Need help about this P-39Q...

[Aramis]

Hello, guys... Just bought this 1:32 P-39 Airacobra from "Forces of Valor". It pictures the "Saga Boy" Airacobra piloted by Lt. Col. Edwin Chickering, from 357th FG. The manufacturer says it's a P-39Q, but the internet articles I've searched points it as a P-39N. Besides, it's not clear if this specific machine saw combat. Most articles about P-39 say that the 357th FG pilots who saw combat used P-40 later in 1941. Does anybody know anything else about this aircraft? Thanks in advance...

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Wapedia - Wiki: 357th Fighter Group

P-39Q Airacobra 42-19447 was a P-39Q-1BE. I found one website that called it an "N" but there's many references that show it as a Q.

Bell P-39 Airacobra

"42-19446/19595 Bell P-39Q-1-BE Airacobra
19479/19483 to P-39Q-2-BE.
19468 (15th FG) lost Dec 18, 1943. MACR 1462
19469 (318th FG) lost Jan 16, 1944. MACR 1903
19471 (15th FG) lost Mar 26, 1944. MACR 3036
19477 (15th FG) lost Mar 23, 1944. MACR 3144"

1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031)

 

[Colin1]

The manufacturer says it's a P-39Q, but the internet articles I've searched points it as a P-39N.

Most articles about P-39 say that the 357th FG pilots who saw combat used P-40 later in 1941

The prevalent Airacobra model in 1941 would have been the P-39D
The P-39F began to appear in significant numbers in 1942
The P-39N and Q were the two principal production run models (the Q being more numerous) and started arriving in 1943. I know the French received them in North Africa.

From what I can gather, the 357th FG was activated at Hamilton Field, California, formed on 16 December 1942 at Tonopah, Nevada where it commenced training on P-39s. They left for the UK and the 9th AF at the end of the same year, based at Raydon. They transferred to the 8th AF in January 1944.

I get a mention for Chickering as a CO for the 357th but no mention (and I'm not expecting to find one) of him flying any version of the P-39 in ops over the ETO.

 

[Aramis]

Thanks a lot, fellows! Very clarifying.

 

[Milosh]

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