44-23162

French countryside, photographed through the nose of a P-38 Lightning of the 367th Fighter Group on landing. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 31 May 1945.' [stamp] and '354528 .' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'P-38s over the Seine. No.1 of a series of pix taken through the nose of the P-38 as it comes in to land. Scherschel LIFE.' media-456843.jpg FRE 10110 French countryside, photographed through the nose of a P-38 Lightning of the 367th Fighter Group on landing. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 31 May 1945.' [stamp] and '354528 .' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'P-38s over the Seine. No.1 of a series of pix taken through the nose of the P-38 as it comes in to land. Scherschel LIFE.'

The view of the bombardier through the plexiglass nose of a Droop Snoot P-38 coming in to land. Note the bombardiers feet at bottom of frame. Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo.

Object Number - FRE 10110 - French countryside, photographed through the nose of a P-38 Lightning of the 367th Fighter Group on landing. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be...

Point of departure was A-11 airfield, Saint-Lambert, for recon of Mortain area, due to overcast reduced altitude and was hit by flak in starboard engine, pilot lost control and both occupants baled out, one parachute snagged tailplane and went down with A/C. 1st Lt Dean R Burns [Pilot] Major William K Collonan [Obs]2 x MIA/FOD. MACR 7862.



* The 'Droop Snoot' field conversion entailed the removal of the nose armament and associated equipment to make room for a prone bombardiers/observers position with the installation of a plexiglass nose, a Norden bombsight, side windows and an emergency hatch. The theory was for a formation of P-38's to drop their bombs on the formation lead 'Droop snoots' signal with the precision of the Norden bombsight ensuring the accuracy of the formations bombing. An idea championed by Lt Col Cass Hough and Lt Col Dan Ostrander.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 370th Fighter Group 405th Fighter Group 402nd Fighter Squadron 511th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19074204 / O-674032
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Service Numbers: O-243539
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Observer / Navigator

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

50140 Mortain, France 9 August 1944 - 9 August 1944 Recon of Mortain, due to overcast reduced altitude and was hit by flak in starboard engine, pilot lost control and both occupants baled out, one parachute snagged tailplane and went down with A/C. 2 x MIA/FOD. MACR 7862.

Manufactured

Burbank, CA, USA Built at Lockheed Aviation.

Delivered

Long Beach, CA, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Other

Field modified

Langford Lodge, Ireland Field modified to 'Droop Snoot*' configuration.

Assigned

Andover, Andover, Hampshire, UK Assigned to 402nd Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group, 9th AF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 7862 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

44-23162: Gallery (6 items)