Bud Anderson will recall what it was like flying the Bell P-39 Airacobra. He never flew them in combat, but did indeed fly them in the United States.
Narrator: John-Michael Sedor
Editor: Krishna Teja Kurapati
Art: Hasegawa
Photos: US Archives, Jim Anderson
#aviation #history #wwii
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Check out the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/9nl_vUtgpyA?si=TybJTYD5Jpm2wQKp
I do believe that is a sword, struck through that skull, painted on the side of that door.
Appears to be a motivated pilot.
Good luck opening a car door into a 300mph wind if you had to bail out.
P39 was a lousy fighter for any air to air combat.
RIP Bud. It was a spur gear reduction gearbox. The Japanese were really happy to see it.
Didnt really say much about flying it, just long descriptions, which Didnt fill in much.
The p39 gained mixed reputation and there were spin accidents. There were plenty accidents period inother fighters. The soviets loved it.
The USAF did not like it, the Russians on the other hand made it work and loved it.
The Soviets loved it.
It was also good for flying down to Mexico to buy some Tequila. 😂😂😂
That fighter always intrigued me.
The Soviets used them on lend lease during WW2.
Thanks Bud for not only your service but your longevity…! A great long life lived very well….!!!
Should talk to the Russian pilots who kicked the Germans asses at low altitudes.
Bud Anderson = Legend
The only unit Conrad is known to be identified with was a training unit, 37th Training Wing, which was based in the US Southwest. As I noted in post above, that unit included an advanced training unit equipped with P-39’s among other then obsolescent types.
I find it pretty plausible he got flight training in 1943-4 but then was diverted to Armed Forces Radio during 1944.
straightdope
❤THANK YOU SIR❤
Russians loved it!! Loan/lease
My wife and I were privileged to attend the 50th anniversary of Chuck Yeager’s breaking the sound barrier at Edwards AFB. And after Chuck did it again in an F-15 he and Bud Anderson were interviewed in a hanger. The stories they told of the early Edwards days were a treat, a bunch of disciplined test pilots in the earlier wild days of that base.
the heart is for the veteran not for the p 39
Did very well in the USSR. They did not complain, they flew it and fought well.
The Soviets are the best operators of the Airacobra since most dogfights with the Luftwaffe is below 10k feet.
Such a weird aircraft.
My dad flew Pe-2 in WW2.
From what he related, Bell Airacobra was a dream plane, reserved for rock stars like Pokryshkin.
A real cherry on top of the cake of the Lend-lease bonanza.
After coming to America and meeting some veteran fighter pilots, he was shocked to discover how biased they were against the machine.
The commemorative Air Force use to have one flying in the '90s. I saw it at an airshow. It was amazing to see it in the air after only seeing them in photographs.
IMO Bud Anderson's video interview with San Diego Air Museum is one of the best and most informative interviews with a WW2 pilot.
An absolute credit to USA and the "Greatest Generation"
He was a great man and pilot. He has experience in so many aircraft that most people can only dream of and envy. He named some of the places the aircraft served in bu I recently watched a YouTube video about WWII and the Russians really liked flying that aircraft and had them through the lend lease program if memory serves me. Im getting old so forgive me if I am wrong
I'd rather have a P-40.
The weight of the shaft isn't good
This is why we gave them to Russia through lend lease.
My mother and one of her brothers worked at the plant in Buffalo, NY, where these were made. Many of these were knocked down and sent to Russia during the war, they suited that theater, didn't have to do much dogfighting there, mostly ground assault.
I believe,,the Russian flew them also
Those that survived training in the P-39 flew the Mustangs in the ETO.
I love hearing these war stories. Thank you for your service sir…. 👍👍🇺🇲🇺🇲♥️♥️♥️
It's too bad no p39s had a supercharged Merlin stuffed into the middle of the airframe. The Naturally aspirated Packard boat motor that it got didn't do it justice IMO. Some say it had a poor airfoil. The p51 was a gelding until it got the Merlin.
Sounds like a piece of crap!
Thank you Bud, God Bless
Other than saying it was slow, he didn't disparage (fun to fly) the airplane at all! If it had been given a 2 stage 2 speed Turbo supercharger (P-63) its story would be different! RIP Bud, you went above and beyond the call of duty!
Plane sucks