Don Richard Ostrander

Military

media-19787.jpeg 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 Droop Snoot.

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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

Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)

Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Combat organisation

People

Lieutenant Colonel Hough sits in the cockpit of a P-47 Thunderbolt of the 495th Fighter Training Group. Image stamped with press censor 3 August 1943. Printed caption on reverse: ' ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO SHOWS: Lt. Col. Hough seated in the cockpit of a P-47 Thunderbolt: the tail assembly in the background belongs to a P-38 Lightning.'

Cass Hough

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: Eighth Air Force
Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Role/Job: Deputy Commander

Aircraft

A P-38 Lightning nicknamed "Droop Snoot".

42-104075

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Nicknames: Droop Snoot
Unit: Base Air Depot 3

42-67086

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Unit: Base Air Depot 3

42-68184

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Unit: Base Air Depot 3 495th Fighter Training Group

Missions

8th Air Force 296 and 8th Air Force Field Order 294

Date: 10 April 1944

Places

A P-38 Lightning (CL-K) of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group fitted with a "droop snoot" for bombing missions.

Langford Lodge

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.