CAF Bell P-39Q-5-BE Airacobra 42-19597 then and now ...

[Mark Allen M]

Below Bell P-39Q-5-BE Airacobra 42-19597 converted to TP-39Q two-seat trainer. Abandoned after emergency landing July 20, 1945 at Hobbs, New Mexico while on way to RFC. To Capitan High School, Lincoln, New Mexico. Acquired by Joe Brown of Hobbs, New Mexico and donated to Confederate AF in 1962. Recovered derelict hulk c 1967 and sold to John Stokes and donated to CAF for static exhibition. Registered as N6968 and restored to airworthy in single-seat configuration 1968-1974. Flown again Jun 9, 2001. Confederate AF renamed Commemorative AF 2002. Flown regularly in USSR markings at airshows. (http://www.warbirdregistry.org). Landing accident Apr 18, 2005, Fredericksburg, Texas. Landing accident Jul 3, 2010 at Tyler, Texas. First post-restoration flight Mar 15, 2015.
J. Baugher
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p39-p63r ... 19597.html
http://www.centraltexaswing.org/aircraft/p-39/

then ...


Bell P-39Q-5-BE Airacobra 42-19597

now ...


Assigned to Central Texas Wing.

[fiftycal]

beautiful plane, pity they fly it with an instrument panel made from mdf and other dodgy switches, i did offer them nos original panels and switches but they did not even bother replying to me

[Chris Brame]

Picked up this accident report from AAIR:

440720 P-39Q 42-19597 Bell Aircraft Corp, Niagara Falls, NY CBLMF 3 Pierce, James R USA NY Niagara Falls Airport, Niagara Falls, NY

July 20, 1944 - crash, belly landing, mechanical failure; apparently on the acceptance flight? Mark, do you have a date on the first photo?
I checked classmates.com and unfortunately they have no yearbooks for Capitan High School (which is in Capitan, NM - Lincoln is the county it's in, if you want to correct the listing).