Designed as an interceptor, when the Bell P-39 Airacobra appeared in 1941 it was acclaimed as one of the most advanced combat planes of the time. Elegantly designed and innovatively engineered (it featured the engine mid-aircraft like a racing car), it experienced mixed operational fortunes but was especially successful in the Soviet Air Force. This book is a full technical history of this important but neglected fighter of World War Two. It presents scale plans of all versions, many detailed photographs of surviving aircraft, full color illustrations of the aircraft in the different liveries of its many users: USAAF, RAF, Soviet, French, Italian and others, in total more than 50 color profiles.