Raced by Charles Bing in 1946. Sold to Betty Hass who raced it as Galloping Gertie. Now part of the Smithsonian Collection. Photo by: Herbert J Nash / Smithsonian Institution

P-39 42-19597 was converted to a TP-39Q two-seat trainer during World War II. The aircraft was abandoned after emergency landing July 20, 1945 at Hobbs, New Mexico . Eventually used by Capitan High School, Lincoln, New Mexico, it was acquired by Joe Brown of Hobbs, New Mexico and donated to Confederate Air Force in the 60s. Registered N6968, it was restored to airworthy in single-seat configuration 1968-1974. Flown regularly in USSR markings at airshows, the fighter is still with the renamed Commemorative Air Force at the time of uploading.

In the autumn of 1945, this P-39 was found complete (and presumably still crated) on a stray railway wagon near Radom. It was still it its USAAF markings so, presumably, a lend lease airframe that had been transported to the front, but as the war had progressed the plane had become surplus to requirements. The Airacobra was puchased by the Wawelberg & Rotwand Technical School in Warsaw and used for instructional teaching. It then passed to the Mechanical Faculty of the Warsaw University of Technology, however, in all the intervening years the fuselage, the serial and other parts have become lost.

ex USAAF 42-19597

The caption says this photo was taken at Touconnerie but I cannot find that place? I have assumed the model and the photo date (it was taken in WW2) by my father Algernon Spurr. Also the serial may have one digit obscured, any info appreciated.

ex USAAF 42-19597

Showing the "car door" cockpit access.

As it approaches for landing this aircraft shows off the phenomenal nose wheel leg. The air intake is very evident as these aircraft had the engine fitted behind the pilot, with the propellor drive shaft between the pilot's legs.

This aircraft was a wreck salvaged in Papua New Guinea that travelled to New Zealand and Australia where it was restored to static display by Drage's Air World. In 1989 was sold in the US and eventually displayed at the Museum of Flying with the registration N139DP reserved. From 1996 to 2004 it was restored to airworthy at Chino, flying June 2004 as N739QG. Soon after shipped to the UK to become G-CEJU.

Cancelled as sold in the USA in January 2010 where it became N139RL

Cancelled as sold in the USA in January 2010 where it became N139RL

[Nikon D750 + Tamron SP 24-70mm/2,8G VC]

Owned by The Fighter Collection. Became G-CEJU and returned to the USA in 2010.

Scanned from a K64 slide