This P-38J Lightning was flown by 1st Lieutenant Richard Loehnert of Long Beach, California. It was attached to the 55th Fighter Squadron/20th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, while based to Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, England in July of 1944. California Cutie carries mission markings indicating 6 locomotives destroyed, 56 bomber escort missions (top hat and cane), 16 top cover missions (umbrella) and 11 fighter sweep missions (broom). In addition, Loehnert shot down 2 Bf-109Gs while flying this aircraft on July 7th, 1944, however, these markings were not applied at the time California Cutie wore full invasion striping.

 

The 55th Fighter Squadron's primary mission was to escort 8th Air Force bombing missions over Europe (frequently into the heart of Germany itself), but they also distinguished themselves in many successful ground attack missions. This unit was also equipped with a number of P-38Js converted to a bomber pathfinder role. The conversion consisted of removing the guns from the nose, and installing a forward crew compartment fitted with a clear nose cap and a Norden bombsight. They carried two 1,000 lb. bombs under the nose. Specially trained navigators manned these positions, and were responsible for accurately locating the target and dropping their bombs, signaling the rest of the bombers to drop on this position. As these aircraft were unarmed, they were prime targets for enemy fighters. The standard P-38 fighters had their noses stripped of paint and the aluminum skiing highly polished, to simulated the look of the glass nose of the unarmed pathfinders. Any enemy fighter going for an easy kill would get a nasty surprise!

 

California Cutie is wearing full D-Day invasion striping, which was applied to all Allied aircraft for the invasion of Normandy, to minimize the risk of friendly fire during this huge operation. Full striping was carried for a short time only, as it seriously compromised camouflage in the air. The code letters KI-S carried on the tail booms of this aircraft were overpainted when the D-Day striping was applied, however some artwork and models represent these as still visible. It is painted in the standard USAAF mid war scheme of Olive Drab and Neutral Gray. The white triangle painted of the tailplanes is a formation marking denoting the 55th FS.

 

The P-38J Lightning had a wingspan of 52 feet and a length of 37 feet 10 inches. It was powered by a pair of turbo supercharged Allison V-1710 liquid cooled engines driving two 3-blade propellers that rotated in opposite directions. This gave the Lightning both excellent handling and maneuverability, and a top speed of 414 mph. The P-38 had a service ceiling of 44,000 feet, and a range of 1,100 miles, making it ideally suited for the long range bomber escort missions in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. Armed with one 20mm Hispano cannon and four 50 caliber Browning machine guns concentrated in the nose, the P-38 possessed lethal hitting power. Additionally, it could carry ten 5 inch unguided rockets, six bazooka tubes, long range fuel tanks, or up to 4,000 lbs of bombs. The P-38 saw much action in the skies over Europe, but it was in the Pacific where it really made its mark. The P-38 is still one of the most loved and recognized fighters of WWII, and a number of restored Lightnings continue to thrill crowds at airshows today.