ARRIVAL OF 45 P-39-B1 AIRACOBRAS
ON BOARD THE SS STEPHEN FIELD
ON 15 AUGUST 1942
AT BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

On 15 August 1942, forty five P-39-B1 Airacobras arrived in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on board the SS Stephen Field. They were transported to Amberley Airfield west of Brisbane for erection, and test flying before being assigned as replacement aircraft to the operational Squadrons shown below.

35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group

41-38336 14A-267 D-1-BE

41-38337 14A-268 D-1-BE

41-38339 14A-270 D-1-BE

41-38342 14A-273 D-1-BE

41-38344 14A-275 D-1-BE

41-38346 14A-277 D-1-BE

41-38350 14A-281 D-1-BE

41-38351 14A-282 D-1-BE

41-38352 14A-283 D-1-BE

41-38353 14A-284 D-1-BE

41-38354 14A-285 D-1-BE

41-38355 14A-286 D-1-BE

41-38357 14A-288 D-1-BE

41-38358 14A-289 D-1-BE

41-38362 14A-293 D-1-BE - later transferred to 41FS/35FG

41-38363 14A-294 D-1-BE

41-38365 14A-296 D-1-BE

41-38367 14A-298 D-1-BE

41-38369 14A-300 D-1-BE

41-38370 14A-301 D-1-BE

41-38373 14A-304 D-1-BE - later transferred to 41FS/35FG

41-38381 14A-312 D-1-BE

41-38385 14A-316 D-1-BE

41-38387 14A-318 D-1-BE

41-38398 14A-329 D-1-BE

36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group

41-38332 14A-263 D-1-BE

41-38338 14A-269 D-1-BE

41-38340 14A-271 D-1-BE

41-38341 14A-272 D-1-BE

41-38343 14A-274 D-1-BE

41-38345 14A-276 D-1-BE - later transferred to 80thFS 35thFG

41-38348 14A-279 D-1-BE

41-38356 14A-287 D-1-BE

41-38359 14A-290 D-1-BE - later transferred to 41stFS/35FG

41-38360 14A-291 D-1-BE

41-38361 14A-292 D-1-BE

41-38364 14A-295 D-1-BE

41-38366 14A-297 D-1-BE

41-38380 14A-311 D-1-BE

41-38382 14A-313 D-1-BE

41-38384 14A-315 D-1-BE

41-38386 14A-317 D-1-BE

41-38388 14A-319 D-1-BE

41-38396 14A-327 D-1-BE

40th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group

41-38349 14A-280 D-1-BE

Some photos of a few of the above aircraft

Photo:- Gordon Birkett Collection

P-39 Airacobra 14A-319 D-1-BE "H" "Joon IV" of 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group

Photo:- Gordon Birkett Collection

P-39 Airacobra 41-38359 14A-290 D-1-BE "K" "Miss Helen
the Flying Jenny" of 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group

Photo:- Gordon Birkett Collection

P-39 Airacobra 41-38359 14A-290 D-1-BE "K" "Miss Helen
the Flying Jenny" of 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thanks Gordon Birkett for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 14 December 2018

This page last updated 24 January 2020