Changes

By the beginning of 1944, the only Airacobras left in the theater were specialized models used for photo-reconnaissance.  All other units had been re-equipped with [[P-38 Lightning]]s or [[P-47 Thunderbolt]]s.

By the beginning of 1944, the only Airacobras left in the theater were specialized models used for photo-reconnaissance.  All other units had been re-equipped with [[P-38 Lightning]]s or [[P-47 Thunderbolt]]s.

In 2004, the wreckage of an American P-39 was discovered deep in the jungle in [[Fiji]].  It had crashed, killing the pilot, while on a mission in late April 1942.  The pilot’s remains were returned to the US Air Force.<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2006/07/14/2003318738 Fiji hands over lost pilot’s remains]</ref>

In 2004, the wreckage of an American P-39 was discovered deep in the jungle in [[Fiji]].  It had crashed, killing the pilot, while on a mission in late April 1942.  The pilot's remains were returned to the US Air Force.<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2006/07/14/2003318738 Fiji hands over lost pilot’s remains]</ref>

===Guadalcanal===

===Guadalcanal===

A squadron of P-400s was the AAF’s first contribution to the Battle of [[Guadalcanal]].  The sleek fighters arrived on August 22, 1942.  They first saw combat a bare 48 hours later when a group of [[Aichi D3A|Val dive bombers]] attacked Henderson Field.  The Airacobras downed one of the escorting Zeros with no losses.  Their next combat, on August 30, did not work out as well.  The squadron CO downed two Zekes, but four P-400s and their pilots were lost.  Because of the Airacobra’s deficiencies at high altitude, the [[F4F Wildcat]] fighters flown by Navy and Marine pilots bore the brunt of the air-to-air duties.  The P-400s (and later P-39s) did manage to score a few aerial victories, but as in New Guinea, were more often assigned to ground support.  After Guadalcanal was secured in early February, P-39s took part in defensive patrols and strikes on neighboring Japanese-held islands.  The only American to score five kills in the P-39 and become an Airacobra ace, Lt. William Fiedler, was based on Guadalcanal in this period.  He downed two Zeros while on escort missions in early February, and followed this up in June with a Zero and two Vals before he was killed in an accident during a take-off.  By mid-1943, all P-39s on Guadalcanal had been replaced, mostly by P-38 Lightnings.

A squadron of P-400s was the AAF's first contribution to the Battle of [[Guadalcanal]].  The sleek fighters arrived on August 22, 1942.  They first saw combat a bare 48 hours later when a group of [[Aichi D3A|Val dive bombers]] attacked Henderson Field.  The Airacobras downed one of the escorting Zeros with no losses.  Their next combat, on August 30, did not work out as well.  The squadron CO downed two Zekes, but four P-400s and their pilots were lost.  Because of the Airacobra's deficiencies at high altitude, the [[F4F Wildcat]] fighters flown by Navy and Marine pilots bore the brunt of the air-to-air duties.  The P-400s (and later P-39s) did manage to score a few aerial victories, but as in New Guinea, were more often assigned to ground support.  After Guadalcanal was secured in early February, P-39s took part in defensive patrols and strikes on neighboring Japanese-held islands.  The only American to score five kills in the P-39 and become an Airacobra ace, Lt. William Fiedler, was based on Guadalcanal in this period.  He downed two Zeros while on escort missions in early February, and followed this up in June with a Zero and two Vals before he was killed in an accident during a take-off.  By mid-1943, all P-39s on Guadalcanal had been replaced, mostly by P-38 Lightnings.

===The European Theater===

===The European Theater===

==Soviet Service==

==Soviet Service==

Out of a total of over 9500 Airacobras produced, almost 5000 were supplied to the Soviet Union via [[Lend Lease]], and it was in Soviet hands that the plane scored its greatest successes.  Air combat on the Eastern Front tended to be at lower altitudes, which minimized the P-39’s disadvantages, and in the right hands, the fighter proved deadly.  Over a hundred Russian pilots, including three of the five top scorers, became Airacobra aces, and the highest scoring P-39 pilot ever was [[Hero of the Soviet Union]] Gregori Rechkalov, with an even 50 victories with the American plane, including several Bf-109s.<ref>[http://www.acepilots.com/planes/soviet_p39_airacobra.html Soviet P-39 Aces]</ref>

Out of a total of over 9500 Airacobras produced, almost 5000 were supplied to the Soviet Union via [[Lend Lease]], and it was in Soviet hands that the plane scored its greatest successes.  Air combat on the Eastern Front tended to be at lower altitudes, which minimized the P-39's disadvantages, and in the right hands, the fighter proved deadly.  Over a hundred Russian pilots, including three of the five top scorers, became Airacobra aces, and the highest scoring P-39 pilot ever was [[Hero of the Soviet Union]] Gregori Rechkalov, with an even 50 victories with the American plane, including several Bf-109s.<ref>[http://www.acepilots.com/planes/soviet_p39_airacobra.html Soviet P-39 Aces]</ref>

With its 37&nbsp;mm cannon, the P-39 was highly effective against ground targets as well, although, contrary to popular belief, it was not a tank-buster.<ref>[http://www.chuckhawks.com/airacobra_iron_dog.htm Airacobra or Iron Dog?, The Obscure Career of Bell’s P-39 in the Soviet Union]</ref>

With its 37&nbsp;mm cannon, the P-39 was highly effective against ground targets as well, although, contrary to popular belief, it was not a tank-buster.<ref>[http://www.chuckhawks.com/airacobra_iron_dog.htm Airacobra or Iron Dog?, The Obscure Career of Bell’s P-39 in the Soviet Union]</ref>