Destination's Journey

Bell Airacobra I before delivery to UK USA 1941

Bell Airacobra I RAF Fighter

Bell Airacobra I RAF Fighter

The Bell Airacobra fighters delivered to the Royal Air Force were essentially the same as P-39D aircraft, with the 37 mm cannon replaced by a 20 mm and the addition of armour plating, bulletproof glass and self sealing fuel tanks. This additional weight caused a reduction in speed of 30 mph, making it inferior to most existing RAF and Luftwaffe fighters.

As a result of the poor performance most of the ordered was passed on to Russia or used by USAAF as the P-400. Only 601 Squadron operated the type in the RAF. This squadron only flew one operational mission, against coastal barges along the French coast on 9 October 1941.

Bell P-39 Airacobra Being Assembled

Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled
Bell P-39 Airacobra being assembled

Bell P-39 Airacobra Being Assessed or Operated by the RAF

Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I, AH577, of No. 601 Squadron RAF based at Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Bell Airacobra I, AH577, of No. 601 Squadron RAF based at Duxford, Cambridgeshire
RAF Bell Airacobras of 601 Sqn
RAF Bell Airacobras of 601 Sqn
RAF Bell Airacobras of 601 Sqn
RAF Bell Airacobras of 601 Sqn
RAF Bell Airacobras of 601 Sqn
RAF Bell Airacobras of 601 Sqn
RAF Bell Airacobra of 601 Sqn
RAF Bell Airacobra of 601 Sqn
Bell Airacobra Mark I, AH577, of No. 601 Squadron RAF, on the ground at Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Bell Airacobra Mark I, AH577, of No. 601 Squadron RAF, on the ground at Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Bell Airacobra Mark I, DS173, one of three ex-USAAC P-39Cs supplied under Lend-Lease for firing trials with the 37mm cannon mounted in these examples, seen here at Colerne, Wiltshire, after erection by No. 4 Aircraft Assembly Unit. Following the trials at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, DS173 served with No. 601 Squadron RAF
Bell Airacobra Mark I, DS173, one of three ex-USAAC P-39Cs supplied under Lend-Lease for firing trials with the 37mm cannon mounted in these examples, seen here at Colerne, Wiltshire, after erection by No. 4 Aircraft Assembly Unit. Following the trials at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, DS173 served with No. 601 Squadron RAF
Bell Airacobra Mk I AH576 of the No 601 Squadron RAF at Duxford 1941
Bell Airacobra Mk I AH576 of the No 601 Squadron RAF at Duxford 1941
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra Mk I of No 601 Squadron RAF Duxford 1941
Bell Airacobra Mk I of No 601 Squadron RAF Duxford 1941
Bell Airacobra I AH589 L of 601 Squadron
Bell Airacobra I AH589 L of 601 Squadron
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra Mk I AH573
Bell Airacobra Mk I AH573
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I before delivery to UK USA 1941
Bell Airacobra I before delivery to UK USA 1941
Bell Airacobra I before delivery to UK USA 1941
Bell Airacobra I before delivery to UK USA 1941
Bell Airacobra Mk.I BW117
Bell Airacobra Mk.I BW117
Bell Airacobra Mk.I
Bell Airacobra Mk.I
Bell Airacobra Mk.I
Bell Airacobra Mk.I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
Bell Airacobra I
601 Commander, Sqn Ldr Edward John Gracie, steps out of his AH601 ‘Skylark XIII’
601 Commander, Sqn Ldr Edward John Gracie, steps out of his AH601 ‘Skylark XIII’
Bell Airacobra AH574 landing on HMS Pretoria Castle 4 April 1945 with Eric Brown at the controls
Bell Airacobra AH574 landing on HMS Pretoria Castle 4 April 1945 with Eric Brown at the controls
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I
Bell P-39 Aeracobra Mk.I