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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-15-BE Airacobra
    Last Military Serial:44-2433 USAAF
    Construction Number:26E-433
    Last Civil Registration:N57591
    Latest Owner or Location:Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Paul Garber Facility, Silver Hill, Maryland

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    Dates

    Event

    1943

    Constructed as a P-39Q-15-BE.

    14 November 1943

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-2433.

    November 1943

    Transferred to 369th Fighter Group, Hamilton Field, CA.
    Replacement Training Unit.

    From 30 August 1944 to 29 November 1944

    Served three air fields in Washington: Moses Lake, Paine Field, McChord Field.

    By November 1944

    Transferred to 436th Base Unit, McChord Field, WA.

    30 November 1944

    Transferred to War Assests Administration, Ponca City, OK.

    Circa 1946

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX57591 issued.

    By 1946

    To Ortman and Mighton Aviation Co, Tulsa, OK with new c/r N57591.

    From 30 August 1946 to 2 September 1946

    Raced as #12, named JUBA.
    Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the SOHIO class. The primary pilot was Charles Bing. Qualified in 18th place with an average speed of 265.944 mph. Raced in the B Feature race. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 276.135 mph.


    Photographer: Richard Billings
    Notes: I recently found this picture in a group of photos my father had taken in the mid / late 1940s. He lived in Scarsdale, NY at the time so believe this is 44-2433.


    Photographer: Unknown

    31 August 1946

    Raced as #12, named Juba.
    Pilot Charles W. Bing in SOHIO Trophy Event, Cleveland, OH, coming in 7th/last place.

    1946


    Photographer: Charles M. Daniels / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive

    4 November 1946

    To Elizabeth Haas, Scarsdale, NY keeping c/r N57591.
    Purchased for $1000.00.

    Airplane wore her red and white racing colors.


    Photographer: Lon Moer
    Notes: Elizabeth Haas P-39Q N57591 Galloping Gertie

    Flew in several air shows and races.

    Circa 4 December 1946

    Certificate of airworthiness for N57591 (P39, 26E-433) issued.

    From 10 January 1947 to 12 January 1947

    Raced as #12, named Galloping Gertie.
    Competed in the Miami All American Air Maneuvers event. The primary pilot was Anson Johnson. Raced in the One Mile Course race. No time was recorded and finished in 6th place.

    Circa 30 August 1947


    Photographer: Unknown
    Notes: Photographed at the National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio.

    From 4 September 1948 to 6 September 1948

    Raced as #12.
    Appeared at the National Air Races Cleveland to compete in the SOHIO class, but did not qualify.

    1 May 1950

    Ferry flight. Delivered to Bell plant, Niagara Falls, NY.
    Delivered by Elizabeth Haas.

    From 1950 to 1969

    Loaned to National Air Museum, Washington, DC.

    1950

    Ferry flight.
    Orchard Place Airport, Chicago, IL from Niagara Falls, NY.

    1950

    Transported by ground.
    To Park Ridge, IL for storage; stored dismantled.

    11 October 1955

    Civil registration, N57591, cancelled.

    1956

    To National Air Museum, Washington, DC.
    Elizabeth Haas donated the plane from loan.

    1965

    Transported by ground. Delivered to National Air Museum, Paul Garber Restoration Facility, Silver Hill, MD.
    Underwent restoration and was put on displayat the Niagra Aerospace Museum, Niagra Falls, NY, on loan from NASM. Now atUdvar-Hazy Center of NASM.

    From 1969 to 1984

    Loaned to EAA Museum, Hales Corner, WI.

    Restored.
    Markings Applied: Galloping Gertie, 42433
    Static restoration in including a USAAF paint scheme.

    1984

    Returned from loan to Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Paul Garber Facility, Silver Hill, MD.
    View the Location Dossier

    10 June 1991


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At the Paul Garber Restoration Facility, Suitland, MD

    From 20 April 1999 to 2013

    Loaned to Niagara Aerospace Museum, Buffalo, NY.

    1 January 2013

    Loaned to Niagara Falls Aerospace Museum, Niagara Falls, NY.
    View the Location Dossier

    From 2013 to By June 2014

    Museum moved to Niagara Falls Airport.

    By June 2014

    Returned from loan to Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Paul Garber Facility, Silver Hill, MD.
    View the Location Dossier


    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    Air Racing Results by Gary Williams
    Racing Planes and Air Races A Complete History, Series 1, Volume 4, 1946-Present by Reed Kinert

    Internet Sources
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Warbirds Directory, 6th Edition (2013) by Geoff Goodall

    Individual Contributors
    Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger
    Lon Moer

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