P-39 Airacobra

[Wayne Lusardi]

I am an aviation archaeologist in Michigan and am in the process of recovering a Bell P-39Q Airacobra from Lake Huron. The aircraft is badly broken and widely dispersed, making identification of fragmented parts difficult. I would like to share some images to see if you can assist with their identification and where on the aircraft the object was originally located. Thank you!

 

[SaparotRob]

Hi Wayne. Welcome to the Forum. There should be flurry of responses from the Knowledgeable soon. We are all big fans of the P-39 here!

 

[special ed]

If this was not a serious inquiry, I would have said "didn't that hold the nose armor in place," but my joking response iz of course, not accurate.

 

[pb43]

Bottom one is obviously a busbar fuse

 

[MiTasol]

# 1 is a control rod but I cannot remember where from. I will try and remember but it was 1991 when I last worked on one. Engine bay probably.
# 2 is part of the windscreen frame
# 3 is one of the windscreen retaining strips