601 Squadron P-39 Door relic??

Redhillswings:

Good day! Would you mind posting a pic of the other side?? There should be an id plate fm Bell with its Bell C/n.

I guess it was standard to eject both doors before a belly landing?
As seen here when 2LT David Straub of the 68th Ftr Sq, 347th FG steps out of P-39K serial 42-4388 after a recalcitrant nose landing gear failed to extend, forcing his belly landing at Nandi Airfield, Fiji on 23 November 1943.

Wouldn’t want to go out left door as throttle sticks out into the opening a fair way.

that footnote in pilot’s notes sounds simple unless of course you’re attempting to do it from a dead, possibly burning and most certainly about to crash, aircraft.

P-39 pilot notes -The release handle was on the front panel, bottom right.
Trim airplane nose heavy and turn ignition and battery switches off. Pull emergency release handle and push out on door. (Right-hand door recommended as it provides no obstruction.)

NOTE

Door will release when handle is approximately 90 degrees to side of airplane. Slightly bank airplane to the right and slide off wing.

Easiest way of getting in touch with Dave Stansfield is http://www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk/genct.htm and select Chairman from the Recipient menu.

Hi Nick, nice relic! ideal for firing round corners! Re that upper section of door. is D. Stansfield contactable? would be nice to get some final evidence of colours, the other thing to bare in mind is that the grey could easily weather off over long periods of exposure in the tundra having been most likely applied in the field. A lot of our Russian recoveries show evidence of this where the over painted roundel or US star has faded revealing the original markings.

Surprised to find it as the pilot attempted to bale out…

Don’t forget that the ‘cobras have a pair of doors with the same mechanism for each. If he tried to bale out he would probably have jettisoned one of the doors, but not both.

Yes still here lurking! 😀 Very nice door! – somewhere I have part of the door frame from BX195, with the locking latches and a release lever – looks like when operated the door just fell off ? Surprised to find it as the pilot attempted to bale out, but sadly too low for chute to deploy after he stayed with the aircraft just long enough to clear a village below. Afraid I have not much in the way of painted panels as most went to D. Stansfield, but seem to recall it was green and brown, with RAF markings still visible. Main lump I have is the Oldsmobile M2 20mm cannon bent like a horseshoe and still passing through the prop hub.

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He should be. Checking the website it a US Airacobra with a British serial: http://laituk.org/P-39%20BX195%20article.htm

Hi Ian,

Hopefully he will be along later, take it he is still on here?

Nick Wotherspoon’s your man for RAF Airacobra colours having helped recover lots of one. I’ve only seen small bits of green US ones.

Forgot the link!

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/17868-airacobras-601-sqdn-we-need-help-with-this/

Interesting discussion here on the RAF P-39’s, haven’t read the entire thread but reading between the lines it indicates they were all painted earth and green and then the earth being over sprayed with grey. Not sure if this is a fact but might explain things a little.

Actually you would be surprised, we have found that the P-63 cockpit shell is pretty much the same as a P-39, in fact there are a lot of P-39 part numbers on our P-63 cockpit, we have even found pre jig drilled holes that only the P-39 had. Stepping aside from the cockpit area the rest of the airframe is quite different, most of the cockpit fittings are also the same, rudder pedals, u/c hand crank, throttle etc. A lot of the drawings also give reference to the P-39 and P-63, the front screen is different of course.

I believe that the doors were about the only airframe parts common to both the P-39 and P-63.

I have seen photos of both green and grey and green and brown P-39 in RAF markings, would have thought the batch for the RAF would have all been the same? but then again I am not sure how many were ordered / completed etc before being cancelled. Will have a look through my lend lease book tonight. has anyone got any colour photos of the 601 Squadron a/c?

I suspect not an ex-601 aircraft, because they were re-painted in Grey and Green, but certainly one of the P-39s ordered for the RAF but then supplied to the Russians

Nice door! There is a photo in the Mushroom publication on Airacobras which shows Russians (one in a furry hat so they must be) arming a camouflaged ex RAF P39D-1 so it’s a definite possibility.