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  P-39N-1-BE Airacobra Serial Number 42-18409 Nose W
USAAF
5th AF
35th FG
41st FS

Aircraft History
Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39N-1-BE Airacobra serial number 42-18409. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS). No known nickname or nose art. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Harold L. Nus.

On August 15, 1943 Nus claimed a Japanese bomber shot down, his sole aerial victory possibly flying this Airacobra.

Ultimate fate of this Airacobra is unknown, not lost in combat or accident, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

Memorials
Nus passed away May 21, 1982 at age 61. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Houston, TX, block 7.

Relatives
Alvin E. Nus (brother of Harold Nus)
"I believe he received the DFC, several Air Medals, Purple Heart, etc. He was severely wounded by shrapnel while scrambling to get to his plane during a surprise Japanese bombing attack and was very lucky to survive. He recovered in Australia and was discharged as a Major, with partial disability. He completed his education after the war, earning a BSME at the University of Missouri. He and a friend, Emmett Stewart, founded S & N Pump Co in Houston, TX, which is still in business. Harold died in Houston, May 21, 1982, a couple months before his 62nd birthday."

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold L. Nus
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-39N-1-BE Airacobra 42-18409
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Nus, Harold L. 142 (PDF page 149)
FindAGrave - Harold Leroy Nus (grave photo)

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Last Updated
August 14, 2022

 

Tech Info
P-39
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