Bell P39 Airacobra "Natasha Goes Home"

[chilsam]

com

[chilsam]

Go to warrelicseu . pics of recovery

[pinz2022]

I read that the legend of the 37mm gun being a great can opener is untrue. That the tungsten-cored armour-piercing ammunition designed for the gun was never issued to the Russkies.

[nowthisis2stupid]

I'm interested to know if there was a body in the pilots seat or not.

[FiveCentsPlease]

@nowthisis2stupid

According to an EAA article, the remains of pilot Lt. Ivan Ivanovich Baranovsky were found in the cockpit. It was noted that his shoulder harness was unfastened and one speculation is that he hit his head on impact and was unconscious. Engine damage (broken rods) suggests that mechanical failure caused the crash.

[nowthisis2stupid]

@FiveCentsPlease Wow, that's aweful but makes for an interesting story.

[nowthisis2stupid]

@nowthisis2stupid Awful* fat fingered it.

[chuckbflo]

The aircraft was built in Buffalo (not Boston). Bell was headquartered in Buffalo, had two of its three plants there, and built all P-39s in Buffalo.

I'm surprised Mr. Pearce made this mistake. He worked closely with the Ira G. Ross Aerospace museum in Buffalo, where the aircraft now resides.

[UScarsinSweden]

There has to be NO oxygen what so ever i that lake! It looks like it spent 60 years in a shed, rather in a lake!

[hangarrat101]

i'm sure she will. such amazing history behind an aircraft like this. I hope the restoration does her justice. Badly painted red stars and all!

[scifyjunkie]

i'm sure this will be a beautiful airplane once she is restored.