Markings for P-39K/L Airacobra 1/48

P-39L, 42-4558, 93rd FS, 81st FG, Sidi Ahmed, Tunisia, summer 1943

The 81st Pursuit Group was formed on January 13, 1942, and activated less than a month later. Its pilots began training on the P-39s and in May the unit changed designation to the 81st Fighter Group. After further training in England, the pilots began combat operations in Africa in early 1943. Their mission was primarily to support ground and naval forces in Tunis. As an air patrol they then covered the Allied landings in Sicily in June and July 1943. The Airacobra named Petite Bandit with a drawing of a parrot-gunslinger on the starboard side of the nose was given the standard desert livery in DuPont colors, corresponding to the British shades of Middle Stone, Dark Earth and Azure Blue, but the color fields were swapped on the upper surfaces, contrary to common practice. The paintwork has been modified by repainting the section of the nose in front of the cockpit. This was done probably with a shade of Middle Stone, but the fresh paint appears as a darker shade in the photos. The repaint was probably over the markings of the previous user of the aircraft. There was also a change of covers on the nose. These were taken from another machine of some of the previous versions of P-39, so the aircraft did not have the vents typical of aircraft starting with the P-39K version up. These covers also did not match the camouflage of the aircraft. The original yellow stripes on the wing and fuselage were repainted in Olive Drab, the national insignia on the lower wing was left in its older form without the wings with a red border.

P-39K, 42-4275, 70th FS, 347th FG, Guadalcanal, spring 1943

The Airacobra named Short Stroke fought on Guadalcanal in the ranks of the 12th FS/18th FG from late 1942 and retained the squadron markings after transferring to the 70th FS. It cannot be documented whether the aircraft was assigned to a specific pilot at that time. However, one of the photographs shows Lt. Darrell R. Cosart posing with the aircraft. A small heart is also documented on another 70th FS Airacobra, apparently a Flight symbol. Although all versions of the Airacobras at Guadalcanal were used primarily for ground attacks, the victory symbols marked on the starboard side of the Short Stroke prove that they could succeed in aerial combat as well. Interestingly, the appearance of the kills was changed during service. Also documented is the replacement of the rudder from an Airacobra of D mark. The color scheme thus shows the latest known appearance of the aircraft with the serial number on the rudder already blacked out. In the summer of 1943, Short Stroke was transferred to the 67th FS, with which it provided air defense for the base built on Wodlark Island from July 23, suffering unspecified damage

P-39L, 42-4472, 346th FS, 350th FG, Tunisia, spring 1943

The 350th FG was activated in England with American pilots fighting as volunteers filling the ranks of the RAF. The unit was equipped with export versions of the P-39, originally ordered by France. These aircraft remained in the UK after the fall of France, where they subsequently served as a quick-fix armament solution for the new American units needed to support the upcoming invasion of North Africa. The group operated as part of the 12th AF from January 1943 until the end of the war, its pilots flying patrol and interdiction missions, protecting convoys, conducting aerial reconnaissance, and providing air support to ground forces. The aircraft shown here underwent repairs during its service, which added Olive Drab fields to the standard desert livery. These were either parts from another aircraft in Olive Drab or original parts repainted with this shade. Between numbers 4 and 5 on the nose, there was a small drawing not very clearly visible in the photo. The decal offers a reconstruction of its probable appearance.   

P-39K, 42-4358, Lt. William McDonough, 40th FS, 35th FG, Port Moresby, New Guinea, February 1943

In February 1942, William F. McDonough used, in combat over NewGuinea, an Airacobra decorated on the bow with a painting of Donald Duck. The “Angry Duck” was a popular motif for other 40th FS pilots, who liked to have their pictures taken in front of it. This Airacobra served with the unit from late 1942 until at least the end of the summer of 1943, but sometime during the spring the painting of the Donald Duck was removed from the nose. His combat account was opened by Lt. McDonough in an air battle over Wau on February 6, 1943, by shooting down two Ki-43 Oscar fighters and another probably. The pilot had the confirmed kills marked on the starboard side below the cockpit in small silhouettes. However, these were eventually replaced by Japanese flags. For the successful action, the pilot was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and promoted to the rank of Captain. In the spring of 1944, McDonough became the 35th FG’s first Ace outside the 39th FS when he shot down one of a quartet of Tony fighters that made a surprise raid over the Gusap base on March 3, 1944. By this time, he was already a member of the 35th FG staff at the rank of Major. William McDonough was killed on April 22, 1944, just before the end of a combat tour when he had to bail out of a malfunctioning P-47 Thunderbolt and his parachute failed to open.