44-23194 Bomba Dear
![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 Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.'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/wysiwyg/public/freeman/media-456843.jpg.webp?itok=fgs_N-cS)
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...
P38J-15-LO 44-23194 coded 7F-Q 'Bomba Dear'. 401st Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group, 9AF. Pilot Lt William L Swisher. * 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.
Built by Lockheed as a P-38J, field modified to 'Droop Snoot*' configuration.
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Manufactured |
Burbank, CA, USA | Built at Lockheed Aviation. | |
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, 9th AF. |