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  P-400 Airacobra Serial Number AP378  
USAAF
5th AF
35th FG
39th FS

Pilot  2nd Lt. Frank E. Angier, O-428461 (survived)
Crashed  July 4, 1942
MACR  none

Aircraft History
Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) as P-400 Airacobra serial number AP378 and painted in a three-color camouflage scheme. Instead, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS). No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On July 4, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank E. Angier in a line abreast formation on a mission to intercept a formation of Japanese aircraft. Intercepted by A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group).

During the combat, this Airacobra was damaged by gunfire. Angier bailed out on the coast near Boera west of Port Moresby. After his parachute opened, he was strafed by Zeros as he descended, until they were chased away by P-39 Airacobra pilot Lt. Frank Royal. Also lost were P-400 Airacobra BX180 pilot 2nd Lt. William R. Marlott (survived) and P-39F Airacobra 41-7148 pilot 2nd Lt James R. Foster (survived).

Fates of the Pilot
He survived unhurt and returned to his squadron.

References
Joe Baugher "Airacobra I for RAF, P-400"
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-39 (P-400) Airacobra AP 378
Frank E. Angier interview at 39th Fighter Squadron reunion at Dayton, Ohio in 2006 by Kenneth Tilley
Cobra In the Clouds (1982) pages 10-11
Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis

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Last Updated
April 26, 2023

 

Technical Info
P-400
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