Don Richard Ostrander
Military
Object Number - UPL 19787 - General Don Richard Ostrander, later Major General. Co-Champion of the Droop Snoot P-38 concept and flew operational missions to prove concept on the...
General Ostrander was born in Stockbridge MI, attended local schools and studied engineering at Western State College, MI. He entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June 1933 and graduated in 1937.
From April 1938 until December 1939 he served as a troop commander in the cavalry at Fort Bliss, Texas. In 1939 he was detailed to the Ordnance Department and served in various positions in the Aviation Ordnance Field at Langley Field, Va., Baer Field, Ind., Selfridge Field, Mich., Florence, S.C. and Charleston, S.C.
In May 1942 he was transferred to England where he became the ordnance and armament officer, Eighth Air Force Interceptor Command. During this tour General Ostrander helped modify the P-38 airplane to accommodate a bombardier with the Norden bombsight. He served as bombardier on the initial test missions of this aircraft over Europe.
In July 1944 the general returned to the United States and went on to have an outstanding post war career finally being promoted to Major General and retiring in Oct 1965.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Eighth Air Force
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Deputy Commander
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 10 April 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Stockbridge, MI 49285, USA | 24 September 1914 | |
|
Other Bombardier Droop Snoot |
Florennes, Belgium | 10 April 1944 | Served as bombardier in Droop Snoot 42-68184 on the initial test missions of this aircraft over Europe. 1st on 10-4-44. |
|
Other Retired |
16 October 1965 | ||
|
Died |
26 October 1972 | ||
|
Other Transferred ETO |
England, UK | Transferred to England where he became the ordnance and armament officer, Eighth Air Force Interceptor Command. | |
|
Other Droop Snoot Co-Champion |
General Ostrander helped modify the P-38 airplane to accommodate a bombardier with the Norden bombsight. Configuration later became known as the Droop Snoot. | ||
|
Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County Virginia, USA. |
