This particular aircraft was part of 4,719 P-39s sent to the Soviet Union under the United States’ Lend-Lease program, which propped up Allied forces with war material before and after the U.S. entered World War II.
One amazing discovery that always delights restorers and historians was found in the starboard door. In a leather binder was the aircraft’s maintenance log, which included the entire flight and service history of the aircraft, save for a few water-damaged pages.
The wing guns had been removed and the researchers found cans of stew and extra ammunition belts in the ammunition trays. This further confirmed this was the aircraft that had broken formation when 773 IAP was repositioning that day. The cans of stew were made in Massachusetts, which suggests that the lend-lease program also included food.
Miss Lend-Lease, as it has been named by the Ira G. Ross/Niagara Aerospace Museum (NAM) that is undertaking the restoration, served in a frontline Soviet Air Force squadron along the border with Finland.
The discovery in 2004 is rare since remains of the pilot along with key artifacts, found with the aircraft, have provided insights into the mystery of why the aircraft suddenly broke formation as the squadron repositioned to an airfield closer to the front 66 years ago.
Miss Lend-Lease is undergoing restoration at the same facility where it was born in 1943.
http://www.warbirds-eaa.org/news/92010%20-%2010_21%20-%20P-39%20Recovered%20from%20Russian%20Lake%20After%2066%20Years.html
http://wnyaerospace.org/?page_id=66
http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/articles/baranovsky/baranovsky.htm
http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=1109736
Great story and one of the countless number of stories still to be told. Thanks Jesse.
ReplyDeleteI think that's airacobra- P39. While I was in NSWC there use to be an old hanger on one of the bases with a large sign on it Cobra Town. Many of the men with Cobras or replicas use to take pics in front of the hangar. I wonder if this model of plane had anything to do with that hanger. No one seems to know the history of Cobra Town. You think someone in San Diego would know the history of this old hanger. lol Ever hear of the place?
ReplyDeleteSomeone in San Diego does, but finding that person would take some serious effort. I found the video, the rest is up to someone else! I expect that the info is on the internet somewhere, finding that might be a bit time consuming, but maybe wikipedia?
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