Uzbek P-39N-5 Airacobra

[comrade harps]

Bell P-39N-5 Airacobra
a/c White 20, Pyotr Yakovlev Escuadrille, Uzbekistan People's Air Force
Tbilisi/Marneuli, Red Liberated Georgia, TransCaucasian Liberation Day, 1 October, 1944
Personal mount of Escuadrille Leader Eldor Shomurodov



Eldor Shomurodov's first combat mission was made on 25 June, 1942. Flying MiG-3Ts with the Pyotr Yakovlev Escuadrille, Shomurodov flew 31 combat sorties before claiming his first air to air victory, a Romanian Ju-87D Stuka. Thereafter, he became a regular claimant. In December, Shomurodov participated in Operation Little Saturn, the Moscow Pact's southern counter-offensive to encircle the enemy in Volgograd.




The Escuadrille retired from the frontline in March 1943 to rest, regroup and re-equip. They returned flying Bell P-39N-5 Airacobras in September. Operating purely as fighters, the Escuadrille primarily flew against the TransCaucasian Soviet Army Air Force on tactical missions that ensured air superiority above the Red Army. In April 1944 the Escuadrille replaced the delivery camouflage of their mounts with a disruptive scheme of dark and medium grey over neutral grey. This proved so successful that the nose and wingtips of the Escuadrille Leader's plane were painted white in order to be seen. From May to October 1944, that uniquely presented plane was Shomurodov's. Other changes included the removal of the wing-mounted .30 cal Browning machine guns and the replacement of the nose-mounted 37mm M-9 cannon by a 20mm ShVAK cannon.





Shomurodov's P-39N-5 is depicted here as photographed at the end of the TransCaucasia campaign; at Tbilisi/Marneuli on parade following a flyover celebrating TransCaucasian Liberation Day. Having defeated Stalin's Soviet state, the Pyotr Yakovlev Escuadrille was held on occupation duties until December, when it again moved to the rear to rest, regroup and re-equip. They returned to combat against Berlin Pact forces flying the Yak-9U in April 1945. With 26 kills to his name (14 TransCaucasia - seen here as red stars - and 12 Axis - seen here as yellow stars), Shomurodov left combat flying to climb the ranks through a variety of staff positions. He retired as a General.




Shomurodov's aerial victories were as follows:

6 Axis (German, Romanian, Greek) Bf 109s
5 TransCaucasian TASA Product 17s (Trancausian version of the Bf 109)
4 TransCaucasian Ford Vikhr
3 Axis (German, Romanian) He 111s
3 TransCaucasian Ju 88s
2 Romanian DAR 12
1 Bulgarian  SM.79
1 TransCaucasian Bf 108
1 Romanian Ju 87

[Wardukw]

Bloody awesome mate 👏 👍👍
Makes me want to get a Aircobra now but I'd have no idea how to wiff one ..and I think ive got enough planes 🙃

[Dizzyfugu]

Is there a hope for a picture in full/original colors, too? 

[Vulcan7]

Great looking build          (I have an Airacobra in my stash in the loft, must find it  )

[Sport21ing]

Good looking aircraft 

[SPINNERS]

Very nice! I've always liked this aircraft and the old Airfix Series 1 kit was a real favourite of mine (19p back in 1973). Your pictures and model with it's white wing tips give me the thought of seeing one with clipped wings.

[zenrat]

Comrade!

Excellent work.

 

[comrade harps]

Very nice! I've always liked this aircraft and the old Airfix Series 1 kit was a real favourite of mine (19p back in 1973). Your pictures and model with it's white wing tips give me the thought of seeing one with clipped wings.

I did have to be careful when fiddling with the photos to avoid the wingtips disappearing into the background; which also gave me the idea of a clipped wing P-39.

[NARSES2]

That's come out really well. I've always thought the P-39 makes a nice canvas with those clean lines. Built a few of the Academy one myself, which is a nice simple build. I have the Arma kit in the stash, which probably isn't