On 20 September 1939, pamberi YP-38s akanga yakavakwa uye ndege kuedzwa, USAAF akarayira 66 kwokutanga kugadzirwa P-38 Lightnings, 30 vakanga vakauya kuna USAAF nechepakati 1941, asi kwete zvose ndege izvi vakanga vakapakata. The isina zvombo ndege vakanga gare gare vakapakata mana.50 mu (12.7 mm) pfuti (pachinzvimbo maviri.50 mu / 12.7 mm uye vaviri.30 mu / 7.62 mm avo amadzitateguru) uye 37 mu (1.46 mm) pfuti. Vaivawo nezvombo magirazi, Cockpit zvombo uye fluorescent Cockpit chidhiraivho. Mumwe akanga apedza pamwe zvachose pressurized kabhini pamusoro experimental hwaro uye yakatarwa XP-38A. Nokuda mishumo USAAF akanga achiwana kubva kuEurope, vakasara muzvikwata zvikuru 36 vakanga upgraded duku kuvandudzwa akadai self-sealing mafuta matangi uye zvose izvi ndege vakanga vakapakata.
XP-38A