Airacobra USA 339th Fighter Squadron

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was introduced in 1941, and was an unusual fighter aircraft in that it was designed around the 37mm T9 cannon.

The engine was behind the pilot and fed with air via a scoop intake above.  The performance was severely lacking at high altitude, but the P-39 was highly agile and acquitted itself well in the Pacific and Soviet Union.

The P-39 was armed with 1 x 37mm cannon or 20mm cannon firing through the prop, and a variety of machine guns depending on the version.

This example is a P-39Q of the 339th Fighter Squadron 1943.