Built as a P-38H at Lockheed, field modified at Langford Lodge to a prototype 'Droop Snoot*' configuration. P-38H 42-67086 was modified by removal of the armament section in the nose, including the gun port nose cap. In it’s place, was a solid wood nose cap, cut and shaped like the proposed bombardier nose. With some ballast added, 42-67086 was flight tested to determine if there were any flaws in it’s flight characteristics. After successfully completing the flight tests, Lockheed modified a new production P-38J to full Droop Snoot prototype specifications.

The wooden nose of 42-67086 was used to construct a Plexiglas bubble bombardier nose. Armor plate was added to the sidewalls and floor of the bombardier compartment, along with the Norden bombsight, related bombing equipment, oxygen and navigational equipment. During late February of 1944, the P-38J Droop Snoot was rolled out at Langford Lodge.



* The 'Droop Snoot' field conversion entailed the removal of the nose armament and associated equipment to make room for a prone bombardiers 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.