[ARC5] WWII ECM Version of P-38

[Robert Eleazer]

Gordon:

The airplane in that picture was the Droop Snoot version of the P-38.

When the built the Droop Snoot conversions, they took out the guns, put in the seat and bombsight, and used it to lead standard fighter P-38's on level bombing missions.  Each standard P-38 would have one or two 500 or 1000 lb bombs, and a squadron of 24 Lightnings would fly a tight formation and drop the bombs based on when the bombardier in the lead aircraft told them to.  I guess the Droop Snoot might have carried bombs as well

I recall reading where a very experienced fighter pilot, previously flying P-51's, took over a P-38 unit.  He thought the Droop Snoot idea was great, sort of allow them to not have to outsource the bombing missions to the bombers.

So he got a Droop Snoot and led his men on a bombing mission of a German airfield in France.  It was a beautiful clear day and as they came over the target at 15,000 ft things seemed to be going splendidly.  Then ... WHAM!  They were a perfect target for German AA!  There was a reason the heavies attacked at 25,000 ft and not down at 15,000.

They also built a version that used a radar for bombing, enabling them to do it from above the clouds. 

Wayne