The P-39 refurbishment is complete after finishing up both projects today. Here are a few photos of these old crates after going through the resto-shop.
Airacobra Under New Management
Airacobra Under New Management
Airacobra Under New Management
Airacobra Under New Management
The Italian P-39N-1 has been "built" three times now, first carrying U.S. colors, then Soviet, and now Co-Belligerent from the 97th Squadriglia. It's fairly possible that this Cobra may have flown missions near my father when he was in Italy with U.S. 1st Armored Division.
The VVS airplane is probably a P-39Q-21 since it had a four-blade propeller. No concrete info exists as to which unit it may have been assigned to, but a picture of it was taken in Poland in 1944. The main source for research on this bird believes it was a training airplane.