Historical Events tagged with "p-38 lightning"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Accidents & Tragedies

Mid-air Collision of Eastern Air Lines Flight 537

November 1st, 1949 75 years ago

Eastern Air Lines Flight 537 was tragically lost when it collided with a Bolivian Air Force Lockheed P-38 Lightning over Alexandria, Virginia. All 55 occupants aboard the DC-4 were killed in the incident, which marked a significant aviation disaster. The flight was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Miami, Florida, carrying passengers and crew. The collision occurred in a heavily trafficked airspace, raising questions about air traffic control and operational safety at the time.

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Military & Warfare

Yamamoto Killed in U.S. Air Mission

April 18th, 1943 81 years ago

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, was killed when his aircraft was intercepted and shot down by U.S. fighter planes over Bougainville Island during Operation Vengeance. The operation was a carefully planned mission that capitalized on intelligence about Yamamoto's travel. A flight of U.S. P-38 Lightning fighters executed the attack, resulting in the aircraft's destruction and the death of the prominent naval leader.

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