P-38 Crosses the U.S. in 7 Hours 2 Minutes

On February 11, 1939, a prototype of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning set a new transcontinental speed record, flying across the United States from California to New York in about 7 hours and 2 minutes, including refueling stops. The flight came only weeks after the radical twin-boom fighter had first taken to the air.

The aircraft, the experimental XP-38, was flown by Army Air Corps pilot Lieutenant Benjamin Kelsey. Powered by two turbo-supercharged Allison engines, the Lightning showcased extraordinary speed for its day, and the dash across the country was meant to demonstrate its promise. The record-setting flight ended in a crash on landing at Mitchel Field, but the airplane had already proven its remarkable performance.

Despite the loss of the prototype, the demonstration helped secure the future of the design. The P-38 went on to become one of the most important American fighters of the Second World War, serving as a long-range escort, fighter-bomber, and photo-reconnaissance aircraft in every major theater of the conflict.