Bell P-39Q Airacobra, G-CEJU / 26E-397, The Fighter Collection
This picture is © Martin Laycock and may not be used or published without permission.
Registration: G-CEJU
Construction Number: 26E-397
Code Number: 219993 / NX793QG / 'Brooklyn Bum-2nd'
Model Bell P-39Q Airacobra
Operator: The Fighter Collection
Airport: Duxford (QFO / EGSU), UK - England
Photographer: Martin Laycock
Date Taken: 09/07/2005
Date Submitted: 13/05/2009
The Fighter Collection's P-39Q taxying out at Flying Legends 2005. She saw service with the 71st Tactical Reconaissance Group in Papua New Guinea during World War II. When the unit re-equipped with P-40s she was abandoned at Tadji, West Sepik. There she stayed until the mid-1970s when she was recovered to Auckland, New Zealand. From 1982 to 1988 she was displayed at the Australian Air Space Museum in Melbourne before being moved to the World Air Museum at Wangaratta during 1989. She was then sold to Don Whittington in Florida who owned her until 1991 when she was sold again to the Santa Monica Museum of Flying. She was acquired by The Fighter Collection in 1994 who commisioned Fighter Rebuilders of Chino, California to restore her. She made her first post-restoration flight on 18 June 2004 at Chino, California by Steve Hinton prior to delivery to Duxford where she now resides.
Picture ID:1173115