Ninety-nine aircraft originally ordered as P-38Es were completed as F-4-1-LO (Model 222-62-13) unarmed photo reconnaissance aircraft. They were powered by 1150 hp V-1710-21-29 engines and carried four K-17 cameras in a modified nose. In service, these aircraft carried a pair of 150/165 US gallon drop tanks. Most were retained for training and their restricted use status was reflected in their redesignation as RF-4-1-LO. Serial numbers of the F-4-1-LO aircraft were 41-2098/2099, 41-2121/2156, 41-2158/2171, 41-2173/2218, and 41-2220.
References:
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Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913, Rene J. Francillon, Naval Institute
Press, 1987
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The P-38J-M Lockheed Lightning, Profile Publications, Le Roy Weber
Profile Publications, Ltd, 1965.
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War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Four, William
Green, Doubleday, 1964.
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Famous Fighters of the Second World War, William Green, Doubleday,
1967.
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The American Fighter, Enzo Anguluci and Peter Bowers, Orion Books,
1987.
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Wings of the Weird and Wonderful, Captain Eric Brown, Airlife, 1985.
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United States Military Aircraft since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989.
- E-mail from Chuck Varney with correction on serial numbers of F-4s.
