P-38 Stars & Stripes Structured Twill Cap

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was one of the most distinctive and versatile American fighters of World War II. With its unique twin-boom design, turbo-supercharged engines, and powerful armament concentrated in the nose, the P-38 served in multiple roles—fighter, bomber escort, reconnaissance, and ground attack. It was especially effective in the vast expanses of the Pacific Theater, where its long range and speed gave the U.S. a critical edge.

Powered by two Allison V-1710 engines, the P-38 had a top speed of around 414 mph and a combat radius exceeding 1,300 miles, making it ideal for long-range missions. Its concentrated nose armament—four .50 calibre machine guns and a 20mm cannon—gave it deadly accuracy in air combat and strafing runs. The aircraft’s tricycle landing gear, all-metal construction, and high-altitude performance marked a leap forward in American fighter design.

While the P-38 had mixed success in Europe—struggling somewhat in cold-weather, high-altitude missions—it excelled in the Pacific, where it became the primary long-range fighter for U.S. forces. It played a decisive role in many island-hopping campaigns and famously took part in Operation Vengeance, the 1943 mission that shot down the aircraft carrying Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.

The P-38 was also the mount of many top U.S. aces, including:

Major Richard Bong (40 kills) – America's top-scoring ace of WWII

Major Thomas McGuire (38 kills) – The second-highest-scoring U.S. ace

Captain Charles MacDonald (27 kills) – Scored most of his victories in the Southwest Pacific

Colonel Gerald R. Johnson (22 kills) – Flew extensively in the P-38

Captain Jay T. Robbins (22 kills) – Started in P-39s but gained most of his kills in P-38s

Over 10,000 P-38s were built, serving with the U.S. Army Air Forces, Free French Air Force, RAF (briefly), and several postwar users. Its legacy includes not only top aces and historic missions, but a unique place in aviation design history as the only American twin-engine fighter produced in large numbers and used throughout the entire war.

Why are the stripes vertical?
Great question - and you're absolutely right that the U.S. flag is usually displayed with horizontal stripes. But in this design, we’ve reimagined the flag as an artistic tribute rather than a literal representation. We chose to depict the flag as if it were hanging vertically from above, similar to how it might appear draped at a hangar entrance or suspended during a ceremony.  This vertical orientation allows the iconic silhouette of the aircraft to really shine -with the red and white stripes running the length of the fuselage, it creates a bold, centred look while still honouring the flag’s spirit and symbolism.