42-67822

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 Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.'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 Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.'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...

Built by Lockheed as a P-38J, field modified at Langford Lodge into a 'Droop Snoot*' configuration.



* 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.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 370th Fighter Group 485th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17152784 / O-769905
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 343rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 42037245 at enlistment, then O-753724
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot, Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 479th Fighter Group 434th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-746004
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Nuthampstead, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8, UK 20 February 1944 Taxiing accident Nuthampstead/Sta 131 Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt Anthony L Piscitelli, 20-2-44. 343FS 55FG 8AF Coded CY-R.

Crashed

Wattisham, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7, UK 26 August 1944 Landing accident Wattisham/Sta 377, Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt Bailey A Williams, 26-8-44. 434FS 479FG 8AF

Crashed

02120 Guise, France 3 January 1945 Crashed due to bad weather Guise, France Cat 4 damage pilot 2nd Lt Roy H Napier KIA, 3-1-45. 485FS 370FG 9AF

Manufactured

Burbank, CA, USA Built at Lockheed aviation as P-38J.

Delivered

Long Beach, CA, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Other

Field modified

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

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes

42-67822: Gallery (5 items)