P-39Q-5B "Brooklyn Bum 2nd" Serial Number 42-19993

USAAF
5th AF
71st TRG
87nd TRS

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David Gillis 1969
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T. Andrews 1994
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Justin Taylan 2003
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Justin Taylan 2004

Former Pilot  Lt Peter A. McDermott
Crew Chief  James W. O'Mara
Armor  Sgt. John M. Conway

Aircraft History
On the left side of the cockpit was painted the pilot's name: 'Peter A. McDermott' and nine bomb

Wartime History
Regular pilot was McDermott. At the end of the war, this aircraft was abandoned at Tadji.

Recovery
Recovered by Charles Darby and Monty Armstrong from Tadji in 1974 during the salvage operation for Yesterday's Air Force (MARC), and was kept by Armstrong and stored in Auckland, from 1974-1976.

Storage and Display Restoration & Resold
Sold to the Australian Aerospace Museum, Melbourne, Victoria where it was restored to static display as "Brooklyn Bum 2nd" from 1982-1988. Then, it went to Air World, Wangaratta. 

Export to United States
Next, the aircraft was sold to Don Whittington in Florida, who owned it from 1989 - 1991.  Then, it was sold to the Santa Monica Museum of Flying where it was displayed from 1992 - 1994. When that museum disbanded, it was sold to The Fighter Collection, but first sent to the Fighter Rebuilders / Planes of Fame for restoration to airworthy condition. At Fighter rebuilders, it was under restoration from 1994 - 2004.

First Flight
The aircraft preformed engine tests and its first flight on June 18, 2004 at Chino airport, while the restoration staff at Fighter Rebuilders watched their project in the air for the first time, flown by Steve Hinton. Exported to The Fighter Collection in England.

References
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 57 (upper)

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Tech Info
P-39

PhotosFirst Flight

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