Details regarding P-38 "Droop Snoot" missions
 

Looking for any details regarding missions and units who used the P-38 "Droop Snoot" in Europe during the war.

Did that version of P-38 have .5 browning shells on board or was there just space for the second crewmember and the gun sight?

Please provide me with detailed information. I'm investigation an aircraft crash in Austria. Many thanks in advance.

Kurtl

Re: Details regarding P-38 "Droop Snoot" missions
 

Mighty Eighth War Manual (R. Freeman)

Seven Droop Snoots converted/made for 8th AF by Lockheed at Langford Lodge. Trials carried out on 42-68184. First use on 10.04.44 leading formations of 20th and 44th FGs, subsequently used by all four P-38 Groups in the 8th, plus the 56th FG, on formation bombing ops.
New nose, no armament, just bombsight. Jul 44 Droop Snoots transfered from 8th AF, three remained on hand 42-104075 (Operational Engineering), 43-28490 (Aphrodite project), another for Dilly project.

Four Droop Snoots joined detachment on 192 Sqn RAF for Elint sorties (43-28479, 44-23156, 44-23501 and 44-23515).

Also planned production of 12 P-38Ls with H2X and operator in nose. Only have details of 44-23880 used by 25th Group.

5.4 Base RAF got a Droop Snoot which went on 5 Group raids

Droop Snoots were also converted by BADA for 9th AF (unknown number)

If you are finding 0.5 in cartridges then it is not a Droop Snoot

Lockheed also made a two-seat night fighter version of the P-38 with a cockpit for the radar op behind the pilot; these are sometimes wrongly described as Droop Snoots, but I do not have the books at hand to say if or where they were used.

Martin

Re: Details regarding P-38 "Droop Snoot" missions
 

Hello Kurtl,

The 474th FG used P-38 droopsnoots throughout the war. Each squadron (428th, 429th, and 430th) normally had one droopsnoot assigned. They were generally used for carpet bombing missions where the formation would release all their bombs at once on the signal from the bombardier in the droopsnoot which would act as a lead ship.

None of the 474th droopsnoots carried any .50cal or 20mm guns. There was only room for a bombardier in the nose. Many times ground personnel were given incentive rides in the nose as a reward.

The 474th has some interesting stories about their droopsnoots in their respective squadron histories. Hope this helps.

Cheers, Gary Koch

Re: Details regarding P-38 "Droop Snoot" missions
 

Hello Kurtl and Gary,

As for the 474th FG, each Squadron of the 367th FG had his own Droopsnoot. As Gary told in his message, the Droopsnoot were used to bomb a target at the count down of the bombardier who came from a bomber Squadron. All the pilots in the formation would released his bombs at the same time.

One Droopsnoot of the 392nd FS was lost during a test flight with Lt Ed Brydges near Reims (France) in December 1944. An enlisted man was in the nose of the ship when he crashed landed.

I have been told by a machannic of the 392nd FS that they were thrilled during the flight in the Droopsnoot.

Olivier (Gary, I am a friend of AL)