44-84990, Bell XP-83 (later designated as XF-83) this photograph is possibility taken on its test flights over Wright field in early 1945. During a flight on 4th September 1946, one of the ramjets caught fire, forcing the pilot, "Slick" Goodlin and engineer Charles Fay to bail out, the aircraft crashing 4 miles south of Amherst, New York State. Only two aircraft types were produced and the project was withdrawn in 1947. Scanned from an original reproduced photograph from my collection, photographer unknown.

The first of two prototype XP-83 fighters, developed from the P-59 Airacomet. This example first flew on 25 February 1945. The programme was cancelled in 1947. From Bell Aircraft 60 years ago.