RARE!! Bell P-39Q Airacobra ; 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron (Forces of Valor (Unimax), 1/32)

Extremely rare and long out of production, this pristine, New-in-Box (NIB) 1:32 scale Forces of Valor U.S. P-39Q Airacobra is a highly coveted collector's masterpiece that is virtually impossible to find on today's secondary market.

Back in 1944, the skies over the South West Pacific Theater were a gritty place to be, and Lt. William Shomo found himself right in the thick of it with the 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron of the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group. Before he made headlines with his Medal of Honor action in a Mustang, Shomo piloted a Bell P-39Q Airacobra known as "Snooks / 2nd," identifiable by tail number 220351 and the number 66 painted on the fuselage. Operating out of New Guinea and the Philippines, this specific aircraft served as his workhorse for tactical reconnaissance missions, navigating the treacherous jungle terrain and Japanese defenses long before he switched to the P-51.

The Airacobra was an odd bird compared to its contemporaries, primarily because the engineers decided to mount the engine behind the pilot rather than in the nose. This mid-engine layout was necessary to accommodate the massive 37mm T9 cannon that fired directly through the propeller hub, giving the P-39 a serious punch against ground targets and shipping. Getting in and out of "Snooks / 2nd" felt more like entering a sedan than a fighter plane thanks to its unique "car-style" doors on the side of the cockpit, a quirk that set it apart on the airfield.