Thanks for posting that, it was a very well done piece, especially since it seems to have been done for TV (they rarely seem to cover anything historical or positive, especially for more than 30 seconds). I was always intrigued by the P-39. One sat on the north side of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport for many years during the early 1960s, I was never able to find out who owned it. It was later sold to one of the early Reno racers, was rebuilt, and based in Southern California for several years, but later wrecked. In 1976, I was in San Antonio (last active duty station, Ft Sam Houston), and became friends with some of the members of the local CAF squadron. One of them owned two restored P-51s and a P-39, and he invited me to fly one of the 51s so he could "rat-race" while he flew his other 51 (I had previous time in a 51, and his insurance would approve me). I never got a chance to fly the P-39, though (it was always down for maintenance, usually engine or gearcase problems). In fact, it never flew while I was there. I don't know what happened to that P-39, although I do know the subsequent history of the two P-51s. Several years after I left, the gentleman who owned them apparently suffered some business reversals, and sold them. The 51 I used to fly was sold to a retired USAF General, who had a mishap in it and pretty much rolled it up in a ball (fortunately, he wasn't hurt too badly). It was completely rebuilt and restored, and is still flying. The other 51, which had undergone an incredible restoration and was an absolute delight to fly, was totalled in an accident in Southern California (near Santa Monica, if I remember correctly) - killed the pilot and the plane was completely destroyed. None of those old fighters were very forgiving.
Anyway, I'm glad that P-39 is back at its birthplace, and I am assuming it will be properly restored. Sure hope they save the signatures of the ladies who signed their work, that shows the spirit of America which was prevalent then, and which, sadly, we appear to have lost.
