Bell P-39 Airacobra in RAAF Service
The rapid advance of Japanese forces at the start of the Pacific war led the Australian Government to request fighter aircraft from the US. In response, the US supplied 14 Bell P-39 Airacobras in Mid 1942, a further five in early 1943 and three more mid-year. With the arrival of more advanced types, the Airacobras were returned to the US Army by the end of 1943.
Royal Australian Air Force P-39s were used as an interim fighter, to equip new or re-equip existing squadrons. They were operated by Numbers 23, 24, 82 and 83 Squadrons and replaced by the Vultee Vengeance (23 and 24 Sqn), Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk (82 Sqn) and CAC Boomerang (83 Sqn).
The Service Record Cards for all the RAAF’s Airacobras are provided below the photographs.
Bell P-400 Airacobra RAAF with RAF Serial BW-114 
Bell P-39F Airacobra A53-1 of 23 Sqn RAAF 
A53-1 Bell P-39F-1-BE (ex USAAF 41-7119) flown by Flight Lieutenant Davidson from No. 24 Squadron 
Bell P-39D A53-9 23 Sqn RAAF 1943 
Bell P-39D Airacobra A53-13 T-Y of 23 Sqn RAAF 
Bell P-39D Airacobra A53-20 RAAF This aircraft was never issued to a squadron 
Bell P-39D (A53-20 ex 41-6858) photographed at Amberley Qld during the summer of 1943 
Bell P-39F Airacobra 23 Sqn RAAF 
Bell P-39 Airacobra RAAF 
Bell P-39D Airacobra A53-9 T-Z of 23 Sqn RAAF 
Bell P-39D Airacobra T-X of 23 Sqn RAAF 
A crashed P-39D Airacobra A53-6 of 82 Sqn RAAF 
A crashed P-39D Airacobra A53-6 FA-F of 82 Sqn RAAF 
A crashed P-39D Airacobra A53-6 FA-F of 82 Sqn RAAF 
A crashed P-39D Airacobra A53-6 FA-F of 82 Sqn RAAF
Service Record Cards For All P-39s Operated by the RAAF
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-1 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-2 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-3 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-4 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-5 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-6 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-7 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-8 #1 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-8 #2 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-9 #1 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-9 #2 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-10 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-11 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-12 #1 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-12 #2 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-13 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-14 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-15 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-16 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-17 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-18 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-19 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-20 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-21 
Record Card for Bell P-39 Airacobra A53-22