I have a data plate that says:
Bell Aircraft
Model P-39C
Serial 40-2967
Engine V-1710-35
Date 10-20-40
Buffalo, N.Y. U.S.A.
Can someone give me more info on the P-39C or this strange plate?
Did the C model see combat, what happened to them? There are non in the registry. A photo would be nice...
The data plate looks untouched and also has the "radio call" plate for the cockpit panel, which I think is a nice detail. It was said to have come out of the Buffalo N.Y. plant after WWII.
This is what I found about the P-39C:
http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p39_3.html
Quote:
The first P-39C (Ser No 40-2971) flew in January of 1941. The P-39C was almost identical to the YP-39, with the exception of the engine, which was a 1150 hp Allison V-1710-35 (E4). The production of the P-39C began in 1940.
The Army discovered almost immediately that the P-39C was not combat ready, since it lacked armor and self-sealing tanks. In the event, only twenty Airacobras were actually completed to C-standards--serial numbers 40-2971/2990.
So strange that this plate has 40-2967... that serial was never ordered...?
[url=http://www.warbird-hangar.com/e107/plugins/coppermine_menu/albums/uploads/Things/40-2967.jpg]The data plate
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[url=http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/wwii/books/cockpit/Bell%20P-39Q%20Airacobra.jpg]P-39Q cockpit, "radio call" visible top right
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Thanks.