The Snapshots in Time Collection

Formation of P-38 Lightning Fighters Over a Pacific Island Airstrip, April 1945

Formation of P-38 Lightning Fighters Over a Pacific Island Airstrip, April 1945

Photographed in April 1945, this image shows a formation of P-38 Lightning fighters flying low over a palm-lined airstrip somewhere in the Pacific Theater. By this stage of the war, the twin-boom P-38 had become a mainstay of American air operations across the Pacific islands, valued for its long range and versatility in escort and ground-attack roles. Project: 218529