UPL 19775

IMAGE

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Photo caption - "P-38 Lightning Photo Plane Showing K-22 Aerial Camera" This is actually a P-38 'Droop Snoot*' serial # 44-23482, no cameras are fitted to this configuration and the A/C leads a formation of P-38 fighter bombers to the target where the bombardier signals bomb release to the formation. The "Camera" visible is actually a Norden bomb sight for the bombardier. * The 'Droop Snoot' field conversion entailed the removal of the nose armament and associated equipment to make room for a prone bombardiers/observers 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.

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Aircraft

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 Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.'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.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3

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Revisions

Date:
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesCreated entry with caption, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations