Gray/Green 601 SQN Skin for the B24 Guy's OH P39
P-39 Soviet Skin by Sopwith Chameleon for the B24 Guy's OH P-39 - representing Airacobra MK1 of 601 "County of London" Squadron,in Gray/Green "over water" Camo Scheme as applied in early 1942 - the only RAF Squadron to Fly the type in Combat. After a very few Operations between September 1941 & March 1942, it was declared "unsuitable" by the RAF, and the balance of the British Orders (over 600) were re-possessed by the US Army (and designated P-400) or passed as British Aid to the Soviet Union (who found them anything but unsuitable) Russian Pilots liked the much maligned "Iron Dog" better than the Hurricanes (too slow) and Spifires (too fragile) they had received up to then. The British had ordered the the P39 on the basis of the Prototype's performance, which had the benefit of a Turbo Supercharger - the US Army Airforce, after trials at Wright Field recommended the deletion of the Supercharger to save weight, as the US view at that time was that Fighter Planes only needed to have good low level performance as it was anticipated that the role of the Fighter Plane would always be in support of Ground Troops as no Air attack on the Continental United States could be anticipated. The Brits thought they were getting a Wonder Plane with dazzling performance, but ended up with a Ground Attack Machine, for which in 1941 they had no Mission Envelope, but for the Russians, it was just what they needed - the very role the US Army had unwittingly suited it too . Damage Textures included
by SopwithChameleon
Submitted by Sopwith Chameleon
P-39 Soviet Skin by Sopwith Chameleon for the B24 Guy's OH P-39 - representing Airacobra MK1 of 601 "County of London" Squadron,in Gray/Green "over water" Camo Scheme as applied in early 1942 - the only RAF Squadron to Fly the type in Combat. After a very few Operations between September 1941 & March 1942, it was declared "unsuitable" by the RAF, and the balance of the British Orders (over 600) were re-possessed by the US Army (and designated P-400) or passed as British Aid to the Soviet Union (who found them anything but unsuitable) Russian Pilots liked the much maligned "Iron Dog" better than the Hurricanes (too slow) and Spifires (too fragile) they had received up to then. The British had ordered the the P39 on the basis of the Prototype's performance, which had the benefit of a Turbo Supercharger - the US Army Airforce, after trials at Wright Field recommended the deletion of the Supercharger to save weight, as the US view at that time was that Fighter Planes only needed to have good low level performance as it was anticipated that the role of the Fighter Plane would always be in support of Ground Troops as no Air attack on the Continental United States could be anticipated. The Brits thought they were getting a Wonder Plane with dazzling performance, but ended up with a Ground Attack Machine, for which in 1941 they had no Mission Envelope, but for the Russians, it was just what they needed - the very role the US Army had unwittingly suited it too . Damage Textures included
by SopwithChameleon
Submitted by Sopwith Chameleon