The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of the principal American fighter aircraft in service when the United States entered World War II. The P-39 was used with great success by the Soviet Air Force, which scored the highest number of kills per pilot attributed to any U.S. fighter type. Other major users of the type include the Free French, the Royal Air Force, the United States Army Air Forces, and the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. Designed by Bell Aircraft, it had an innovative layout, with the engine installed in the center fuselage, behind the pilot, and driving a tractor propeller via a long shaft. It was also the first fighter fitted with a tricycle undercarriage. Although its mid-engine placement was innovative, the P-39 design was handicapped by the absence of an efficient turbo-supercharger, limiting it to low-altitude work. Together with the derivative P-63 Kingcobra, the P-39 was one of the most successful fixed-wing aircraft manufactured by Bell.
1. P-400 of 67th FS/347th FG, Guadlacanal autumn 1942
2. P-400 of 35th FG, New Guinea, 1942
3. P-400, 19GIAP, USSR 1943, pilot Captain Pavel Kutakhov
4. P-400, Laverton, Australia, RAAF, 1943
5. P-400 of 80th/8th FG, Milne Bay, New Guinea, January 1943
6. P-400 of 36th FS/8th FG, June 1943, Port Moresby, New Guinea
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