The Bell P-39 Airacobra originally flew with excellent performance but by the time the aircraft reached the front lines the Army Air Corp had changed so many features that the plane was far from what Bell had originally designed. They added weight, removed the supercharger from the Allison engine that didn't have the power it claimed. What could have been and should have been one of the best aircraft of WWII turned out to be much less. Even with all its flaws they still produced 9,584 P-39s.
The 40th FS Fightn Red Devils arrived in Brisbane Australia on February 25, 1942 and were assigned to the 35th FG of the USAAF 5th Air Force. Lt. William McDonough was assigned P-39K-1 s/n 42-4358 and had an Angelic Donald Duck painted on the starboard side of the nose. It is referred to as because Donald is wearing an angel costume with his sleeves rolled up ready for a fight. When the war had ended Lt. McDonough had 5 victories.