P-39 Airacobra
This replica of a P-39 Airacobra was built by the hand of Watson Lake resident David McIlmoyle and was nearing completion when I took this photo in his workshop on July 10, 1990. McIlmoyle was inspired to take on this project as a result of a keen interest in the wartime history that took place where he lives. Watson Lake, Yukon Territory was an important military airfield and pitstop on a 7000-mile long airway that was called the ALSIB Route (Alaska-Siberia); this was a wilderness airway used to deliver nearly 8,000 warplanes under the Lend-Lease Plan to our Soviet Allies.
McIlmoyle was unable to find a local P-39 wreck to rebuild so to satisfy his need for a project he decided to build one out of plywood in his workshop out back of his house. After a lot of jigsaw work the end result was pretty impressive and when fully assembled and painted it was placed on an outdoor pedestal at the local museum. I heard that several of the harsh Yukon winters took a toll on the wooden P-39 and it was removed... I don't know what became of it. The odd serial number is not true to how P-39s were numbered but is in fact David McIlmoyle's birthdate.
P-39 Airacobra
This replica of a P-39 Airacobra was built by the hand of Watson Lake resident David McIlmoyle and was nearing completion when I took this photo in his workshop on July 10, 1990. McIlmoyle was inspired to take on this project as a result of a keen interest in the wartime history that took place where he lives. Watson Lake, Yukon Territory was an important military airfield and pitstop on a 7000-mile long airway that was called the ALSIB Route (Alaska-Siberia); this was a wilderness airway used to deliver nearly 8,000 warplanes under the Lend-Lease Plan to our Soviet Allies.
McIlmoyle was unable to find a local P-39 wreck to rebuild so to satisfy his need for a project he decided to build one out of plywood in his workshop out back of his house. After a lot of jigsaw work the end result was pretty impressive and when fully assembled and painted it was placed on an outdoor pedestal at the local museum. I heard that several of the harsh Yukon winters took a toll on the wooden P-39 and it was removed... I don't know what became of it. The odd serial number is not true to how P-39s were numbered but is in fact David McIlmoyle's birthdate.