P-39 Airacobra Aces of World War 2 (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 36) (Aircraft of the Aces, 36) - Softcover

John Stanaway; George Mellinger

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841762040 ISBN 13: 9781841762043

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2001

Synopsis

The first American fighter fitted with a tricyle undercarriage and mid-mounted engine, the P-39 proved less than successful in the hands of its launch customer, the US Army Air Force (AAF). Hampered by unreliabilty and poor engine performance at high altitude, the P-39 nevertheless served alongside the P-40 and P-38 in the bitter struggle to capture Guadalcanal in 1942/43, as well as seeing much action over the jungles of New Guinea. Around a dozen AAF aces scored five kills with the P-39, although this total was far outstripped by the Soviet Red Air Force, whose pilots rated the Airacobra as one of the best lend-lease fighters of the war.

About this title

From the Publisher:

Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series combines full colour artwork, the best archival contemporary photography, and first hand accounts from aces to bring history's greatest airborne conflicts to life.

About the Author:

John Stanaway has written two best-selling volumes in the Aces series both covering the exploits of the greatest Pacific fighter of them all, the P-38 Lightning. He is also an official historian of the National P-38 Pilots' Association.

About this edition

• Publisher: Osprey Publishing
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1841762040
• ISBN 13: 9781841762043
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Mark Styling