BoeingFan7879
U.S. Army Air Force Bell P-39N AiraCobra
The Bell P-39 Airacobra was a single-engined fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat in December 1941.
It had an unusual layout compared to other fighters of the day, with the engine installed in the center of the fuselage, behind the pilot, and driving a tractor propeller in the nose with a long shaft. It was also the first fighter fitted with a tricycle undercarriage. Although its mid-engine placement was innovative, the design was handicapped by the absence of an efficient turbo-supercharger, thus preventing it from performing high-altitude work. For this reason, it was rejected by the RAF for use over Western Europe but adopted by the USSR, where most air combat took place at medium and lower altitudes. With the derivative P-63 Kingcobra, the P-39 was one of the most successful fixed-wing aircraft ever manufactured by Bell, with over 9,500 built.
The Airacobra saw combat worldwide, particularly in the Southwestern Pacific, Mediterranean, and Soviet theaters. Because its engine was equipped with only a single-stage, single-speed supercharger, the P-39s performed poorly above 17,000 feet (5,200 m). In both Western Europe and the Pacific, the Airacobra often found itself outclassed as an interceptor, and the type was gradually relegated to other duties. It was usually used at lower altitudes for such missions as ground target strafing.
After the war, a few late-production P-39Qs survived long enough in the USAAF inventory to be acquired by the United States Air Force upon its separation from the Army. These aircraft served in training and testing roles for approximately a year. In June of 1948, they were redesignated as ZF-39Qs ("ZF" stood for "Obsolete Fighter") as part of the new aircraft designation scheme throughout the USAF.
In 1945, Italy purchased the 46 surviving P-39s at 1% of their original cost, but in the summer of 1946, many accidents occurred, including fatal ones. By 1947, 4° Stormo was re-equipped with P-38s, with the P-39s being sent to training units until the type's retirement in 1951. Only a T9 cannon survives today at Italy's famous Vigna di Valle Museum.
Not much can be found about the service record and f this particular P-39, BuNo 42-8740. According to the museum, this aircraft was originally part of a British order for Airacobras and was delivered to the RAF, but it was found in New Guinea. As all the delivered P-39s that went to the RAF in Great Britain were later passed on to the USSR, 42-8740 was probably originally ordered by the British, then diverted to the USAAF after Pearl Harbor. It is unknown which units this aircraft served with in the Southwestern Pacific, but it was abandoned, along with several other Airacobras, at Tadji Airfield in New Guinea. The aircraft was recovered in 1991 by Yanks and restored to flying condition by 2002. Though it lacks any unit markings, 42-8740 is painted in standard USAAF camouflage and carries the 1942-era national insignia.
U.S. Army Air Force Bell P-39N AiraCobra
The Bell P-39 Airacobra was a single-engined fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat in December 1941.
It had an unusual layout compared to other fighters of the day, with the engine installed in the center of the fuselage, behind the pilot, and driving a tractor propeller in the nose with a long shaft. It was also the first fighter fitted with a tricycle undercarriage. Although its mid-engine placement was innovative, the design was handicapped by the absence of an efficient turbo-supercharger, thus preventing it from performing high-altitude work. For this reason, it was rejected by the RAF for use over Western Europe but adopted by the USSR, where most air combat took place at medium and lower altitudes. With the derivative P-63 Kingcobra, the P-39 was one of the most successful fixed-wing aircraft ever manufactured by Bell, with over 9,500 built.
The Airacobra saw combat worldwide, particularly in the Southwestern Pacific, Mediterranean, and Soviet theaters. Because its engine was equipped with only a single-stage, single-speed supercharger, the P-39s performed poorly above 17,000 feet (5,200 m). In both Western Europe and the Pacific, the Airacobra often found itself outclassed as an interceptor, and the type was gradually relegated to other duties. It was usually used at lower altitudes for such missions as ground target strafing.
After the war, a few late-production P-39Qs survived long enough in the USAAF inventory to be acquired by the United States Air Force upon its separation from the Army. These aircraft served in training and testing roles for approximately a year. In June of 1948, they were redesignated as ZF-39Qs ("ZF" stood for "Obsolete Fighter") as part of the new aircraft designation scheme throughout the USAF.
In 1945, Italy purchased the 46 surviving P-39s at 1% of their original cost, but in the summer of 1946, many accidents occurred, including fatal ones. By 1947, 4° Stormo was re-equipped with P-38s, with the P-39s being sent to training units until the type's retirement in 1951. Only a T9 cannon survives today at Italy's famous Vigna di Valle Museum.
Not much can be found about the service record and f this particular P-39, BuNo 42-8740. According to the museum, this aircraft was originally part of a British order for Airacobras and was delivered to the RAF, but it was found in New Guinea. As all the delivered P-39s that went to the RAF in Great Britain were later passed on to the USSR, 42-8740 was probably originally ordered by the British, then diverted to the USAAF after Pearl Harbor. It is unknown which units this aircraft served with in the Southwestern Pacific, but it was abandoned, along with several other Airacobras, at Tadji Airfield in New Guinea. The aircraft was recovered in 1991 by Yanks and restored to flying condition by 2002. Though it lacks any unit markings, 42-8740 is painted in standard USAAF camouflage and carries the 1942-era national insignia.