The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat.

Mar 17, 2025 · The P-39 thrived against German aircraft in combat, and many top Soviet aces actually praised the P-39 for its firepower and ruggedness, with more than 4,773 Airacobras being sent to the USSR. The P-39's design influenced many later aircraft designs, especially that of the Bell P-63 Kingcobra, which retained the rear-engine layout, but it ...

Sep 2, 2012 · The Bell P-39 Airacobra may have been the least-loved American fighter of World War II. Most Americans piloted the P-39 only during training and were almost universally unimpressed. A handful flew the P-39 in combat in North Africa, the Aleutians and the South Pacific. Retired Air Force Col. Evans G. Stephens was one of them.

Jun 15, 2021 · Bell Aircraft, an aerospace manufacturer based in New York, presented its own design. Called the “XP-39,” the prototype reached 390 MPH in just five minutes, but it was unable to reach its top stated altitude.

The Russians produced 28 aces with at least 15 victories flying P-39 Airacobras. Aleksandr Pokryshkin scored approximately 48 victories and Grigori Rechkalov scored 44 victories in P-39s. Pokryshkin was able to make a big improvement in the P-39’s firing control system.

Designed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation, the unusual, mid-engined P-39 Airacobra holds the record for the highest number of enemy aircraft victories attributed to any US-built fighter in history. The lack of an efficient turbo-supercharger for its engine meant that the airplane did not perform well at high altitude.

Dec 31, 2014 · Training film demonstrating techniques for piloting the P-39 Airacobra pursuit plane, including aerobatics and strafing.

A number of Westerners have mistakenly said the Soviets used the P-39, with its powerful 37mm cannon, as a flying tank buster. While some German tanks may have been struck on occasion by the cannon, the craft was used to its best advantage to clear the skies, silence artillery and antiaircraft batteries, and disrupt German supply lines and land ...

The P-39, often referred to as the “Iron Dog,” was a much maligned USAAF WWII fighter, so much so that it is not included in the U.S. Air Force Academy’s “Fighter Memorial”.

There is a remarkable agreement among surviving pilots of the 357 th Fighter Group who trained in the P-39. All say they loved flying the aircraft, and several suggested this might be because it was the first fighter they had flown. It was a fun airplane, once mastered, for a group of very young men who were thrilled by its power, noise and speed.