The plane that lost out to the F4U

[Colin1]

read all Markus post, the P-39 was used as escort for ground attack planes not for ground attack and for air defence

Is there any statistical evidence that P-39s were used exclusively for ground attack escort and not ground attack? Other than, for example, the 9th Guards Fighter Division and the 16th Guards Fighter Air Regiment using it as such with a large measure of success against panzer columns.

 

[Vincenzo]

Is there any statistical evidence that P-39s were used exclusively for ground attack escort and not ground attack? Other than, for example, the 9th Guards Fighter Division and the 16th Guards Fighter Air Regiment used it as such with a large measure of success against panzer columns.

can ask more info on this use?

 

[Markus]

Is there any statistical evidence that P-39s were used exclusively for ground attack escort and not ground attack? Other than, for example, the 9th Guards Fighter Division and the 16th Guards Fighter Air Regiment used it as such with a large measure of success against panzer columns.

This is not a recommendation, just a reference. Acc. to the author the P-39 was used as a fighter, not for CAS.

Amazon.com: Attack of the Airacobras: Soviet Aces, American P-39s, and the Air War Against Germany (Modern War Studies) (9780700616541): Dmitriy Loza, James F. Gebhardt, Von Hardesty: Books

 

[Vincenzo]

i can add that already in the forum was talking of actual mission of P-39 in soviet union

 

[Colin1]

The first VVS combat regiment to operate the Airacobra was the 153rd IAP that had been in action at Leningrad and was reformed by the 22nd ZAP, beginning on 25Mar42. The regiment completed type training by 10Jun42 and departed for the Voronezh front. Contrary to popular belief, the Airacobra was not used solely for ground attack, either then or later, by its new Soviet operators.



Nobody doubts that the P-39 was used as a fighter or ground attack escort, but there seems to be plenty of literature around corroborating a ground attack role though it seems strange to me that such a role was ever doubted in the first place.

 

[vikingBerserker]

I guess the name "Aira-WTF" had already been taken.

 

[comiso90]

comiso, didn't that plane used to be your siggy?

Damn Thor, you be one observant SOB! Yep, thats why I stuck up for it... looks like it should be shooting at King Kong.

 

[r2800doublewasp]

Speaking of names, the USN considred to call the F2A Twister. "Brewster Twister", makes my toenails roll up inwards.

Speaking of weird names wasn't the Martin B-26 almost called the Martian instead of the Marauder? "Martin Martian" sounds pretty bad to me.