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Niagara Aerospace Museum

Preserving Western New York's Aviation and Aerospace History

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    • P-39: Miss Lend Lease
    • Bell Helicopter Model 47, NC-3H
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P-39: Miss Lend Lease

Our Bell P-39, Miss Lend Lease, is displayed as she was found, recovered from Lake Mart-Yavr within the Arctic Circle.  She was given to Russia as part of the lend lease program.  Piloted by Lieutenant Ivan Baranovsky, an engine failure on a mission in 1944 cause her to crash in the lake.

In 2009, The Niagara Aerospace Museum acquired a wrecked P-39 that had crashed in lake above the Arctic Circle in Russia during WWII. Watch the powerful story of a warrior airplane come home to the place where she was built in Western New York after an amazing journey of over 60 years. Bringing Her Home

Bringing Her Home from Full Circle Studios on Vimeo.(Correction: In the video, the statement that Lt. Baranovskiy had 7 victories is incorrect. We should have said that between 21 June and 9 August the 773 IAP (Fighter Air Regiment) recorded 7 Finnish airplanes to its credit. We apologize for misinformation.)

Read more about the history and recovery of this aircraft from the following sites:

  • Air & Space Museum Article (September, 2011)
    Lieutenant Ivan Baranovsky’s P-39 – An Airacobra’s journey to the eastern front…and back
  • Bell P39Q-15BE 44-2911 Airacobra, from www.airforce.ru

A well traveled P-39

Here, Miss Lend Lease sits in the museum, not a half a mile from the Bell Aircraft Company factory in which she was built.

This could be the the only P-39 to have traveled around the globe. She headed west to Alaska, where she was transferred to her Russian ferry pilots.  She saw action over Russia until she crashed in Lake Mart-Yavr in 1944.  When she was recovered she continued on her journey westward to the U.K., then back home to Niagara Falls, New York where she now resides.

American Quality for the War Effort

Although the magnesium nose wheel hub had disintegrated sitting in the lake all those years, amazingly, the tire and inner tube survived. In fact, the inner tube still holds air!

P-39 Nose Wheel 01

P-39 Nose Wheel 02 P-39 Inner Tube 01P-39 Inner Tube 02

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Niagara Aerospace Museum

Niagara Falls International Airport
9990 Porter Road
Niagara Falls, New York 14304
(716)297-1323

Hours

Saturday & Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Monday-Friday/Holidays (more info)

Group tours by Appointment

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Upcoming Events

Mar
11
Sat
2023
1:00 pm Bell Helicopter Anniversary Cele... @ Niagara Aerospace Museum
Bell Helicopter Anniversary Cele... @ Niagara Aerospace Museum
Mar 11 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Bell Helicopter Anniversary Celebration @ Niagara Aerospace Museum
The Bell Model 47 helicopter was the world’s first commercial helicopter, certified on March 8, 1946. Join us as we welcome retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Paul Fardink, who will speak on Floyd Carlson’s amazing career[...]
View Calendar

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Our Corporate Sponsors Make it Possible

Thank you to Niagara Aerospace Museum corporate sponsor Moog
Thank you to our corporate sponsor Calspan
Bell company logo
Thank you to Niagara Aerospace Museum corporate sponsor Curtiss-Wright
Thank you Niagara Aerospace Museum corporate sponsor Community Fund for Greater Buffalo

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Hours & Admission

Limited Hours
Sat & Sun 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Mon-Fri/Holidays

Adults: $10:00
Seniors: $5:00
Military: $5.00
Ages 5 to 20: $5.00
Under 5: Free
Members: Free
ADA Caregiver: Free
*Admission fee is waived for a caregiver assisting a patron with disabilities
Niagara Aerospace Museum logo
Niagara Aerospace Museum
9990 Porter Road
Niagara Falls International Airport
Niagara Falls NY 14304
716-297-1323
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