Early Production P-39Ds in combat?

[Hoggardhigh]

Hi all,

Out of the first 60 P-39D airplanes built by Bell (s/n's 40-2991 to 3050), it seems that the majority of them remained stateside for training. However it also seems possible that at least one or two of them were sent to the Pacific for combat. Does anyone know if that is true or not?

Thanks

 

[MIflyer]

Well, there were P-39D-1 and P-39D-2. The D-1 was in fact a P-400 brought up to P-39D standards, which presumably included installing a US oxygen system but did not include replacing the 20MM gun with a 37MM. Some of the D-1's got into combat at Guadalcanal.

 

[MIflyer]

Here is a shot of some from that S/N range.