FinishForty
Airman
- 27
- Jun 26, 2011
August 9, 1942: Two P-38 Lightnings of the 343rd Fighter Group were near the end of a long patrol when they intercepted and shot down two Japanese "Mavis" flying boats. These were the first combat victories for P-38s, which went on to shoot down more than 1800 Japanese aircraft during the war, more than any other aircraft type. From the point of view of Japanese pilots, maybe the P-38 was the best - or most feared - aircraft of the war!