P-39 Airacobra and P-63 Kingcobra
Museum Displays -- Privately Owned -- Restoration Projects

Bell P-39 Airacobra Restoration Project

Fighter Factory Bell P-39 Airacobras Recovered from Western Russia

"We have been looking for assistance tracing the history of several P-39 Airacobras that were recovered in the Murmansk region a few years ago. We have been using several of these wrecks to restore one back into flying condition, but we would like to know the history behind some of these airplanes and maybe assign the most interesting serial number to our finished airplane. Is it possible you could assist us, or offer a few people or location that we can continue our search. The serial numbers that we have recovered are:

42-20618, 42-20206, 42-20171, *44-2204, *44-2640, 42-21060, *42-20575, & *44-32191.
Any help or leads you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Chris Vtipil Tidewater Tech Project Manager."
(757)490-3151 x.505. www.tidetech.com and www.tidetech.com/fighterfactory

Since this was first posted there have been some results. See the red * stared Airacobras below.

Bell P-63 Kingcobra Restoration Project

Aircraft flying to Ladd Field, Alaska from Gore Field, Montana during the winter months had to be "Winterized" (Aircraft Checker's Report 1, 2, 3) before departing for the North. I found these aircraft in my personal collection of information (Everett A. Long).
*P-39 SN 44-2204 was released from winterizing services at Gore Field for flight to Alaska on November 3, 1943
*P-39 SN 44-2640 was released from winterizing services at Gore Field for flight to Alaska on December 11, 1943.
*P-39Q SN 44-32191 was released from winterizing services at Gore Field for flight to Alaska on March 22, 1944.

*P-39 SN 42-20575 flown by Sublieutenant I. I. Stepanov of the 7 VA (Air Army) Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment and was shot down by the Luftwaffe over the Petsamo region October 9, 1944. Stepanov was killed. This information comes from a Finnish book "Pohjoinen Ilmasota" by Hannu Valtonen. * This Airacobra was recovered from Russia by the Fighter Factory-Avition Institute of Maintenance and is now in storage in Virginia.

P-39Q-15 SN 44-2032 crash site. Airacobra was shot down on 27th of June 1944. It belonged to 255 IAP of the Northern Fleet. It was on a escort mission for A-20s to Kirkenes. Pilot Senior Lieutenant Voronin was killed. Thanks to Rune Rautio for the history. Photos from a P-39 crash site in Northern Norway August 1-2, 2005. Copyright© Harri Honkanen, Finland.

P-39Q-5 SN 42-20442 crash site. This Bell P-39Q-5 was shot down on 26th of May 1944 (probably) by Uffz. Herbert Schaefer of Luftwaffe's 11th Staffel/JG 5. The pilot of the Airacobra was Sub. Lt. Sergey Sergeyevich Tropa from 2nd Squadron of the 255th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Northern Fleet Air Force. Tropa was killed. Photos from a P-39Q-5 crash site in northern Norway taken in 1996. Copyright©Harri Honkanen.

Note: This information is updated as details are obtained. If anyone has additional information, or corrections, please send an email -- Use "Restoration" for the "Subject."

New air museum in Kiev, Ukraine www.avia-museum.org.ua, text presently in Ukrainian, however will be updated with English and Russian translation pages. Contact Valery Romanenko specialist in Lend-Lease Aircraft of World War Two.

Web site devoted to Lend-Lease Aircraft http://lend-lease.airforce.ru, by Prof. Ilya Grinberg.

Museum Displays

Tikkakoski Finnish Air Force Museum -- Richard Hoopes photos

Complete photo tour of this Airacobra restoration courtesy of Harri Honkanen

Privately Owned

1 & 2 Long photos) P-63 owned by John Bagley, Rexburg, ID. Everett Long & Steve Allison in photos.

Airacobra Interesting Photos

The 37mm canon was made by Oldsmobile and fired through the propeller hub.