What does the 'P' stand for in 'P-38' or other planes?

Question

If the 'B' in 'B-17' stands for 'Bomber' and the 'F' in 'F-18' stands for 'Fighter' What does 'P' mean in 'P-38 or other planes?

Answer 1

Pursuit or what we would deem an interceptor now days. God Bless You, the Ole Confederate Air Force and the Southern People.

Answer 2

Pursuit. This was the designation for "pursuit fighters" from the beginning of the U.S. Army air force system (P-1) through, if not all, of World War II. But pursuit implied relatively short range defensive fighter planes and by World War II fighters were multipurpose. The sysem was changed to "F" for fighter either late in World War II or just after the war. The "P" planes that were still in service were relabelled (remaining P51 Mustangs became F51) and the numerical series continued onwards (though some times, fighters that are numbered in the 100s are now referred to only by the last two digits).

Answer 3

Pursuit---P-38, P-40,ect.

Answer 4

In 1948, the designation P-51 (P for pursuit) was changed to F-51 (F for fighter) and that's the way it been since.

Answer 5

Pursuit. This was used before WWII, but eventyully gave way to F , as in "Fighter"

Answer 6

pursuit