#gunship

‎French aircraft mechanics repair the engine of an Airacobra fighter (Bell P-39N Airacobra, American-made) of the 1st Fighter Air Group "Navarre" of the 4th Squadron (Groupe de chasse I/4 "Navarre", GC I/4 "Navarre"), Réghaïa airfield (الرغاية). December 30, 1943

‎A French aircraft mechanic checks the instruments of an Airacobra fighter (Bell P-39N-5-BE Airacobra, American-made) of the 1st Fighter Air Group "Navarre" of the 4th Squadron (Groupe de chasse I/4 "Navarre", GC I/4 "Navarre"), Réghaïa airfield (الرغاية). December 30, 1943

12 August 1942. Death of Aleksandr Fedorovich Avdeyev (b. 23 July1917). 5 victory Soviet WWII fighter ace. He was killed ramming his Bell Airacobra (Mk.I) into a Messerschmitt BF-109. He flew more than 200 combat missions and about 30 air combats.

Beware of venomous snakes.

Flight commander of the 69th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, Guards Lieutenant Semyon Alekseevich Filatov (born 1916) stands on the wing of his American-made P-39N Airacobra fighter (Bell P-39N Aircobra). May-June 1944

From October 5, 1943, Lieutenant S. A. Filatov served on the front lines of the Great Patriotic War. On October 21, 1943, he was shot down in combat, suffering a severe shrapnel wound and burns to his face and hands.

He returned to duty. By May 1945, Guards Senior Lieutenant S. A. Filatov had flown approximately 150 combat sorties and fought in approximately 30 air battles, during which he personally shot down 13 enemy aircraft.