The p-38 was invented for a high altitude interceptor.IT took only seven hours for the first p-38 {the xp-38} to fly from California to New York. On the other hand I'm not sure which country nicknamed the P-38 the Fork tailed devil. Japan, or Germany? Since I've learned that Germany and Japan were heavy allies I infer that the nickname the was named by both Germany and Japan. Not quit sure which.