A BIG batch of BELLS ... to ring in the new year ...

[Mark Allen M]

... make it a great year.


Bell P-39 Ramp - c 1942 - Niagara Falls Airport


Bell P-39 Ramp - c 1942 - Niagara Falls Airport


P-39 on the Compass Rose

[Sopwith]

Really look forward to your pictures. Thanks

[Mark Allen M]

Bell Class is in ...


Bell P-39 Service Training at the Cataract House - 07-13-42


Bell P-39 Service Training at the Cataract House - 07-13-42


Bell P-39 Service Training at the Cataract House - 07-13-42


Bell P-39 Service Training at the Cataract House - 07-13-42


Bell P-39 Service Training at the Cataract House - 07-13-42


Women in Training at the Bell Aircraft Service School -08-07-42


Women in Training at the Bell Aircraft Service School -08-07-42

[Mark Allen M]

One of the first experiments using a laser gun setup ...

[Pat Carry]

thanks for the Bells Mark. Gr8 set of photos. Happy New Year.

[Chris Brame]

Spotted this a while back while looking up a movie location; they're P-39 wings:

Metal from Salvaged Planes Used to Make Lightweight Braces at Northington General Hospital

Splints and spinal braces made in Northington's Orthopedic Brace Shop are a third their former weight. The weight-reducing material is an aluminum alloy which replaces steel in the older and heavier brace.

From three salvaged airplane wings donated by the Aeronautical Engineering Department of the University of Alabama, a 1000-pound supply of the precious alloy has been provided to the hospital.

Pictured dismantling the salvaged wings are CE Tom Clements in foreground (left) and Pfc. Rodolph Dow and on the upright wing Pvt. Roy Thomas (left) and Pfc. Primo Ronca.

The far-reaching effect of substituting a light-weight aluminum alloy for steel in orthopedic braces may be gauged from the statement of Maj. Gen. Norman E. Kirk, Surgeon General of the United States Army, that we may expect 60 per cent of our battle casualties to be orthopedic.

Northington General Hospital News, July 21, 1944

https://tavm.omeka.net/items/show/59

Last edited by Chris Brame on Thu Dec 31, 2015 8:06 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Mark Allen M]

Building enough Bells to make your ears ring ...

Bell Aircraft Corporation's main factory in Wheatfield, NY (Buffalo / Niagara Falls) during the 1940s. This unit primarily produced the Bell P-39 Airacobra and P-63 Kingcobra.

























Photo Sources: Niagara Aerospace Museum.
Bell Aircraft P-39 Airacobra and P-63 King Cobra Appreciation Group.

[Mark Allen M]

Bells will be ringing ...


Bell P-39D Cockpit








Bell P-63A Test Aircraft with skis at Niagara Falls in 1943

[Mark Allen M]

P-63's in Niagara Falls in the winter of 1944

[Mark Allen M]

This stuff is interesting ... From the RetroMechanix.com website.




Removal of Dust Plugs, Wooden, Exhaust Stacks (part of Airplane Kit Section, P-39 Kit No. 1)


Cam lock tool mounted in cockpit of P-39

[Mark Allen M]

... and lastly ...

[Dan K]

Building enough Bells to make your ears ring ...

Just a beautiful look at four-bladed P-39Q-25's in the middle and back row.

Many thanks, Mark!

[ALOHADAVE]

Spare parts and tool kits for the P-39

“Ten Day Supply Maintenance Parts and Equipment for P-39 Series in Combat Area” dates from February 1943. Parts and equipment required to maintain the Bell P-39 Airacobra when deployed into combat, along with the placement of the maintenance kits in the aircraft itself; these were installed in the fuselage, nose, and wing roots of the airplane. The manual appears to be a preliminary work and some changes may have been made to the contents of the kits before they were added to the aircraft being sent overseas. Modelers interested in doing a diorama of a P-39 under repair will find plenty of valuable reference images in the gallery above; historians and general enthusiasts of the P-39 may also find them of interest.
All images from NARA Archives II, College Park, MD, RG 18
P-39 Kit No. 1 (Airplane Kit P-39) — 17½ lbs. The kit illustrated below was intended for P-39 airplanes departing for overseas duty. This was in addition to the parts and equipment listed in aircraft checkers' report Air Force Form 263. This equipment was placed in the airplane. This and all the following photos were taken on February 5, 1943
Looking forward at the Bracket and Mounting Assembly and installation of the Spare Parts and Maintenance Kit in the nose of the plane.
P-39 Kit No. 1 (Armorers' Section) — 9 lbs. This kit was intended for P-39 airplanes departing for overseas duty. This was in addition to the parts and equipment listed in aircraft checkers' report Air Force Form 263. This equipment was placed in the airplane
P-39 Kit No. 1 (Armorers' Section) in correct place in plane.
P-39 Kit No. 1 (Communications Section) — 3 lbs. This kit was intended for P-39 airplanes departing for overseas duty. This was in addition to the parts and equipment listed in aircraft checkers' report Air Force Form 263. This equipment was placed in the airplane
The photo below shows P-39 Kit No. 1 (Communications Section) in correct position in plane.
Cam lock tool mounted in cockpit of P-39 Airplane
Bell Airplane Special Kit in nose of plane

[AG pilot]

All great stuff!

[PropsRule]

Just a beautiful look at four-bladed P-39Q-25's in the middle and back row.

Many thanks, Mark!

You answered my question, thank you for that! I always thought four bladed propellers automatically meant it was a P-63, but I noticed the aircraft in the photo had the P-39 style vertical stabilizer. I was wondering what type they were, but now I know...P-39'Q'.

Thanks again for taking the time to post the photos, Mark, and Happy New Year to everyone.