FUSELAGE CREATIONS / RAWTAG COLLAB BELL P-39N

Description

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was a popular World War 2 fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the use of United States Air Force and widely supplied under Lend-Lease to Soviet Union and other allied countries during WW2. A total of 4,719 Airacobras were supplied to the Soviet Army according to the sources, this amounted to nearly one third of all the produced aircraft. The Soviets received the improved ‘N’ and ‘Q’ models. 

The following edition is crafted from a P-39N fuselage door. The exact serial number of the aircraft or its story is not known, however we do know that the P-39N suffered a crash in Murmansk region of Soviet Russia. Amazingly, it contains all original paintwork!

We dedicate the following edition to Ivan Babak – a Ukrainian teacher who became a fighter ace of the Guards Regiment of the Soviet Air Force. 

The extraordinary Ukrainian aviator holds a record for 35 individual and 5 shared kills which he scored flying a P-39N. A major achievement was the battle of Mariupol, where as part of reconnaissance missions, he destroyed German locomotives transporting Ukrainians (mostly woman) to slave labour. 

It was initially believed that Babak was shot down and killed, however in fact he got taken prisoner. After the war, Ivan (promoted to commander of 16th GIAP at the time) returned to teaching and was a principal of a school in Poltava, Ukrainian SSR. 

This edition was possible thanks to cooperation between RAWTAG and Fuselage Creations. RAWTAG’s owner, Captain Paul Gibbs carried out extensive work in securing this piece of history, while Fuselage Creations Ukrainian team used their craftsmanship to create this beautiful product for enthusiasts to enjoy!

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