Sets of three-bladed propellers for Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ships are prepared for installation at a large Western aircraft plant. After the propellers have been installed, the ships will be put through exacting inspection and trial flights. If these prove satisfactory, the new fighter planes will be delivered to the Army.

Final inspection and rework on wings for Lockheed P‑38 pursuit planes in a large Western aircraft plant. The wings, which had been accurately assembled in jigs, are joined to the plane bodies as they travel down the final assembly line where engines, landing gear, controls and other equipment are also installed.

A partly-finished Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ship, including center and nose section, is swung over a rolling cradle to begin its trip down the assembly line of a large Western aircraft plant. As the ship moves from station to station along this line it will receive its engines, wings, landing gear and other essential equipment.

The nose section of a Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane is “mated” with a center section in a large Western aircraft plant. The partly-finished ship will then travel down the main assembly line for the installation of engines, wings, landing gear and other essential equipment.

Completed wing sections for Lockheed P‑38 pursuit planes ready for transfer to the assembly line of a large Western aircraft plant. The wings, which had been accurately assembled in jigs, are added to the plane bodies as they travel down the final assembly line where engines, landing gear, controls and other equipment are also installed.

A complete center section for a Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane in an assembly jig at a large Western aircraft plant. On the final line, the entire center section will be joined to other plane sections, and noses, engines, wings, landing gear and other equipment will be installed.

Finishing wings for Lockheed P‑38 pursuit planes in a large Western aircraft plant. The wings, which had been accurately assembled in jigs, are added to the plane bodies as they travel down the final assembly line where engines, landing gear, controls and other equipment are also installed.

The nose section of a new Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ship in a jig at a large Western aircraft plant. This nose section will later be joined or “mated” to a center section and the partly-finished body will begin its trip down the final assembly line where engines, wings, landing gear and other essential equipment will be installed.

Beginning construction of a center section of a Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane in a Western aircraft plant. Here the trailing edge of a center section is “mated” to the main beam. On a final assembly line, the completed center section will be joined to other plane sections, and noses, engines, wings, landing gear and other equipment will be installed.

A drill operator in a Western aircraft plant, using a drill jig on the center section of a Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane. On the final assembly line, the completed center section will be joined to other plane sections, and noses, engines, wings, landing gear and other equipment will be installed.

A new Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane takes form on the production line. The wings and the Allison engines are already in place, and the ship now stands on its own wheels. It still requires many detail jobs before completion, but they are done rapidly under a well-ordered plan, and the plane will soon be rolled out for the fitting of propellers.

An armorer’s assistant in a large Western aircraft plant works on the installation of one of the machine guns in the nose section of a new Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane. This nose section will later be “mated” to a center section and the plane body will travel down a main assembly line where wings, engines, and other essential equipment will be installed.

Another view of armorer’s assistant works on the installation of one of the machine guns in the nose section.

The center section for a Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ship ready to go into a “mating” jig at a large Western aircraft plant. In the “mating” operation, nose sections and other plane members are joined to the center section. The partly-finished plane body is then ready to travel down the main assembly line where engines, wings, and other essential equipment will be installed.

Finishing a main beam for the center section of a Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane. When the center section of the ship is completed it will go to a “mating” operation in which other plane sections are attached to it. The plane body will then travel down the main assembly line where nose sections, engines, wings, landing gear and other equipment will be installed.

An armorer in a large Western aircraft plant tests machine gun controls in the partly-finished nose section of a new Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane. This section is now ready for the operation of “mating” it to the center section. The ship will travel down the main assembly line to receive engines, wings, landing gear and other essential equipment.

A partly-finished Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ship is lowered away into a rolling cradle in a large Western aircraft plant. Supported in this cradle, the ship has now taken its place in the main assembly line. The cradle or stand is moved from station to station where engines, wings, landing gear, controls and other essential equipment are installed.

Another new Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ship leaves the main assembly line of a large Western aircraft plant. The station stand has been swept clear and the ship is being lowered away to rest on its own wheels. From here it will be rolled to a test field where propellers will be installed. If trial flights and final inspections prove it satisfactory, the ship will be delivered to the Army.

New Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ships that have successfully passed inspection for routine test flights are transferred to the Lockheed air terminal. Here flight mechanics take over and prepare them for the flight test. These ships have performed beautifully in action, notably in the Aleutians. They are excellent high-altitude fighters and rank among the world’s fastest combat aircraft. Their long-range and great firepower give promise of their value as escorts for high- altitude bombers.

An armorer and his assistant check machine gun controls in a nose section of a new Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ship. The guns are cocked and simulated firing is conducted to assure perfect operation of the control and selector systems. This nose section will later be “mated” to a center section and the partly-finished ship will travel down the main assembly line to receive engines, wings, landing gear and other essential equipment.

United States Army Air Forces P‑38 being warmed up in a snow swept air field somewhere in Iceland.

A liquid-cooled turbo-supercharged Allison engine is installed in a new Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ship. This engine has carried the P‑38 through brilliant performances in the Aleutians. The P‑38 is an excellent high- altitude fighter with great firepower. Its speed at its best altitude gives it rank among the world’s fastest fighting aircraft.

Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ships are made ready for test flights at a large Western aircraft plant. These planes, powered by twin Allison liquid-cooled engines, have performed brilliantly in action, notably in the Aleutians. The P‑38 has long range and great firepower and rates at its best altitude as one of the world’s fastest fighting ships.

Overall assembly line for Lockheed P‑38 pursuit planes. A row of Allison engines reaches back from the right foreground. Under the American flag in the left background is the “Lightning” assembly line, a duplicate of the P‑38 line.

A Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ship, just returned from flight tests, is checked and reconditioned in the test hangar of a large Western aircraft plant. After these operations, the ship will be ready for delivery to the Army. The P‑38 has performed brilliantly in action, notably in the Aleutians. Its long range and great firepower give it real promise as an escort for high-altitude bombers. At its best altitude, the P‑38 is one of the world’s fastest fighting planes.

Small section for Lockheed P‑38 pursuit planes are prepared for subassembly in a large Western aircraft plant. The completed subassemblies travel along lines that eventually meet the main assembly line from which finished planes are rolled outdoors for the installation of propellers.

A partly-finished Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane ready to start down the assembly line where the wings, engines, landing gear and other essential equipment will be installed.

A mechanic in a large Western aircraft plant at work on a center section for a Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane. On a final assembly line, the completed center section will be joined to other plane sections, and noses, engines, wings, landing gear and other equipment will be installed.

An armorer and his assistant check the installation of guns in a nose section of a new Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane. As the ship travels from one station to another along the main assembly line, wings, engines, armament and other essential equipment are installed.

Wings for Lockheed P‑38 pursuit planes are accurately assembled in jigs at a large Western aircraft plant. These wings are attached to the plane bodies as they travel down the final assembly line in which engines, landing gear, controls and other equipment are also installed.

Finishing wings for Lockheed P‑38 pursuit planes in a large Western aircraft plant. The wings, which were accurately assembled in jigs, are added to the plane bodies as they travel down the final assembly line where engines, landing gear, controls and other equipment will be installed.

A new Lockheed P‑38 pursuit plane, complete except for propellers, is hoisted from a station stand in a large Western aircraft plant assembly line. From here, the ship will be rolled to the testing field where the propellers will be installed and trial flights will be made.

Fittings are attached to a center section of a Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ship in a large Western aircraft plant. On the final assembly line, the completed center section will be joined to other plane sections, and noses, engines, wings, landing gear and other equipment will be installed.

New Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ships receive final inspections and adjustments on assembly lines outside a large Western aircraft plant. After these operations, the ships will be taken out for routine test flights. If the flights prove satisfactory, the new planes will be ready for delivery to the Army.

“Mating” operation in the production of Lockheed P‑38 pursuit planes. Previously assembled ship sections are joined together here to form the body of the plane. Feed lines from subassembly sections come to this point from three directions. Only a comparatively small area is required for mating, as the operation is performed rapidly and each plane occupies the space for only a short time.

Sets of three-bladed propellers for Lockheed P‑38 pursuit ships are prepared for installation at a large Western aircraft plant. After the propellers have been installed, the ships will be put through exacting inspection and trial flights. If these prove satisfactory, the new fighter planes will be delivered to the Army.

Lockheed Plant, before camo was added.

Lockheed Plant, after camo added.

Lockheed Plant, after camo added.

After camo completed. It would certainly be hard to see that there is an aircraft plant underneath there now!

Lockheed Plant, after camo added.