Bell P-39N Airacobra
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The Airacobra flown by the second most successful Soviet and Allied fighter (61 kills) had serial number 42-8747. Aircraft from this delivery were taken over by the 16 GIAP (Guard Fighter Air Regiment) in mid-May 1943 and shortly after was Rechkalov awarded the first Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. The aircraft had the standard Olive Drab/Neutral Gray livery at the time, with white stars in the US markings painted red, supplemented with red stars on the upper right and lower left wing halves. However, there is no overall photo of the aircraft in this form. Only photographs from a later period are known. The aircraft already bore the symbols of at least 48 kills. In the photographs taken on August 19, 1944, it is seen as wearing number 42547 on the tail. According to Alexander Klubov's memoirs, the rear fuselage of Rechkalov's aircraft was deformed during aerial combat and was repaired with the use of the rear fuselage of another aircraft, namely 44-2529, which was a P-39Q. In doing so, the original rudder was used, resulting in a different number on each side of the tail.
