The P-39 Airacobra and F2A Brewster Buffalo

[Chantry]

Most of us view these fighters as failures that saw limited front line service during WWII and yet both aircraft hold records for American fighters during WWII.

 

The Marines were given the F2A-3 variant of the Buffalo which had pilot armor, self sealing fuel tanks and others items considered necessary for modern air combat based on the information the US was receiving from the British.  That was more than the engine could handle and the Marines ended up with the slowest and least maneuverable version.  Greg 'Pappy' Boyington had flown the F2B-2 variant and stated it was a little slow, but could turn inside of a phone booth.  

 

Finland, desperate for planes, bought the B239E, which was a F2A-1 without the naval equipment, flew the fighter in front line service until the war ended in 1945 achieving a 33-1 kill ratio over Soviet pilots:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewster_F2A_Buffalo#Finland

 

The P-39 Airacobra was a failure due to it's lack of a good supercharger, which made it's performance above 15,000 very poor, with the additional curse of having a short range, it was soon relegated to the ground attack role and than removed from service.

 

The Russians, eager to get their hands on aircraft more modern than what they had, bought large quantities of the P-39 and it's successor the P-63 King Cobra.  The P-39 also remained in front line service until the end of WWII.  Air combat in Russia was usually at a much lower altitude than over Europe or in the Pacific.  The P-39 had more air to air victories than any other American aircraft by any air force in any conflict.    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_P-39_Airacobra#Soviet_Union

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Utah Bob #35998]

My dad though the P-39 was the ultimate hot rod of the air. Mid engine, trike gear, cannon firing through the prop hub. Pretty innovative..... underpowered though.
That was before the P51 of course. 
My mom loved the P-38.

 

 A wee Typo in your title