Name Pays Homage To WWII's P-38

Confirming reports ANN first brought to you in May, on Friday Air Force chief General T. Michael "Buzz" Moseley is expected to announce Friday the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will now be known as the "Lightning II."

The name -- which pays respect to the original "Lightning," the Lockheed P-38 fighter that served with distinction in World War II -- beat out "Spitfire II", "Cyclone" and "Reaper" as possible nicknames for the advanced fighter, which is slated to make its first production-spec flight later this summer.

Despite those choices -- as well as other suggested names such as "Piasa" and "Black Mamba," submitted by the Dutch -- it was clear pretty early on that "Lightning II" was the odds-on favorite.

"The two top aces in Air Force history both flew the P-38," said an anonymous Pentagon official to the Dallas Morning News.

Gen. Moseley was expected to formally announce his decision Friday at a press conference at the Lockheed-Martin plant in Fort Worth, TX.

The name will be used by both the Navy and Marines versions of the aircraft, as well as those flown by Britain and seven other US allies that are expected to order the plane.

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com