42-67450 Eze Does It
Updated a/c information
Object Number - FRE 2379 - P-38J-10-LO, s/n 42-67450, coded LC-E, nicknamed "EZE Does It" of the 77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group fitted with a "droop snoot" for...
P-38J field modified to 'Droop Snoot*' configuration. Assigned to the 20th Fighter Group. The groups other P-38's would fly in close formation with the 'droop snoot*' and all drop their bombs when the lead aircraft released its. Several missions were flown using this technique in the build up to D-Day. These missions weren't popular with the pilots who werent keen on flying straight and level in close formation over enemy targets ! * 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. Side Profile Picture: http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=20&Style=item&origStyl…
The 'Droop Snoot*' entered active service with the 20th Fighter Group on 10 April 1944, when one was used to lead forty-two P-38Js of the 20th FG against the Luftwaffe base at Gutersloh in Germany.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Supply
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron 77th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-731368
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Kingscliffe, Apethorpe
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 23 June 1944
- Date: 12 June 1944
- Date: 30 April 1944
- Date: 10 April 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Operational mission |
Gütersloh, Germany | 10 April 1944 | Led forty-two P-38Js of the 20th Fighter Group against the Luftwaffe base at Gutersloh in Germany. 10-4-44. |
|
Other Operational mission |
Lyon, France | 30 April 1944 | Led P-38Js of the 20th Fighter Group, Lyon/Clermont/ Siracourt. 30th April 44. |
|
Other Operational mission |
Tours-Paris, France | 12 June 1944 | Led P-38Js of the 20th Fighter Group Tours-Paris. 12th June 44. |
|
Other Operational mission |
Paris, France | 23 June 1944 | Led P-38Js of the 20th Fighter Group, Paris. 23rd June 44. |
|
Crashed |
Avenue de Villacoublay, France | 13 December 1944 | Landing accident Villacoublay/A-42 Cat 4 damage, pilot Lt Paul R Gill, 13-12-44. 10th Depot Repair Squadron 10th Air Depot Group 9AF. |
|
Other SOC Struck Off Charge |
Chilbolton, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20, UK | 15 December 1944 | Struck Off Charge. |
|
Other Transferred to 9AF |
Chilbolton, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20, UK | By June 1944 the writing was on the wall for the 20th FG's P-38. The decision had been made to replace it in 8AF service with the P-51 Mustang and the Lightnings would be transferred to 9AF for lower level tactical missions or to the Mediterranean Theatre where the warmer weather was more suited to the type. The 'Droop Snoot's* non standard configuration meant it remained in theatre [ETO] with the 10DRS, 10ADG, 9AF. | |
|
Manufactured |
Burbank, CA, USA | Built by Lockheed. | |
|
Delivered |
Long Beach, CA, USA | Delivered to USAAF. | |
|
Other Field modified |
Langford Lodge, Ireland | Field modified to 'Droop Snoot*' configuration. | |
|
Other Assigned |
King's Cliffe, Peterborough, Northamptonshire PE8, UK | Assigned to 77FS, 20FG, 8AF USAAF. |
![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.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-456843.jpg.webp?itok=vyT98_c0)
