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BELL AIRACOBRA P-39Q-15

Aircraft Type:
Bell Airacobra P-39Q-15
Serial No: 44-2911
Unit Code: 23 (Russian)
Built: Buffalo, New York, USA, November 1943

Last Mission: Reported missing during a ferry flight from Novinka near Murmansk, Northern Russia to Northern Norway. This sale includes the original journey logbook, found in the aircraft. Purchased and recovered by Jim Pearce, Northern Russia, July 2004.

Status: SALE AGREED - under contract with deposit paid. Going to Niagara Aerospace Museum in Buffalo. Their facility is the very same building that the aircraft was first built in 1943! Watch this space for exciting details and news on when and how this aircraft will be 'going back home' to become the center-piece at their museum on public display.


Airframe: P39 serial
no. 44-2911.
Significantly complete.

Engine: This sale includes the original Allison V-1710-85 engine recovered with the aircraft.
 

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History: This aircraft was on a lend-lease agreement to the Russians and departed the Bell factory in Buffalo, New York in November 1943. It was flown by a number of ferry pilots to Novinka near Murmansk in Northern Russia arriving February 1944. Russian Pilot Baranovsky flew this aircraft throughout 1944 until he and the aircraft were reported missing after dropping out of formation during a ferry flight from Murmashi to Luostari.

The aircraft had made a near perfect wheels up landing on the ice of the frozen lake, whereupon sometime following, the aircraft sank through the ice and came to rest on the lakebed.

A fisherman on Lake Mart-Yavr, 18 miles southeast of Luostari, discovered this aircraft in July 2004. He had spotted the outline of the aircraft under water.