The P-38 Lightning is a twin-engine fighter aircraft that was used by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Designed by Lockheed Corporation in the mid-1930s, the P-38 was innovative for its time, featuring a distinctive twin-boom design, a tricycle landing gear, and supercharged engines. It was also the first American fighter to be equipped with a cockpit canopy that could be jettisoned in an emergency.
The P-38 was heavily used in the Pacific theater of World War II, where it was flown by American aces such as Richard Bong and Thomas McGuire. It was also used in Europe, where it was used for a variety of missions, including ground attack and escorting bombers.
In addition to its combat duties, the P-38 was also used for reconnaissance and photo-reconnaissance missions, and was used extensively during the Korean War. Overall, more than 10,000 P-38s were produced, and the aircraft remained in service with various air forces around the world until the 1960s.
In 1992, he began working as a painter, graphic designer, and illustrator of military books. He produces artwork in physical media, with brush and airbrush, and using the range of software for digital art so necessary to graphic design today. Since he took up art, Zbigniew has created over 5,000 colour profiles of aircraft, tanks and ships, published in more than 150 books. He has also created artwork for around 100 magazine and book covers. Zbigniew is also an amateur historian, specialising in military American WW2 aircraft camouflage and markings of. He has worked for numerous publishers in Poland, Czechia, Germany, Canada and the UK.