JUNGLE LIGHTNING: (10TH AF)
A Lockheed P-38 Lighting fighter of the 459th Fighter Squadron is seen being serviced on a jungle airstrip in India’s northeastern Asssam Valley. At the time the photo was taken, the 459th was assigned to the 10th Air Force’s 80th Fighter Group, the “Burma Banshees,” and its duties included protecting the western end of the “Hump” Airlift route, and support of Allied ground forces in central Burma.
Flying the fast, hard hitting, high flying and long legged, Lightning, six pilots of the 459th would achieve the status of fighter “Ace.” by destroying at leat five Japanese aircraft in aerial combat.
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