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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Bell 12/13/15/23/26/24/33/43 / P-39 Airacobra / P-63 Kingcobra
    Latest Model:P-39Q-6-BE Airacobra
    Last Military Serial:42-19993 USAAF
    Construction Number:26E-397
    Last Civil Registration:N139RL
    Compressed ID:Bell P-39Q-6-BE sn 42-19993 USAAF c...
    Latest Owner or Location:Air Legends Foundation, San Antonio, TX

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE    		 If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a P-39Q-6-BE.

    Circa 1942

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 42-19993.

    21 May 1945

    Struck off Strength/Charge from the United States Army Air Force.
    And abandoned at Tadji, Papua New Guinea.

    1974

    Recovered.
    Taken from Tadji, first to New Zealand and then to Australia.

    From 1982 to 1988

    Placed on display.
    At the Moorabbin Air Museum.

    1989

    Noted at Drage Air World, Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia- prior to move to USA for restoration.

    1989


    Photographer: Arthur Scarf
    Notes: 1989 photo at Air World Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia

    From 1991 to 1994

    Placed on display.
    Static display at Santa Monica Museum of Flying, California.

    To Fighter Collection, Duxford, England with new c/r N139DP.
    Sent to Chino, CA for restoration to flying condition.

    10 June 2004

    To Steven J. Hinton, Chino, CA with new c/r N793QG.

    17 June 2004

    First post-restoration Flight.

    22 June 2004

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX793QG (P39-Q6, 26E-397) issued.

    11 July 2005


    Photographer: David Blaker
    Notes: At Flying Legends Display 2005, Duxford, England. Marked Brooklyn Bum-2nd

    To Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino Airport, Chino, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    20 August 2006


    Photographer: Reinhard Jost
    Notes: With reg NX793QG at Duxford, UK

    16 February 2007

    Civil registration, N793QG, cancelled.
    Exported to England.

    21 February 2007

    To Patina Ltd, Jersey with new c/r G-CEJU (BELL P-39-Q6, 26E-397).

    12 July 2008


    Photographer: John Yates
    Notes: At Duxford, UK

    By 23 October 2009

    Civil registration, N793QG, cancelled.
    Exported to England.

    16 April 2010

    To Lewis Vintage Collection Llc, San Antonio, TX with new c/r N139RL.

    28 May 2010

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX139RL (P39-Q6, 26E-397) issued.

    To Lewis Air Legends/Rod Lewis, Lewis Ranch Airport, San Antonio, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    Markings Applied: Brooklyn Bum 2nd

    19 August 2022

    To Lewis Vintage Collection Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N139RL.

    4 October 2023

    To unknown owner with c/r N139RL.
    Registration pending to a new owner in San Antonio, TX.

    11 December 2023

    To Air Legends Foundation, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N139RL.
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden
    Internet Sources
     Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Terry Fletcher
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    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=37940
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