43-56281

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 Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.'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 Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.'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 at Lockheed aviation as P-38J. Modified to 'Droop Snoot*' configuration at Consolidated Vultee Nashville Division. 24-8-45.



* 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

Events

Event Location Date Description

Manufactured

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

Delivered

Long Beach, CA, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Other

Modified to Droop Snoot*

Nashville, TN, USA Modified at Consolidated Vultee Nashville Division. Aug 1945.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

USAAF Photo.

43-56281: Gallery (14 items)

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 Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.'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

Object number: FRE 10110 - French countryside, photographed through the nose...

Object number: UPL 19820 - A 3/4 front ground view of P-38L 43-56295 after...

Object number: UPL 19821 - 43-56281 - The Droop Snoot modification replaced...

Object number: UPL 19822 - Normal access to the nose compartment was through...

Object number: UPL 19823 - In the event of a belly landing, the bombardier...

Object number: UPL 19824 - The bombardier’s seat was functional, if not...

Object number: UPL 19825 - Forward of the left side window, an intervalometer...

Object number: UPL 19826 - The bombardier’s master panel was at the right...

Object number: UPL 19827 - The pilot’s cockpit saw few changes, but a new...

Object number: UPL 19828 - One image showed the original SCR-522 command...

Object number: UPL 19829 - One image [ UPL 19828] showed the original SCR-522...

Object number: UPL 19830 - An S-1 bomb rack was added to either side of the...