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The first large order for 369 P-39Ds was placed in September 1940, and the
initial deliveries of these began several months later. A total of 675 aircraft
ordered by a British purchasing commission were exported to Great Britain
arriving in April of 1941. These differed only in armament as the 37-mm cannon
was replaces with a 20-mm, and the six-.30-cal. Machine guns were replaced by
0.303-in caliber. In September that year No. 601 squadron exchanged its Hawker
Hurricanes for these new aircraft. Immediately they were introduced into
service, the full implication of the decision to delete the turbo charger was
appreciated for the first time, for the aircraft had an inadequate rate of climb
and its high altitude performance was completely unacceptable for deployment in
the European theatre.
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Fact File:
Bell P39 Airacobra
American fighter / bomber
The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of a group of fighters that pioneered the
tricycle undercarriage. Another distinctive feature was the position of its
engine, which was carried in an unorthodox siting beneath and behind the pilot's
seat. The propeller was driven through an extension shaft that was linked to a
gearbox in the fighter's nose. Although an American product, Airacobras were
first used operationally by the RAF, in October 1941. The prototype had appeared
in 1939, but to begin with there were no American orders. The French were
interested, however, and after the fall of France their contract was taken over
by the British.
The RAF wanted to use the P-39 in a ground-attack role, but after a short
proving period the planes were withdrawn from service. Then, as the United
States entered the war, the remainder of the Bell factory's initial output was
taken up by the USAAF for training duties.
Once it had established itself, the P-39 served throughout the war in various
modified states, the model numbers reaching as far as 'Q' by 1944; by July of that year the total production figure had reached 9,558. Of these, some
5,000 were supplied to Russia under the Lend-Lease agreement. Following the
Torch landings of late-1942, the P-39 made its mark as a ground-attack or
recce machine specializing in 'rhubarb' missions that involved strafing or
reconnoitring enemy positions at low altitude. When the fighting began in Sicily
and Italy, the P-39s' limited range proved something of a problem. Although the
official range figure for the Q model is set at 675 miles, in practice it was
pegged much lower at 150 miles there and 150 back plus 10 minutes' combat time;
these figures also allowed for use of an auxiliary tank. In their favor,
however, it could be said that the P-39s were stoutly resistant to AA fire, and
the USAAF continued to use them profitably on convoy escort and patrol duties.
P-39 details (Q model)
Length: 30 ft 2 ins. Span: 34 ft 0 ins. Combat weight: 8,300 lb. Crew: 1. Top
speed: 385 mph. Ceiling: 35,000 ft. Range: 675 miles. Armament: 1 x 37-mm cannon
and 4 MGs: 1 x 500 lb bomb optional.
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