eBay: Bell P-39 Airacobra

[MIflyer]

From Av Week, March 1943

 

[Wurger]

 

[Snautzer01]

Baugher P-39D-BE 41-6774 to RFC at Ontario, CA May 19, 1945

Org. Photo: P-39 Fighter Plane (#41-6774) on Airfield; 1943 (#1)!!! | eBay

Photo: P-39 Fighter Plane (#41-6774) on Airfield; 1943 (#1)! Should you have an issue with any item sold I am of course open to communication to rectify any issues. Take care. DO NOT DUPLICATE OR COPY!

www.ebay.com

 

[Wurger]

 

[daveT]

looking for daytime photos of the machine guns firing

 

[daveT]

looking for photos of the cowl-mounted

machine guns

 

[Snautzer01]

P-39Q-21-BE 44-3926 French

WW2 ~ P-39 Airacobra #43926 ~ French markings ~ XFL-1 Airabonita ~ Original | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for WW2 ~ P-39 Airacobra #43926 ~ French markings ~ XFL-1 Airabonita ~ Original at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Wurger]

 

[special ed]

P-39Q-21-BE 44-3926 French

View attachment 689871

WW2 ~ P-39 Airacobra #43926 ~ French markings ~ XFL-1 Airabonita ~ Original | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for WW2 ~ P-39 Airacobra #43926 ~ French markings ~ XFL-1 Airabonita ~ Original at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Appears a success due to installation of a French heater.

 

[BlackSheep]

Captured by Germans, seems to have USA type and colour star.

View attachment 343713 View attachment 343714

Does anyone have info on the door graphic? It appears to be a dog or some other 4-legged animal looking back over its shoulder.
Was that a commonplace for artwork unique to the aircraft/pilot or unit emblems?

 

[fubar57]

 

[FLYBOYJ]

View attachment 689934​

Is the straw heated?

 

[XBe02Drvr]

How does this affect CoG?

 

[SaparotRob]

Is the straw heated?

It's only a garnish.

 

[Gnomey]

Good shots!

 

[RagTag]

(Sorry, Buffnut - I'm an unrepentant enabler!

Hi Fubar,

This was a show for Congress and VIPs to show just how ready we were as war was brewing up in Europe. There are a bunch more outdoors photos showing other aircraft in the Life magazine collections (though I don't have the links) that might give a hint of the colors.

Camouflage responsibility had been at Wright Field, but the Materiel folks balked at Arnold's demand for permanent camouflage finishes, so he transferred the authority to the Air Corps Board at Maxwell in 1939. Maxwell would have been as close to any experimental camouflage division as we had at the time. They were already coming close to OD/Neutral Gray, but the Wright Field colors were what was available in January 1940.

Here are some more pix:

View attachment 659464

As much as the amazing camo, what really catches my eye is the camo Airacuda center right. Never have seen it that dressed that way, really makes it look much more purposeful than the all silver metal versions usually seen. Too bad it underperformed, it really looks the part what could have been repurposed as a devastating attack craft.

 

[cammerjeff]

I agree about the Airacuda! But what is the other twin further back in the picture? Some version of a B-23?

 

[fubar57]

B-18? D Dana Bell

 

[Dana Bell]

B-18? D Dana Bell

That is the B-18 that tested the 75mm gun mount. Tarps cover the breach and the sighting system.

Cheers,


Dana

 

[cammerjeff]

I thought it was in the B-18 or B-23 family thanks for IDing it! In that picture it almost looks to have a flying boat hull under the nose.