The first American fighter fitted with a tricyle undercarriage and
mid-mounted engine, the P-39 proved less than successful in the hands of
its launch customer, the US Army Air Force (AAF). Hampered by
unreliabilty and poor engine performance at high altitude, the P-39
nevertheless served alongside the P-40 and P-38 in the bitter struggle
to capture Guadalcanal in 1942/43, as well as seeing much action over
the jungles of New Guinea. Around a dozen AAF aces scored five kills
with the P-39, although this total was far outstripped by the Soviet Red
Air Force, whose pilots rated the Airacobra as one of the best
lend-lease fighters of the war.