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

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 35th Fighter Group, 41st Fighter Squadron. Nose Number 94 assigned to pilot 1st Lt. David E. Latane. Nose art on the left cockpit door of a Warner Brothers black crow cartoon character painted holding a cigar and Tommy gun.

Operated from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. On November 19, 1942 after an overhaul or engine replacement, Latane took off flying this Airacobra to slow time the engine.

Possibly, P-400 Airacobra crashed February 9, 1943.

Relatives
John Haynes (grandson of Latane)

References
Flight Log David E. Latane
Joe Baugher "Airacobra I for RAF, P-400"
Thanks to Edward Rogers and John Haynes for additional information

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Last Updated
August 20, 2024