No.165, THE BELL P-39 AIRACOBRA.
'THE IRON DOG'
Published in 1967, Profile No.165 described and illustrated the unusual mid-engined Bell P-39 Airacobra which thought designed as a fighter proved much more effective as a light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Jay Frank Dial provides a fascinating account of the P-39's wartime service and development with over 35 photos and colour profiles on the inner covers.Slight creasing and mild foxing on outer covers but complete.
ONE of the most unusual WWII designs,the Bell P-39 Airacobra with an Allison engine placed behind the pilot and a 37mm cannon between his legs was certainly a radical departure from its contemporaries. Although generally out-classed, the P-39 served more usefully as a bomber and operated in the Pacific, Alaska and with several Allied nations: principally Russia who ordered over 4700 of them for ground attack operations. This Profile is written by Jay Frank Dial and contains over 28 photos with superb colour views on the inner covers that present examples flown by the USAF and France-a dozen in all illustrated by Arthur Sturgess and Richard Ward.
