Bell P-39D Airacobra Walkaround Gallery

Bell P-39D Airacobra 41-6951 USAF Beck 2006

This Airacobra, AC41-6951, was part of Syd Beck's collection at Mareeba in northern Queensland. It was force-landed and damaged during a ferry flight from Townsville to Port Moresby in 1942 and stayed in the far north Queensland scrub for over 30 years before Syd pulled it out. Before Syd could move it, the RAAF had to inspect the derelict Airacobra as it was still fully armed with 30mm canon shells! Unfortunately the RAAFies couldn't safely disarm the plane due to the corroded state of the ammo and guns, so they elected to detonate the ammo in-place. This, of course, caused considerable damage to the nose of the plane. Syd and his sons have spent many years repairing it. It is recorded as the first USAAF aircraft to score a combat kill in New Guinea during WWII. It was named Erminie after the pilot, Lt Charles Falletta's, wife. Syd Beck passed away some years ago now and the collection has been disbanded.

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Graeme Molineux