 20mm MG, 1451kg Bomb
P-38J-10
P-38J-15-LO Increased fuel capacity by 110 US gal (416 lt)
P-38J-25-LO Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-89/91, 1,425 hp for take-off at sea level; military rating, 1,425 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m); war emergency rating, 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m); continuous rating, 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m). Curtiss Electric three-bladed fully-feathering propellers, diameter 11 ft 6 in (3,51 m). Fuel capacity, 300 US gal (1136 lt) in two main and two reserve wing tanks plus 110 US gal (416 lt) in two leading edge tanks; two 75-, 150-, 165- or 300-US gal (284-, 568-, 625- or 1136-lt) drop tanks. Max speeds (clean), 360 mph (579 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1525 m), 390 mph (628 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4 575 m) and 414 mph (666 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7 625 m) Rate of climb, 3,670 ft/min (18,6 m/sec) at 5,000 ft (1525 m) Time to climb to 30,000 ft (9 150 m), 12 min Range (clean) at max cruise at 25,000 ft (7 625 m), 840 mls (1352 km) Range (max fuel) at max cruise at 25,000 ft (7 625 m), 1,880 mls (3 025 km) Range with two 1,600-1b (726-kg) bombs, 725 mls (1167 km). Basic weight, 14,100 lb (6401 kg) Combat weight (clean), 17,500 lb (7 945 kg) Max take-off weight (max fuel), 21,600 lb (9 806 kg). Wing span, 52 ft 0 in (15,85 m) Length, 37 ft 10 in (11,53 m) Height, 12 ft 10 in (3,91 m) Undercarriage track, 16 ft 6 in (5,03 m) Wing area, 328 sq ft (30,5sq.m) Armament: One 20-mm Type AN-M2 “C” 20-mm cannon with 150 rounds and four 0.50-in (12,7-mm) machine guns, with 500 rpg, all in nose. Provision for two bombs of up to 1,600 lb (726 kg) each under wing centre section. Dive flap span: 4ft 10 in (1,47 m) Dive flap deflection: 35 deg in 1 sec
P-38J Droop Snoot Empty weight: 14,206 lb (6 450 kg) Gross weight: 19,291 lb (8 758 kg) with two 165-US gal (625-1) drop tanks Armament: none. Seats: 2. Equipment: Navigator/bombardier, Norden bombsight and a navigation table Fuel cap: + 2 x 165-US gal (625-lt) drop tanks.
TP-38J Crew: 2
P-38K Engines: 2 x Allison V-171075/77 Props: Hamilton Standard high-activity paddle-bladed
P-38L Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-111/113 , 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m) / emergency 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m) Max take-off weight: 9798 kg / 21601 lb Empty weight: 5806 kg / 12800 lb Wingspan: 15.85 m / 52 ft 0 in Length: 11.53 m / 37 ft 10 in Height: 3.91 m / 12 ft 10 in Wing area: 30.47 sq.m / 327.98 sq ft Max. speed: 666 km/h / 414 mph Service ceiling: 44,000 ft / 13,410 m Range: 724 km / 450 miles Range w/max.fuel: 3640 km / 2262 miles Armament: 1 x 20mm cannon, 4 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 1451kg of bombs Crew: 1
TP-38L Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-111/113, 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m) / emergency 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m) Wingspan: 15.85 m / 52 ft 0 in Length: 11.53 m / 37 ft 10 in Height: 3.91 m / 12 ft 10 in Wing area: 30.47 sq.m / 327.98 sq ft Crew: 2
P-38M Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-111/113, 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m) / emergency 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m) Wingspan: 52 ft / 15.86 m Length: 37 ft 10 in / 11.53 m Height: 12 ft 10 in / 3.9 m MAUW: 21,600 lb / 9798 kg Crew: 2
F-5E Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-111/113, 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m) / emergency 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m)
F-5F Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-111/113, 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m) / emergency 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m)
F-5G Engines: 2 x Allison V-1710-111/113, 1,100 hp at 32,500 ft (9 906 m) / emergency 1,600 hp at 26,500 ft (8 077 m)
Design and development of the Lockheed 18 Lodestar began as a result of the poor sales achievement of the Lockheed 14 Super Electra, the prototype first flown on 21 September 1939.
Converted from a Super Electra, the prototype differed primarily by having the fuselage lengthened by 1.68m to provide accommodation for 15 to 18 passengers.
Depending upon the other facilities provided, some were produced with high-density bench seating for a maximum of 26 passengers, and were available with a variety of engines by Pratt & Whitney and Wright.
Lodestar 18-56A CF-CPA
Despite the improved economy demonstrated by the Lodestar, Lockheed failed again to achieve worthwhile sales in the United States. The type appealed more to export customers, with airlines or government agencies in Africa, Brazil, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, the UK and Venezuela ordering a total of 96 aircraft.
The C-60 is a twin-engine transport based on the Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar. The Army began ordering military versions of the Model 18 in May 1941. Depending upon engines and interior configuration, these transports were given C-56, C-57, C-59 or C-60 basic type designations. Lockheed built more C-60As for the AAF (325) than any other version of the military Lodestar.
There was only limited military interest before the beginning of World War II, but procurement, particularly by the US Army Air Force, raised the total of Lodestars built by Lockheed to 625 before production ended.
After the war, many military Lodestars were declared surplus and sold to private operators for use as cargo or executive transports. A number of conversions as executive transports were carried out in the USA by companies like Howard Aero and Lear Inc.
Lockheed 18-07 Lodestar Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Hornet S1E2-G radial, 652kW Max take-off weight: 8709 kg / 19200 lb Empty weight: 5103 kg / 11250 lb Wingspan: 19.96 m / 65 ft 6 in Length: 15.19 m / 49 ft 10 in Height: 3.61 m / 11 ft 10 in Wing area: 51.19 sq.m / 551.00 sq ft Max. speed: 351 km/h / 218 mph Ceiling: 6220 m / 20400 ft Range: 2897 km / 1800 miles
Lockheed 18-56 Lodestar Engines: 2 x Wright R-1820-71, 1184 hp Length: 49.836 ft / 15.19 m Height: 11.089 ft / 3.38 m Wingspan: 65.486 ft / 19.96 m Wing area: 550.04 sq.ft / 51.1 sq.m Max take off weight: 17503.3 lb / 7938.0 kg Weight empty: 11651.2 lb / 5284.0 kg Max. speed: 220 kts / 407 km/h Cruising speed: 174 kts / 322 km/h Service ceiling: 23294 ft / 7100 m Wing load: 31.78 lb/sq.ft / 155.0 kg/sq.m Range: 1390 nm / 2575 km Crew: 3 Payload: 14pax
C-56
C-57
C-59
Lockheed C-60 A Lodestar Engines: Two Wright R-1820-87, 1,200 hp Span: 65 ft. 6 in. Length: 49 ft. 10 in. Height: 11 ft. 1 in. Weight: 18,500 lbs. max. MAUW: 21,000 lb Maximum speed: 257 mph. Cruising speed: 232 mph. Range: 1,700 miles Service Ceiling: 25,000 ft. Armament: None Cost: $123,000
Designed to compete against the DST/ DC-2/DC-3 series being developed by the Douglas company, the Lockheed 14 Super Electra failed to be any significant competition, due to its smaller capacity. Of the same general configuration as the earlier Lockheed 10 Electra, it differed by having a much deeper fuselage accommodating a maximum of 14 passengers, a mid-set wing, and introduced integral fuel tanks in the wing, Fowler-type trailing-edge flaps, fully-feathering propellers and, at a later stage of production, fixed wing slats. These improvements, combined with powerful engines and high wing loading, gave the Super Electra excellent performance but, by comparison with the important and larger-capacity Douglas DC-3, it was less efficient in operation.
First flown in prototype form on 29 July 1937 powered by two 760hp Wright Cyclone radial engines, and certificated on 15 November 1937, initial deliveries were made shortly afterwards.
Howard Huges and 4 crew flew around the world in 3 days 19 hr 14 min in Lockheed 14 New York World’s Fair 1939.
A British Purchasing Commission visited the United States in April 1938, intent on acquiring a substantial number of American military aircraft. Lockheed executives and designers got together when they knew the British team was on its way looking for warplanes and in ten days and nights drawings were produced, and a wooden mock up constructed, of the Model 14 in its converted form of a reconnaissance bomber.
Suitably impressed Lockheed officials met Air Ministry chiefs in London, and on June 23, 1938, a contract was signed for the building of 175 aircraft, with as many more as could be delivered by December 1939, up to a maximum of 250. By the end of 1941 the order had gone up to 1700.
Named Hudson for RAF service, the first example (N7205) made its initial flight on December 10, 1938. Despite problems with tooling, the 250th machine was rolled out at Burbank over seven weeks ahead of schedule, thanks to staff increases and three shift working.
Initially Hudsons were delivered crated aboard ship, the first arriving at Liverpool Docks on February 15,1939, and then assembled at nearby Speke airport, where Lockheed established a subsidiary firm to undertake the rapidly increasing work consequential to the numbers of Hudsons arriving. By the summer of 1940, this amounted to over 200 aircraft. A British installation, when the Hudsons arrived, was a Boulton & Paul power operated dorsal gun turret housing two .303 in Browning machine guns.
On Sunday 8 October 1939: During a patrol flight over the North Sea, a Lockheed Hudson coastal reconnaissance plane of 224 Sqn became the first English aircraft to shoot down a German plane, a Dornier Do.18 flying boat.
In November 1940, because Britain needed aircraft urgently, seven Hudsons were flown from Newfoundland to Ireland. This led to the founding of the Atlantic Ferry Service. Pilots were flown from Britain to Newfoundland. There each of them obtained a new aircraft and flew it to Britain. By Christmas Eve 1943 1000 had been ferried across the Atlantic.
Main differences to the civil passenger version was the glazed nose position, dorsal turret and the bomb bay within the centre fuselage. In addition to the dorsal turret armament, Hudsons carried twin .303 in Browning guns fixed to fire forward from the top of the forward fuselage, and provision for two Vickers ‘K’ guns, one each side in beam positions. On earlier models the bomb load was 750 lb, but later variants were capable of carrying up to 1,400 lbs of bombs or depth charges.
The Hudson I was powered by two 745.2kW Wright GR-1820-G102A Cyclone engines driving Hamilton-Standard two-position propellers. It first entered service with Coastal Command, RAF in mid-1939. The British order for 250 Mk Is was increased to 350, followed by a contract for 20 Mk IIs with Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic constant-speed propellers, 414 Mk IIIs following.
The Hudson III represented the first major revision, having 1,200hp / 894kW GR-1820-G205A Cyclone engines with Hydromatic propellers and a retractable rear-firing ventral gun position. Large numbers of the Hudson III were delivered to the RAF under Lease-Lend (resulting in the use of the USAAF designation A-29) with 894kW Wright R-1820-87 Cyclone engines. Like earlier Hudsons, the Mk III was basically a maritime-patrol bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, but A-29A were fitted with benches for troop carrying. A-29/29A were also used by the USAAF and by the US Navy (as PBO-1).
The Hudson III armament consisted of a maximum bomb load of 1,600lb (726kg) comprising four 250lb (113kg) and six 100lb (45kg) bombs; two fixed Browning 0.303in machine guns in upper nose with 500rpg; one optional Vickers 0.303in machine gun in retractable ventral hatch with 500 rounds; two optional Vickers 0.303in beam machine guns in rear fuselage with 500rpg; two Browning 0.303in machine guns in dorsal Boulton Paul turret with 1,000rpg.
Initially the Mk IIIs had little advantage in range, but after some 150 had been built, extra fuel tanks were fitted, and on November 11, 1940, seven Hudson Mk IIIs flew direct from Gander, Newfoundland, to Aldergrove, Northern Ireland, in 10.5 hours. From then on all Hudsons were flown across the Atlantic on their delivery flights.
One Hudson Mk III was presented to the RAF free, the materials for this aircraft (T9465) having been supplied by Lockheed ‘gratis’ while employees gave their time free. This particular aeroplane was named Spirit of Lockheed Vega Employees, and was handed over to the British Ambassador in front of assembled Lockheed staff. This machine was allotted to 269 Squadron.
At the end of January 1940, Hudsons were the first aircraft in RAF Coastal Command to be fitted with air to surface vessel (ASV) radar, which was to prove so effective against sub¬marines when trying to locate them at night and in bad weather.
Hudsons also flew top secret Scrutator flights between Britain and Sweden. These operations involved taking items of freight, mail and often passengers to Stockholm, while on the return flights, the supply of Swedish ball bearings, made to a very high standard and vital to British war production, was maintained. Passengers were also flown back from Sweden diplomats, escaped Allied prisoners of war and even people who had managed to escape from the clutches of the Gestapo.
Hudsons used on Scrutator were specially converted Mk IIIs and came under the control of BOAC and, although camouflaged, carried civil registrations coming under the BOAC Loch class. Four Hudsons flew this crossing.
The Hudson III was the first aeroplane to be fitted to carry the British-developed Mk I airborne lifeboat. This lifeboat was first used operationally in May 1943 by an RAF air/sea-rescue squadron to rescue the crew of a downed bomber in the North Sea.
In RAF service the Hudson Mk III was followed by the Mk IIIA, first type to be sent under the Lend Lease scheme.
The Hudson IV was produced for the RAAF, with the ventral gun removed but received a D/F loop aerial in a transparent blister. The Air Corps assigned the A-28 designation to a contract for 52 aircraft to be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force. Although U.S. serial numbers were given to the A-28s, none entered service with the U.S. Army Air Corps. All were delivered to the RAAF under the designation Hudson Mk.IVA and given RAAF serial numbers A16-101 to A16-152.
Thirty Hudson Mk IVs were diverted to the RAF from an Australian contract, followed by 309 Mk Vs and 450 Mk VIs, all these variants having 1,200hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3G Twin Wasp radials. The Hudson V for the RAF had R-1830-S3G4G engines driving Hamilton-Standard two-position propellers and a retractable ventral gun (as fitted to the Mk III).
The final version was the Hudson VI (designated A-28 by the USAAF) which was convertible to troop transport or cargo carrier with the turret removed. An improved version, designated A-28A, was built for export to the British Commonwealth under Lend-Lease agreements.
By 1943 RAF Hudsons were active in the Mediterranean and Middle East areas, having already flown convoy patrols the previous November to help cover the Allied landings in North Africa.
The Royal Australian Air Force received 247 Hudson’s between January 1940 and May 1942 in several versions.
Although 800 were ordered for the RAF, only 382 were delivered, the remainder going to the USAAF as the A 29, while some ended up with the US Navy as PBO-1 patrol bombers operating in the Caribbean area on anti submarine duties, USAAF machines did not usually have the power operated turret, but instead a single .50 in gun was installed on a flexible mounting in an open position with a shield for the gunner’s back. The A 29 could carry a 1,600 lb bomb load, and on July 7, 1942, the German submarine U 701 was attacked and sunk by one of these aircraft. US Navy PBO 1s sank two German U Boats, both during March 1942.
Orders for Hudsons were not only for the RAF, US Army Air Corps, US Navy and Australia, but also the air forces of Canada, New Zealand, and Nationalist China.
A total of 119 was licence-built in Japan by Kawasaki and Tachikawa. These, powered by 671kW Mitsubishi Ha-26-l radial engines, were designated Army Type LO Transport and were later allocated the Allied code name ‘Thelma’. The Japanese army introduced the first cargo transport, the Kawasaki Type 1, in 1941. The aircraft was a military version of the 13 passenger Lockheed 14 airliner and it had a maximum payload of only 3 metric tons.
Thelma
In 1938 Japan used both imported and domestic models as civil freight and mail transport. The civil models were coded ‘Toby, later dropped in favour of Thelma.
Toby
On 14 February 1942, units of the Japanese 38th Division landed on Sumatra north of Palembang, under cover from carrier-based aircraft and a strong cruiser formation under Vice-Admiral Ozawa. Japanese paratroops landed at the same time. At 6.00pm, approximately 70 aircraft of the American Lockheed 14 WG-3 design which had been built under licence before the war by Tachikawa and Kawasaki for the Japanese Army, and given them the name Ro-Shiki, dropped some 700 paratroops on the island. The aircraft had been painted olive green to look like RAF planes, they carried British national emblems and were almost indistinguishable from British Hudson bombers.
The aim of the operation was to seize the Palembang airfields, and above all, two large refinery plants at Pladyu and Sungai 4 miles east of the city at the mouth of the Komering river. The assault on Palembang airfield proved successful but the Japanese gained less than they hoped for. Approximately 16 of the simulated RAF Hudsons, many still full of paratroops, were shot down by flak artillery posted near the refineries, and the paratroops who landed in and around the installation were wiped out.
After withdrawal from combatant service with the RAF, USAAF and US Navy, the Hudson continued to be used for miscellaneous duties, including transport, air/sea rescue, training, target-towing, etc.
The Lockheed AT-18 was an advanced trainer based on the Lockheed Hudson. The USAAF placed an order for 300 AT-18s on 8 May 1942. All 300 aircraft were powered by 1,200hp Wright R-1820-87 engines. Production was split into two blocks. 217 aircraft were produced as AT-18-LO gunnery trainers, equipped with a Martin dorsal turret armed with twin 0.50in machine guns, while the remaining 83 aircraft were produced as AT-18A-LO navigational trainers. These aircraft had the turret removed and had space for the pilot, the instructor and three students.
On Wednesday 27 August 1941, a Hudson of 296 Sqn, RAF Coastal Command, under Sqn.Ldr. J.H. Thompson, attacked German U-boat U-570 under Naval Lt.Col. Ramlow in the North Atlantic despite poor weather conditions. The damaged U-boat, unable to manoeuvre, drifted along on the surface, and the commander had to surrender to the aircraft. Thompson radioed for support and was sent a PBY Catalina of 209 Sqn. Two destroyers and several trawlers also arrived. Next day the U-boat was towed to Iceland and three weeks latered entered British service as HMS Graph under Lt. Colvin.
By the time production ended in mid-1943, a total of 2,941 examples had been built, only 112 were built by Lockheed.
L.14 Super Electra Engines: 2 x 760 hp Wright Cyclone Length: 44.2 ft (13.4 m) Wing span: 65.6 ft (19.9m) Weight empty: 10,300 lb (4,670 kg) Max cruise speed: 230 mph (370 kph) Ceiling: 24,000 ft (7,300 m) Range: 2,125 miles (3,400 km) Crew: 2 Pax cap: 12
Sky Zephyr Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney, 850 hp Pax cap: 8 Speed: 260 mph
L.14-H Super Electra Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Hornet S1E-G radial, 652kW Max take-off weight: : 7938 kg / 17500 lb Empty weight: 4672 kg / 10300 lb Wingspan: 19.96 m / 65 ft 6 in Length: 13.51 m / 44 ft 4 in Height: 3.48 m / 11 ft 5 in Wing area: 51.19 sq.m / 551.00 sq ft Max. speed: 398 km/h / 247 mph Ceiling: 7405 m / 24300 ft Range: 3315 km / 2060 miles
Hudson I Engines: two Wright GR-1820-G102A Cyclone, 1100 hp / 745.2kW Propellers: Hamilton-Standard two-position. Max take-off weight: 7938 kg / 17500 lb Empty weight: 5276 kg / 11632 lb Wingspan: 19.96 m / 65 ft 6 in Length: 13.51 m / 44 ft 4 in Height: 3.61 m / 11 ft 10 in Wing area: 51.19 sq.m / 551.00 sq ft Max. speed: 396 km/h / 246 mph / 214 kt Service Ceiling: 2323 m / 7620 ft Ceiling: 7620 m / 25000 ft Range: 3150 km / 1957 miles / 1703 nm Armament: 4 x 7.7mm machine-guns, 635kg of bombs Crew: 6
Hudson II Engines: two 745.2kW Wright GR-1820-G102A Cyclone Propellers: Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic constant-speed
Hudson III Engines: 2 x 1,200hp / 894kW GR-1820-G205A or R-1820-87 Cyclone Fuel: Aviation Gasoline 100 Octane Wing Centre Section Tanks (x4): 536 Imp Gal / 2,437 lt / USG Propeller: Three bladed Hamilton Standard hydromatic constant speed Propeller diameter: 10′ 6″ (3.20m) Wingspan: 65′ 6″ / 19.69 m Length: 44′ 3.75″ / 13.50 m Wing Area: 551 sq. ft / 51.18 sq. m Height: 10′ 10.5″ / 3.32 m Empty weight: 12,100 lb / 5,488 kg Maximum Takeoff weight: 19,500 lb / 8,845 kg Maximum Speed: 219 knots / 252mph / 406km/h Cruise Speed: 170 knots / 196mph / 315km/h at 8000 ft. Landing speed 72 mph. Service ceiling 24,500 ft Maximum bomb load: 1,600lb (726kg) Armament: 2 x Browning 0.303in machine guns / 500rpg; 1 x optional Vickers 0.303in machine gun / 500 rounds; 2 x optional Vickers 0.303in machine guns / 500rpg; 2 x Browning 0.303in machine guns / 1,000rpg.
Hudson IIIA Engines: 2 x 1,200hp / 894kW GR-1820-G205A Cyclone
Hudson IV Engines: 2 x 1,200hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3G Twin Wasp radials
Hudson IVA
Hudson V Engines: 2 x 1,200hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3G4G Twin Wasp Propellers: Hamilton-Standard two-position
Hudson VI / A-28 Engines: 2 x 1,200hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3G Twin Wasp radials
A-28A Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-1830-45 Twin Wasp radial engines of 1,000 hp each Span: 65 ft. 6 in. Length: 44 ft. 4 in. Height: 11 ft. 10 in. Max weight: 22,350 lbs. Maximum speed: 280 mph Cruising speed: 224 mph Range: 2,100 statute miles Service ceiling: 27,000 ft. Armament: Four .30-cal. machine guns (two fixed in the nose and two in the turret) plus 1,000 lbs. of bombs Serial numbers: 41-23171 to 41-23222 (RAAF: A16-101 to A16-152)
A-29 Hudson Engines: 2 x Wright R-1820-87 Cyclone 9, 1184 hp / 894kW Length: 44.324 ft / 13.51 m Height: 11.909 ft / 3.63 m Wing span: 65.486 ft / 19.96 m Wing area: 551.009 sq.ft / 51.19 sq.m Max take off weight: 20504.3 lb / 9299.0 kg Weight empty: 12826.5 lb / 5817.0 kg Max. speed: 220 kts / 407 kph Cruising speed: 178 kts / 330 kph Service ceiling: 26493 ft / 8075 m Cruising altitude: 14993 ft / 4570 m Wing load : 37.31 lb/sq.ft / 182.0 kg/sq.m Range: 1347 nm / 2494 km Armament: 5x MG cal.30 (7,62mm ), 726kg / 1,600 lb bomb load,
John Thorp had designed the Lockheed Model 33 Little Dipper also known as the Air Trooper in 1944. Only one example was built and flown before the program was cancelled.
After WWII, Thorp designed the Thorp T-211 Sky Skooter and allowed his employee George Robertson to manufacture extra parts and convert a T-211 back into a single seat aircraft to replicate the original Lockheed Air Trooper.
All Aero 