P-39 Airacobra: In Defense of America's Worst Fighter?

Although successfully used in the Soviet Union and in the Mediterranean, the P-39's Airacobra reputation in the Southeast Pacific was poor. To explain this, we need to look at the context of its use in the area.

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T.O. No. 01-110FE-1, Pilot‘s Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model P-39D-1 and -2, Rev. June 1943,

T.O. No. 01-125CF-1, Pilot‘s Flight Operating Instructions for P-40D and P-40E Airplanes, Rev. October 1943,

- Timecodes -
00:00 - Trying to get your attention
00:13 - Intro
01:08 - Restored P-39
01:42 - P-39 Design
05:26 - P-39: Range and Climb
09:04 - Comparison
10:21 - Context of theatre & pilots
15:19 - Combat losses & Reputation
17:37 - Ground support
18:20 - Reading recommendation
19:35 - P-39 in Soviet Union (briefly)
21:02 - Outro

[mikepette]

the P-400....a P-40 with a Zero on its tail lol... this always gave me a laugh

[leonardoglesby]

My father flew 2 tours with the 5th AF, 49th Fighter Group, 9th Fighter squadron, 1943-45, in the SW Pacific in New Guinea, the Philippines, Okinawa, and finally Japan. He flew P-47D, and P-38E & P39L. His sentiment with the P-39 as told to me, was it tended to ground loop unpredictably, and was scorned by P-47 & P38 pilots.
Dad is a healthy 98 years old, and I will see what he has to say when I have my daily chat with him.

[Philistine]

Several years ago I read an interview with a former Soviet P-39 pilot, who said that a major factor in the better performance of the Airacobra in Soviet hands was that they threw out the manual for the Allison engine. Apparently the manual focused on maximizing the time between overhauls; but the Soviets treated aircraft as basically disposable, which freed their pilots to run the engines well outside of the manufacturer's parameters. After all, what did it matter if the engine could go 200 hours between overhauls if the plane it was installed in was only going to survive 20-30 hours before being shot down?

[RD-bhbd]

Back in the 80's I had the pleasure to have coffee with Gen. Charles Yeager, who had flown pretty much every aircraft fielded by these United States. When I asked him his favorite, he surprised me by naming the P-39. He said it was a sweetheart to fly with no bad characteristics at all. And he still remembered the start-up procedure and Vspeeds for it. I was amazed.

[earlyriser]

to get into the airplane and take off when you knew you were outmatched ...with bad tactics for your plane....and you still did it...these were brave men...never forget

[legoeasycompany]

Really enjoyed the topic and getting an excuse to have Justin back on, I do agree with him that the P-400's nickname was probably one of my favorites too.

[zeketeccnc]

My grandfather was an engineer at Bell Aircraft that worked on the Aerocobra design. He was very proud of it. He said it was designed to be a great low altitude aircraft. he then stated that the army ruined it by loading it up with a bunch of unneeded equipment. He said the design was vindicated because it won all the air races after the war. He would go on to work on the X1 project.

[marcnedboy]

The picture at 16:22 is Capt.Rasmussen who got up during the attack at PEARL HARBOR and shot down a Japanese Zero.Was all shot up and made a dead stick landing.Retired as a LT.Col.

[richardbennett]

A Soviet Air Attache post WW2 said the P39 was good but not for old men to his RAF counterpart. When asked why the Soviet said "Balls get trapped in propshaft"

[craigwall]

I like the fact that you corrected your misquotes in the graphics text. That was honest and I appreciate it.

[sdoitla]

My dad served in a unit with some of these aircraft. According to him, the main complaints in his unit were limited fuel, lackluster performance, and the the issue of nose wheel failure. This last problem resulted in the prop impacting the ground, which caused drive line failure. Some pilots were dismembered in the cockpit by separated drive line parts. (He was often one of the first personnel on the scene of a crashed plain at the airfields where he was stationed.)

[Sevastous]

Can we have a video about motor-cannons? Their history, developments, problems encountered, and was it worth it in the end? Great videos!

[billrock]

The Russian pilots on the Eastern front held it in very high regard and some of their aces ran up very high scores with it.The difference being that most of the air battles there happening at a far lower altitude than in the west under which conditions it was a very capable fighter.

[Analyst]

What's funny is a P-39Q flown by Tex Johnston won the 1946 Thompson Trophy Race beating a Lightning, 2 Mustangs, King Cobra and Corsair over a 300 mile closed course. It averaged 373mph. Cleveland’s Hopkins Airport is near sea level.

[paulmarchlewski]

In his autobiography a German test pilot called Lerche, he test flew the Do 335, said he used a captured P39 as his hack transport because it had such delightful handling and control harmony. It seems test pilot quality fliers like him, Yeager and Eric Brown loved it and had no problems with it at all.

[aussietaipan]

Thanks for presenting this. My father in WW2 managed to escape from Singapore in 1941 and managed to get to New Guinea in 1942. He was seconded into the US marines as an aircraft and instruments tech. He has memories of working on the P39 and P40's and spoke how the planes came back to base with peppered holes but the sc fuel tanks and pilot were safe and ready to go again after the plane repairs.

[dave]

This was fun.
I loved the Revell P-39. Served me quite well in all my missions as a kid.
Until my brother ' flew ' it across a frozen lake with bottle rockets strapped under it's wings.
RIP

[rudydedogg]

For a firsthand experience by one who flew the P-39 while in New Guinea, get a copy of "Nanette" by Edwards Park. Excellent read! He wrote a second book entitled "Angels Twenty" which covers his squadron's transition to the P-47 while still in New Guinea. Both books present a very honest view of the aircraft, the living conditions and the early Pacific airwar tempered with a fighter pilot's sense of humor. Enjoy!

[Mattie]

Always had a soft spot for this beauty, such ashame there has never been a full documentary on her (to what i know of). Wouldnt mind seeing a video of "unloved" aircraft of ww2 on all sides and even not well known, like the Rogožarski IK-3, Avia aircraft company would be interesting. Keep up the great videos 👍

[hankw]

The P-39 and follow-up P-63 were such unique beauties. Like a lovely woman with unconventional, yet attractive features. I've always been drawn to these types, the ladies and the machines.