gemmer wrote:
JohnTerrell wrote:
There are three deffinitive clues - the number of exhaust stubs (12 per side rather than 6), evidence of the RAF type camo pattern, and the Hispano 20-mm cannon rather than the 37-mm cannon, pointing to it as being a P-400.
(P-39D-1's also had a 20-mm cannon, but had 6 exhaust stubs per side and had standard OD/grey paint schemes. The P-39F had the 12 exhaust stubs per side, but had the 37-mm cannon.)
100% correct.
Mind you, I'm not questioning that the example in the photo is indeed a P-400. John T's description (and Gemmer's confirmation) of P-400's and D-1's--as they exited the Bell factory--is dead on.
However...
In theater, especially early on, the cannibalization of engines and other parts from damaged airframes was frequent.
Although I don't have photographic proof at my fingertips, I seem to recall hearing/reading/seeing that 6-stub and 12-stub Allisons wound up getting installed in whatever Airacobra airframe was immediately available.
Again, I don't believe a large number of D-1's made it to the SWP; however, in theater, I don't know whether one can claim with 100% accuracy that a 20mm cannon and 12 stacks makes it a P-400, or 6 stacks excludes it from being one.
Gemmer, John T, et al: What think ye?