![Experimental P-38H Lightning aircraft, date unknown [Colorized by WW2DB]](/images/ai/20230224/air_lightning60.jpg)
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| Caption | Experimental P-38H Lightning aircraft, date unknown [Colorized by WW2DB] ww2dbase | ||||
| Colorization Note | This photograph was originally a black and white photograph; the colorized version presented here was a derivative work by WW2DB. The colors used in this version were speculative, and could be significantly different from the real colors. Processed using Adobe Photoshop Image Processor, with default neural filter, selecting "None" as the profile. View the original black and white photograph at its own permanent page. | ||||
| Photographer | Unknown | ||||
| Source | ww2dbaseUnited States Government | ||||
| More on... |
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| Photo Size | 450 x 312 pixels | ||||
| Added By | C. Peter Chen | ||||
| Colorized Date | 24 Feb 2023 | ||||
| Licensing | Public Domain. According to the United States copyright law (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105), in part, "[c]opyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government". Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you. |
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Visitor Submitted Comments
2. 
Bill says:
17 Aug 2010 11:38:06 AM
The P-38's nose was redesigned to carry a
bombadier, who had to lay on his stomach during the mission.
The "Droop Snoot" would lead a group of P-38
aircraft loaded with bombs, when the lead bombadier dropped his bombs,the rest of the group did.
Bill says:17 Aug 2010 11:38:06 AM
The P-38's nose was redesigned to carry a
bombadier, who had to lay on his stomach during the mission.
The "Droop Snoot" would lead a group of P-38
aircraft loaded with bombs, when the lead bombadier dropped his bombs,the rest of the group did.
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
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19 Apr 2010 09:04:45 PM
This aircraft was the prototype for the P-38 Droop Snoot configuration. This solid nose was used as a mold for the plexiglass Droop Snoot nose-cone. The Droop Snoot was a concept developed outside of Lockheed to use the high speed of the P-38 to reduce the risk for crews in level bombing missions. Later versions of the P-38 (J and L) had the same bomb load of a B-17 with one tenth of the crew. The idea was to adapt a P-38 with a housing in the nose for a qualified bombardier and the famous Norden bombsight to guide other aircraft to the target. The Droop Snoot flew lead and when it dropped its bomb load, the rest of the flight dropped too. Although Lockheed modified a number of P-38L to the Droop Snoot at the factory, dozens of conversion kits were also produced to enable field modifications on L and J models.