Profile-Lockheed Lightning Pt II

The Fork Tailed Devil PART II

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

The 55th Fighter Group became operational with the P-38H Lightning at Nuthampstead in the UK, in October 1943.

Tasked with bomber escort at high altitude, the single group of P-38s provided deep escort outside of the range of the seven P-47 groups and numerous RAF Spitfire squadrons, which escorted bombers over the Channel. At this time the Luftwaffe was at its peak, with eight JagdGeschwaders (JGl, JG2, JG3, JGll, JG26, JG51 , JG 106) equipped with Bf 109G and Fw 190A and three NachtJagdGeschwaders (NJGl, NJG2, NJG6) equipped with Bf HOG available to defend the continent, each JG/NJG with typically three Staffels (Squadrons) per JG/NJG.

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