8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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P-38 Lightning
P-38J field modified to 'Droop Snoot*' configuration and fitted out with equipment and aerials for Elint** work. Detached to 192 Sqn*** RAF for Elint** missions.
* The 'Droop Snoot' field conversion entailed the removal of the nose armament and associated equipment to make room for a prone bombardiers 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.
** Elint - Electronic intelligence, the collection for analysis of electronic signals [radio and radar] from enemy transmissions.
*** 'Between September 1944 and February 1945, USAAF two seat lightnings were attached to the squadron and in November 1944 much time was spent in searching for radio signals from V-2s, though these were later found to be uncontrolled' [V2's had on-board guidance systems].
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Group
The 492nd Bomb Group were assigned to the 8th Air Force in April 1944. They flew 60 missions over occupied Europe from 11 May 1944 until 7 August 1944.
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Group
Based for the majority of their service at Mount Farm, Oxfordshire, the 7th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) took over three million intelligence photos during the course of 4,251 sorties over occupied Europe. The Group was awarded a Distinguished...
Group
The 801st Bomb Group was established as part of the Eighth Air Force in late March 1944 to carry out 'Carpetbagger' missions. These were night missions over France and other parts of occupied Europes to support resistance forces by dropping in agents,...
Squadron
Squadron
Misc
Military | Major | Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
Flew 25 combat missions with the 384th bombardment Group from 22-Jun-43 to 4-Mar-44. Detached service (DS) with 1st Scouting Force. Transferred to 857BS, 492BG, 8AF USAAF flying Elint Droopsnoot P-38 lightning [gathering Electronic Intelligence].
Military | 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
Military | 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
Military site : airfield
Alconbury had been constructed as a satellite airfield for RAF Upwood and Wyton and was used by RAF Squadrons: Nos. 15, 40 and 156. In preparation for the arrival of American heavy bombers, the base was developed in 1942 with the runways extended. When...
Military site : airfield
Foulsham was built for the RAF in 1940-42, then used by RAF bombers and RAF special electronic warfare aircraft. An Eighth Air Force Radio Countermeasures detachment was based here in 1944-45 (it also used nearby RAF Oulton. The airfield was closed at...
Military site : airfield
Harrington was built by the 826th and 852nd Engineer Battalions of the US Army in 1943. Completed in 1944, it was the furthest Eighth Air Force combat airfield from the east coast.The Eighth's Special Operations Group was based at the airfield, first...
Military site : airfield
Planned to be a Satellite Landing Ground for No. 23 Maintenance Unit at RAF Aldergrove, Langford Lodge was selected in October 1941 to be developed as an air deport for the maintenance and repair of USAAF aircraft. A scheme was devised whereby the...
Military site : airfield
Originally a grass airfield satellite for the RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at nearby RAF Benson, Mount Farm was built in 1940-1941. It had three concrete runways, 49 dispersals (24 concrete pan type plus 25 PSP squares), and eight blister...
Military site : airfield
Built comparatively late during 1943-44 as an Eighth Air Force bomber base, North Pickenham was rather cramped as an airfield site so the main runway was shorter than typical. It had three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two dispersed T2...
Event | Location | Date |
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Manufactured | Burbank, CA, USA | August 1943 |
Built by Lockheed as a P-38J. |
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Delivered | Long Beach, CA, USA | September 1943 |
Delivered to USAAF. |
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Field modified | Langford Lodge, Ireland | April 1944 – May 1944 |
Field modified to 'Droop Snoot*' configuration and fitted out with equipment and aerials for Elint** work. |
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Assigned | Harrington, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN6, UK | May 1944 – September 1944 |
Assigned to 36th Bomb Squadron, 801st Bomb Group, 8AF USAAF. |
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Detached | Foulsham, Dereham, Norfolk NR20, UK | September 1944 – February 1945 |
Detached to 192 Sqn RAF for Elint** missions. |
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Crashed | Foulsham, Dereham, Norfolk NR20, UK | 15 September 1944 |
Taxiing accident RAF Foulsham Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt Richard S Quiggins, 15-9-44. |
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Crashed | Mt Farm Cottage, Dorchester, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 7PG, UK | 1 January 1945 |
Crashed Belly Landing Mount Farm/Sta 234 Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt Carter E Hitt, 1-145 |
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Crashed | Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 25 June 1945 |
Crashed Belly Landing Alconbury/Sta 102 Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt Philip M Algar, 25-6-45. |
Date | Contributor | Update |
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30 December 2015 20:56:32 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, description, events, unit associations, person associations and place associations |
Sources | ||
http://www.geocities.ws/jackilfrey/droopsnoot.html |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
01 January 2015 09:19:36 | brx851b | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type and manufacturer |
Sources | ||
8th Air Force records |