UPL 19714

IMAGE

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Lockheed P-38J Lightning 'Droopsnoot*' aircraft 42-67704 'F.U.B.A.R.' CL-Kbar 388th FS, 55th FG, 8AF USAAF. L-R - Pilot Capt. Lester Earls, Bombardier 1st Lt William Stroud of the 338th FS. * 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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-752110
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Fubar
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 55th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron

Locations

Lieutenant-Colonel Elwyn G. Righetti of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group stands beside his P-51 Mustang, "Katydid". Print signed 'Best of everything your big loud Elwyn', 1944-1945.
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground

Revisions

Date:
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesCreated entry with caption, unit associations, person associations, place associations and aircraft associations