P-38 Lightning "Marge"Lockheed P 38 Richard Bong airplane model. The P 38 Lightning, first designed in 1937 as a high altitude interceptor, made a striking debut in 1939 by flying coast to coast in just seven hours. Despite initial challenges due to its unique design, it was perfected for combat by late 1942 and played a crucial role in the North African campaign, earning the nickname "The Forked Tail Devil" from the German Luftwaffe. With droppable fuel tanks for extended