A Lockheed P-38

A Lockheed P-38

A plane flown in both the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) as well as the European Theater of Operations (ETO)

The P-38 Lightning was a thoroughly capable fighter plane. Weighing in at the same maximum weight as the P-47, it could accomplish the same mission types with similar armaments. Utilized in both the Pacific and European Theaters of Operation, it is one of the only fighter planes to remain in production from before WWII until the completion of it. Colonel Laughlin could have flown this aircraft on missions in the PTO, but there is no indication it was ever assigned to any squadron he was in. The P-38 would have been present at the Invasion of Normandy, however, and Colonel Laughlin and the 362nd Fighter Group would have flown with them at that time.

Lockheed Corporation

National Museum of the United States Air Force

United States Air Force

1930s-1940s