BELL P–39Q AIRACOBRA GALLOPING GERTIE

SI 2009–12378

 

 

With over 7,500 examples built, the P–39 was one of the principle American fighters constructed during World War II, yet its legacy is one of an innovative but troubled aircraft that operated in the shadow of higher performance counterparts, such as the P–51. Bell’s 1937 design incorporated a liquid-cooled in-line engine mounted behind the cockpit, tricycle landing gear, and automobile-style doors in place of a sliding canopy. Unfortunately, nearly all of these features put it at a disadvantage. The Allison V–1710 engine lacked a turbo-supercharger, severely hobbling its ability to fight at altitude and its aft center of gravity caused by the engine placement made it unpredictable in stalls and spins. Pilots also disliked bailing out of the awkward side doors. The weight of the heavy tricycle gear and long driveshaft limited fuel capacity. On the other hand, the P–39 was very maneuverable and relatively fast. It also packed a heavy punch in armament, typically mounting a 37 mm cannon fired through the propeller hub, twin .50 caliber machine guns in the nose, and two additional .50 caliber machine guns in underwing pods.

In American service, P–39s flew operations in secondary combat areas, such as the Mediterranean, New Guinea, and the Aleutians, where they enjoyed moderate success against enemy aircraft. Britain’s Royal Air Force found them unsuited to combat, though the Soviet Union made great use of them and the majority of Airacobra production went to the Soviets under the Lend-Lease Act. Contrary to mythology, the Soviets preferred the Airacobra for its dogfighting qualities rather than its capability in the ground attack role, and a number of their pilots became aces in the type.

This example served in the latter part of the war training replacement pilots. Postwar, it had a brief career as an air racer. Pilot Elizabeth Haas had it painted red and white, named it Galloping Gertie, and, in 1948, tried to enter it in the National Air Races, but failed to qualify.

The most obvious indication of the aircraft’s air-racing heritage is the removal of the .50 caliber machine guns, whose breeches dominated the upper left and right sides of the instrument panel. Otherwise, Haas and a previous civil owner kept nearly the entire original military configuration intact. Haas appears to have scrawled a number of power settings and configuration notes around the panel.

IF NOT A SUPERB DOGFIGHTER, THE P-39 AT LEAST PACKED A HEAVY PUNCH IN ARMAMENT.
SI 2009–9042 (RUDY ARNOLD PHOTO COLLECTION)