Bell P-39 Aircobra: books - history and deployment

Cobra! - The Bell Aircraft Corporation 1934-1946

A comprehensive, meticulously researched and fully documented history of Bell Aircraft Corporation and their piston engine fighters built during the Great Depression and through World War II.

While the story centers on techincal aspects of the various fighters, significant attention is also devoted to those key individuals who conceived, built and flew these innovative designs.
In addition to aircraft development, Cobra! surveys the combat use of the P-39 and P-63 fighters in the hands of American, French, Italian, and Soviet pilots.

The story continues after World War II when a number of Bell surplus fighters were successfully modified for air racing.

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P-39 / P-400 Airacobras vs A6M2/3 Zero-sen : New Guinea 1942 (Osprey)

After the huge advances made in the early months of the Pacific war, it was in remote New Guinea where the advance of Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force (IJNAF) A6M Zero-sen fighters was first halted due to a series of offensive and defensive aerial battles ranging from treetop height up to 30,000 ft.

Initially, the IJNAF fought Australian Kittyhawks, but by May 1942 they had fought themselves into oblivion, and were relieved by USAAF P-39 and P-400 Airacobras. The battles unfolded over mountainous terrain with treacherous tropical weather.
Neither IJNAF or USAAF pilots had been trained for such extreme conditions, incurring many additional losses aside from those that fell in combat.

Using specially commissioned artwork and contemporary photographs and testimony, this fascinating study explains how, despite their initial deficit in experience and equipment, the Airacobras managed to square the ledger and defend New Guinea.

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Bell P-39 Aircobra in Italian Service

The author explains clearly and precisely the chronological operational history of the Bell P-39, describing the pilots' missions during World War II.
The text is both in English and Italian and suits the aviation history lovers as well as modellers, to whom a whole chapter about a detailed build article of the Eduard Kit in 1/48th scale is dedicated. The final section deals with camouflage and markings and technical data on the type.

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P-39 Airacobra - Bell Fighter in World War II (Legends of Warfare)

The Bell P-39 Airacobra featured a mid-engine layout, sturdy tricycle landing gear, and a nose-mounted 37 mm cannon. Though innovative, it lacked the high-altitude performance of fighters like the Spitfire, Hellcat, and Mustang. As a result, it was largely rejected by British and American squadrons.
However, the Soviet Union widely adopted the P-39, using it effectively against the Luftwaffe.
This book provides a detailed photographic history of all Airacobra variants, including prototypes, trainer versions, production models C through Q, and the P-400.

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