May 2015 FLYPAST 83SPOT FACT The nal production variant,
the P-38L, entered service in June 1944Inside the
Lightning113113
P-38Ls were built by Vultee
135 Port outboard Fowler-type flap
136 Aileron fixed tab
137 Port aileron
138 Aileron rib structure
139 Outer wing panel rib structure
140 Port navigation light
141 Wing tip structure
142 Leading edge tank bay inner
corrugated skin stiffener
143 Tank filler cap
144 Ventral pitot head
145 Leading edge skin panel
146 Five-round cluster-type ‘Christmas
-tree’ rocket launcher (late model
P-38L)
147 Landing light (P-38L)
148 Port leading edge fuel tank
149 Main spar booms and capping strip
150 Ventral drive flap, electrically operated
151 Main undercarriage leg pivot
mounting152 Main wheel leg strut
153 Port main wheel, aft retracting
154 Retraction strut
155 Engine bearer cast sub-frame
156 Engine bay firewall
157 Upper engine bearer support
structure
158 Engine oil tank
159 Carburettor intake duct
160 Air cooled magneto housings
161 Cowling support structure
162 Allison V-1710-89/91 (P-38L) V12
engine
163 Port exhaust manifold
164 Intercooler exit duct to carburettor
165 Intercooler inlet duct
166 Cooling air exhaust flap
167 Ventral intercooler radiator
168 Oil cooler exhaust
169 Outboard oil cooler, twin coolers
inboard and outboard170 Forward engine mounting
171 Coolant header tank
172 Armoured spinner backplate
173 Propeller hub pitch
174 Port Curtiss-Electric constant-speed
propeller, left hand tractor
175 Oil cooler and intercooler air intakes
176 Port propeller spinner
177 Port wing pylon, mounted beneath
inner wing panel
178 Gun camera installation (P-38L)
179 125 Imp gal (150 US gal, 568 lit)
external tank
180 4.5in (11.5cm) M8 rocket projectile
181 M10 triple tube ‘Bazooka’ rocket
launcher, fuselage side mounted on
P-38J
182 500lb HE bomb
183 100lb HE bomb
184 4.5in rocket82-83_Spot Cutaway_fpSBB.indd 83 24/02/2015 15:44