44-23151 Colorado Belle
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.
Crashed in mountainous terrain in bad weather. Converted from standard P-38J to "Droop Snoot*" 2-seater; sometimes unofficially referred to as a PB-38J. Pilot Fred W. Evans Jr and passenger killed. 14-8-45.
* 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
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
Todtmoos, Germany | 14 August 1945 | Crashed in mountainous terrain in bad weather. Converted from standard P-38J to "droop snoot*" 2-seater; sometimes unofficially referred to as a PB-38J. Pilot Fred W. Evans Jr and passenger killed. |
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. | |
Assigned |
Andover, Andover, Hampshire, UK | Assigned to 401st Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group, 9AF. |
Revisions
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=114944
Wikepedia Commons.
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=114944
Wikepedia Commons.