The Lockheed P-38 Lightning Fighter was one of America's most important contributions to the Allied victory in WWII. It was the first U.S. fighter that seriously challenged the German Messerschmitt 109. It was also the first Allied fighter to wrest control of the air from Mitsubishi's vaunted A6m Zero. Well over 3,000 Axis aircraft were credited as shot down by Lightnings; the P-38 became the symbol of the ultimate victory over Japan.