Dates

Event

Constructed as a P-39Q-10-BE.

Circa 1942

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 42-20869.

After the war Bell Aircraft Co test pilots Alvin *Tex* Johnston and Jack Woolams recognized the potential for high speed in the P-39 modified for pylon racing. With much assistance from Bell engineers this was one of two P-39s modified for racing. All of the military equipment was removed, a modern engine was installed and the four bladed prop from a P-63 was fitted. The landing gear was made more powerful and reduced the gear retraction time from 22 seconds to only 4 seconds.

From 1946 to 1947

To Skylanes Unlimited Inc, Niagara Falls NY with new c/r N92848.

1946

Pilot Tex Johnson won the 1946 Thompson Air Race at the Cleveland races.

From 30 August 1946 to 2 September 1946

Raced as #84, named Cobra II.
Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the Thompson Trophy Reciprocating Division race. The primary pilot was Alvin *Tex* Johnson. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 409.091 mph. Raced in the B Feature race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 373.908 mph. On 30 August Jack Woolam perished in the crash of Cobra I, the sister airframe to Cobra II. The wreckage was found and it was discovered the fuselage failed aft of the engine. Cobra II was immediately strengthened longerons in the aft fuselage. When it came time for the Thompson race Tex Johnson was launched with gear retracted before the other aircraft achieved flying speed. George Welch in a Mustang and LeVier in his P-38 maintained 2nd and 3rd behind him, but when Welch dropped out with a rough engine Tex then had no problem staying out front with ease.

30 August 1946

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

Circa 1946

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

1946

Photographer: Harold G. Martin

30 August 1946

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

Circa 30 August 1946

Photographer: Martin and Kelman Aviation Photographers
Notes: Photographed at the National Air Races in Cleveland, OH.

From 30 August 1947 to 1 September 1947

Raced as #11, named Cobra II.
Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the Thompson Trophy Reciprocating Division race. The primary pilot was Jay Demming. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 386.819 mph. Raced in the B Feature race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 367.625 mph.

Circa 30 August 1947

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

1947

Photographer: Warren Bodie
Notes: Jay Demming was the pilot of Cobra II at Cleveland in 1947. Indianapolis car dealer Rollin Stewart purchased the airplane shortly before the races. Jay hoped to be able to buy the airplane by winning the 1947 Thompson Trophy. Photo by Warren Bodie.

1947

Photographer: Warren Bodie

1947

Photographer: Unknown

From August 1947 to 1960

To Rollin H. Stewart/Stewart Sales Corp, Indianapolis IN keeping c/r N92848.

From 1948 to 1960

Withdrawn from use.
After storm damage - stored in hangar at Weir Cook Airport IN.

From 4 September 1948 to 6 September 1948

Raced as #11, named KF-1.
Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the Thompson Trophy race. The primary pilot was Charles *Chuck* Brown. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 418.300 mph. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 392.407 mph. Out on lap 19 with a vapor lock in the fuel system.

Circa 1948

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

9 September 1948

Photographer: Press Photo
Notes: Photographed at the National Air Races in Cleveland, OH.

1960

To Air Museum/Ed Maloney, Claremont, CA with new c/r N92848.

Based at Air Museum/Ed Maloney, Claremont, CA.
View the Location Dossier

To Planes of Fame Air Museum/Ed Maloney, Ontario Airport, Ontario, CA.
View the Location Dossier

Markings Applied: Pistol Packing Mama

Circa 24 June 1968

Certificate of airworthiness for N9284 (P39, 26E-324) issued.

24 June 1968

To Michael D. Carroll, Los Angeles, CA with new c/r N9284.

August 1968

Photographer: Birch Matthews

Photographer: Birch Matthews
Notes: At Long Beach Airport.

By 10 August 1968

Rebuilt at Long Beach as a highly modified racing aircraft.

Markings Applied: Cobra III

10 August 1968

Crashed.
Summarized NTSB narrative from report number LAX69F0370: There was one fatality. Incident occurred at 10:15 hours. The airframe was destroyed. Incident occurred at the Meadowlark Airport, Seal Beach, CA. The flight departed from Long Beach, CA, with the destination Santa Anna, CA. Experienced an uncontrolled collision with terrain while in flight. Report remarks include: 240K, aircraft obsvd to snap roll r, nose dwn abt 70DEG, spiral. Pilot dptd approximately 600 feet msl. Chute unopened.
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

28 November 1969

Civil registration, N9284, cancelled.

To Mira Slovak, Van Nuys CA.
Acquired the wreckage for parts salvage.

Photographer: Ron Cole