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Close up of Lockheed P-38J Lightning 42-68184 495th Fighter Training Group in flight. 1943. 42-68184 a 'Droop Snoot*' was used as a lead bomber for the following formation of P-38's.
* 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.
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Three P-38 Lightnings, (serial number 42-68184) and two comrades, of the 495th Fighter Training Group in flight.
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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 Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.'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.
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Three P-38 Lightnings, 42-68184 and two others, of the 495th Fighter Training Group in flight. 1943. 42-68184 a 'Droop Snoot*' was used as a lead bomber for the following formation of P-38's.
* 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.
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"Droop Snoot" is what the boys call this P-38 which has given up its armament for a plexiglass nose, Norden bombsight, and bombardier. P-38 bombardiers are recruited from heavy bomb groups.
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A23344-56268AC
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DROOP SNOOT-Ground crewman at a base in Belgium prepare to "bomb-up" a "droop snoot" P-38 Lightning fighter-bomber for another attack against enemy fortifications and strong points. This model of the P-38 is known as the "droop snoot" because of the glass enclosed nose. The plane carries a bombardier in addition to the pilot.
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A05164-56914AC.
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Head on shot of - 'General view of Lockheed P-38 photo plane with gun sight aiming point camera mounted on bomb racks, and K-22 aerial camera in nose. ITALY'.
Actually this a "Droop Snoot". a P-38 which has given up its nose armament for a plexiglass nose, Norden bombsight, and bombardier. P-38 bombardiers are recruited from heavy bomb groups.
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A22940-56134AC.
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"Droop Snoot" is what the boys call this P-38 which has given up its armament for a plexiglass nose, Norden bombsight, and bombardier. P-38 bombardiers are recruited from heavy bomb groups.
Built as a P-38J by Lockheed, field modified to 'Droop Snoot*' configuration as the first full prototype of type. Trials A/C, later used operationaly as well. Led formations of 20th and 44th FG P-38's on bombing raid 10-4-44.
Minor damage [Cat 3], landing accident, Andover [Sta 406], pilot Lt Col Cass S Hough.
* 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.
Service
Aircraft
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P-38 Lightning
Built as a P-38H at Lockheed, field modified at Langford Lodge to a prototype 'Droop Snoot*' configuration. P-38H 42-67086 was modified by removal of the armament section in the nose, including the gun port nose cap. In it’s place, was a solid wood...
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Units
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Group
The 495th Fighter Training Group, which operated in England from December 1943, trained P-47 Thunderbolt pilots. These pilots, who had received the basic training in the USA would be assigned to a training group to practise ETO operational procedures...
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People
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Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Deputy Commander
Col Hough helped extend the range of fighter aircraft over the continent. He was responsible for the technical superiority of the 8th AAF. He helped to develop the auxilliary drop tanks to add to fighter aircraft which enabled them to go to the target...
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Military | Major General | Ordnance and Armament Officer
General Ostrander was born in Stockbridge MI, attended local schools and studied engineering at Western State College, MI. He entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June 1933 and graduated in 1937.
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Places
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Military site : airfield
Andover was built in the First World War and used by the Royal Flying Corps, then the RAF. Home to the 370th Fighter Group in 1944, it was then handed back to the RAF. The airfield closed in 1976, and the site has since been used by the British Army.
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Military site : airfield
Bovingdon, in Hertfordshire (often confused with Bovington, Dorset), was built in 1941-42 as a bomber station but was never developed into a fully-fledged heavy bomber airfield as it did not have the required 2,000 yard runway.
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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...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Manufactured |
Burbank, CA, USA |
August 1943 |
Built by Lockheed Aviation.
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Delivered |
Long Beach, CA, USA |
September 1943 |
Delivered to USAAF.
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Field modified |
Langford lodge, Ireland |
March 1944 – April 1944 |
P-38J Lightning field modified to 'Droop Snoot*' configuration. 2nd prototype, 1st full nose configuration. [1st prototype 42-67086].
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First operational use |
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10 April 1944 |
First operational use on 10-4-44 leading formations of 20th and 55th FG P-38's.
(44th was a BG; the 55th FG flew the P-38 in the ETO, 1943/44.
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Crashed |
Andover, Andover, Hampshire, UK |
7 May 1944 |
Minor damage [Cat 3], landing accident, Andover [Sta 406], pilot Lt Col Cass S Hough.
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