F-5E-2-LO Aircraft of the 33rd PRS Under contract AC-35374, an estimated 100 P-38J-15 fighters (Lockheed model 422-81-22) were converted at Lockheed's Dallas modification center to F-5E-2 Photo Lightnings. An undetermined number of later P-38J-20 fighters were converted to "E-2" variants at modification centers or field depots. During the course of the block "15" run, Lockheed began adding two important improvements to this Lightning variant:
- extra internal fuel tanks in the leading edges of the wings, increasing the internal fuel capacity by about 30% from 306 gallons to 416 gallons
- displacement gears to keep external fuel tanks (attached under the wings) from flying up and damaging the aircraft flaps when the tanks were jettisoned during flight
Block "15" aircraft that were turned out at the Lockheed factory before these improvements became part of the assembly-line process (as well as earlier "J" series Lightnings) were retrofitted with them at modification centers or field depots. This affected about a dozen 33rd PRS aircraft. Most of the F-5E-2 inventory of the 33rd PRS was composed of P-38J-15 conversions.
Like the F-5B-1, the F-5E-2 was powered by two Allison V-1710-F17 engines: model V-1710-F17R (military model V-1710-89) supplied right (starboard) prop rotation while model V-1710-F17L (military model V-1710-91) rotated left (port).
At the bottom of this page, you can access individual pages describing each F-5E-2 in the 33rd PRS inventory.
Photo courtesy of Arthur J. Ensberg via Kent A. RamseyThe photo above shows one of the 33rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron's F-5E-2 Photo Lightnings sitting on the flight line at Chalgrove, England in the summer of 1944. Black and white D-Day "invasion stripes" visible on the underside of the wings indicate that this photo was taken on or after June 6. Notice the slight upturn of the wing tips: the Lightning's dihedral was 5 degrees, 40 minutes.
Photographic evidence suggests that most of the F-5E-2 aircraft assigned to the 33rd PRS were painted PRU blue.
Squadron F-5E-2 Inventory
The 33rd PRS received its first F-5E-2 in May 1944 and eventually accumulated about a dozen and a half of them in its aircraft inventory. From the following topic drop-down list, you can access an individual information page for each 33rd PRS F-5E-2 that has been researched so far. The page displays photos of the plane as well as its serial and production IDs, miscellaneous facts, anecdotes, and sortie data for combat missions flown.
Click the topic drop-down list and make your selection. Selections are listed by Army Air Force aircraft serial number.
To compare the camera configuration of the F-5E-2 with the earlier F-5B variant,