P-38’s modified as a WWII high altitude, Norden bomb sight Bomber – The Droop Snoot

Norden bomb sight was junk

This is exactly the reason why The boys with the 8thAF rejected the P38. Inspired choice one of many!

The p38 was way ahead of its time and a very versatile fighter. My favorite airplane of world war II. I was privileged to see four of them fly over my mother's house when I was about 15 years old.

P-38s in Korea? awesome content.

Never heard of this before.

Please slow down

Why didn't they just use a D.H. Mosquito? The USAAF already used them during WWII. This would have been a no brainer and probably have been more effective.

Talk about a ton of info! I think I am fairly knowledgeable about P-38s, but I had never heard of the additional bomb mounts--I was only aware of the two drop tank/bomb points. I had also read that there was no escape for the bombardier in flight.
Like others, I was also unaware of P-38s (F-38s?) being used in Korea.

Very informative

Excellent production. Very informative, interesting and useful. Bookmarked, and I'll be back to review for modeling. Great pics for internal detail ideas. Thanks much.

Thanks for the detail you provided! I'd read about the "Droop Snoot" and have been fascinated by the advantages it offered. 1/8th the crew of a B-17, with the other P-38s in its formation having 1/10th the amount of crew. The bomb load was comparable, the cruising speed much higher, and the ability of the non- droop snoot Lightnings could then go harass ground installations or defend themselves in a dogfight if necessary. I was always concerned with the bombardier's exit strategy as the propellers are dangerously close to the lower hatch, but your diagram clearly shows it's a chute of sorts that will provide that crew member with a downward trajectory, as well as a bit of momentum to clear the props. I understand that while proven effective, the Droop Snoot was only utilized for a few months and very limited in the numbers of conversion kits due to its lack of demand.

War Thunder needs one of these!

I had 0 idea something like 3rd party target guidance existed as early as Korea. I simply assumed it might have started with laser designation after LGB were introduced in Vietnam. Interesting bit also about anti-flak battery tactics. Could have probably been it's own video (on top of the one that already exist on this topic)

I have always been fond of the droop snoot modification and this video educated me .

I had not considered using a droop snoot and p-38s in formation for flak battery suppression.

This is also the first time I have heard about radio synchronization to drop the bombs in an attacking squadron.

I had noticed the Droop Snoot category on a table of fighter bomber losses in one of your more recent videos and wondered what the heck it meant....Thanks.

How do this bomber's characteristics compare with the similar Mosquito bomber used by the RAF?

Very interesting! Especially about their later operations in Korea.

I'd heard of and seen some references to the 'Droop Snoops', but never knew much in the way of details.

More, please!

“Small and slightly crazy bombardiers” is a great way of recruiting the right people. I wonder if they could bail out ok?

"You bet your droop snoot!!!" Haha

Need more info on the Korean war P-38s.

Wow this great! Just when I think I know everything you keep me learning every day! Cheers!

It is interesting that for the great record of this aircraft no squadrons after the war with the ANG and AFRES, unlike the P-47 and P-51???

Another outstanding and great presentation. I had seen the photo of the p-38 invasion stripe painted bombing formation and once again your new details and thorough documentation are outstanding. Thank you very much.

Usual great material

How did the p38 compare to the ME110?

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is my favorite American world War II fighter.

Feed my brain, Feed my brain thank you and you bring the recites and drop the knowledge on us all!

Never heard of this at all . Great job. Again.👍👍👍

Excellent

Oh, wonderful! "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." Thank you! Best WWII aviation history channel!
I cannot imagine enough how claustrophobic was inside the nose. How could the guy change position from sitting to laining to aim? Or just lean on the bombsight in a sitting position?

The p38 we wish we had in war thunder, with 2-1600lbs bombs.

This page is definitely my new goo - too page for content like this,
Keep the vids coming 👌👍🙏

THe P-38 may not have been the best dog fighter but it made up for it by being super versatile.

Great job as usual.

Every time I see a military themed video pop up on my feed and I click on it and hear your voice I know it’s gonna be an absolute banger of a vid❤

Photos of the Droop Snoot are rare, but post WW2 Droop Snoot photos appear to be non-existent. Would those Korean War P-38 have the USAF roundels? How exhilarating.

Oh no

Just saying norden bomb sight will get this video classified for eighty years

I never knew this plane existed.

Look forward to watching this!

We made some sick planes with some sick names.

Great content
Please share more declassified information.

Pictures out there showing regular P-38s with a wide white bands around their noses at about the same location as the Droop Snoot.. Probably as a trick to make the Germans think they were attacking an unarmed Drop Snoot.

Great video as usual but it felt like you were speaking really fast in this one.

Like all your videos, this was excellent. I had a passing knowledge of this variant of the P-38 but I had never seen the details you have dug up on it. Well done!

Droop Snoots in Korea? That's news to me! I'd enjoy learning more about them.

and I have learnt something new today...thank you.