44-23513

A modified P-38 Lightning of the 474th Fighter Group. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'P-38? "Pathfinder"!' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '428th FS, 474th FG, 9th Air Force.' media-456783.jpg FRE 10050 P-38J-20-LO, s/n 44-23513, coded F5-I "droopsnoot" Lightning of the 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group. Location appears to be airfield R-2, Bad Langensalza, Germany, late spring 1945. Aircraft forced to ditch in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Nice, France 9 May 1945 after suffering a dual engine failure. The pilot, 1Lt. Robert D. Hanson, and his passenger, 1Lt. Lloyd Wenzel, survived the ditching.

First handwritten caption on reverse: 'P-38? "Pathfinder"!'
Second handwritten caption on reverse: '428th FS, 474th FG, 9th Air Force.'

Droop Snoop P-38 lead bomber A/C with bombardier in modified nose. Roger Freeman Collection

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Object Number - FRE 10050 - P-38J-20-LO, s/n 44-23513, coded F5-I "droopsnoot" Lightning of the 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group. Location appears to be airfield R-2,...

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Ditched

off the coast of Nice, France 9 May 1945 suffered a double engine failure

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Roger Freeman photo notation

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Roger Freeman

44-23513: Gallery (2 items)