World War 2 In Review: Bell YFM-1 Airacuda: American Heavy Fighter Aircraft (Album)

Bell YFM-1 during testing.

The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter aircraft, developed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation for the United States Army Air Corps during the mid-1930s. It was the first military aircraft produced by Bell. Originally designated the Bell Model 1, the Airacuda first flew on 1 September 1937. The Airacuda was marked by bold design advances and considerable flaws that eventually grounded the aircraft.

The Airacuda was Bell Aircraft's answer for a "bomber destroyer" aircraft. Although it did see limited production, and one fully operational squadron was eventually formed, only one prototype and 12 production models were ultimately built, in three slightly different versions.

Page from Bell YFM-1 and YFM-1B Handbook showing emergency equipment and exits. (Operator’s Handbook)

Bell YFM-1.

Bell XFM-1 Airacuda s/n 36-351.

Bell YFM-1A Airacuda.

Bell YFM-1, Bell Aircraft Corporation, Buffalo, New York, April 5, 1940.

Bell XFM-1 propeller installation with propeller fairings in place, May 1, 1939.

Bell XFM-1 pilot's instrument panels and surface controls, April 11, 1939.

Bell XFM-1 navigator's position.

YFM-1 top turret retracted.

YFM-1 top turret extended outside, 15 September 1939.

YFM-1 cannon control units, right hand.

YFM-1.

YFM-1 tunnel turret installation closed outside, 15 September 1939.

Bell YFM-1, September 21, 1940.

Bell YFM-1, December 5, 1939.

YFM-1.

Bell YFM-1.

YFM-1.

Bell YFM-1, New York World's Fair, 1939.

Bell YFM-1 Airacuda (36-361).

Manufacturer's model YFM-1.

Bell YFM-1 1/25th scale model, 1939.

Bell FM-1 Airacuda mockup at the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory wind tunnel at Hampton, Virginia.

Bell Project M-9-35, ½ scale model, Contract W-535, AC-9168, October 27, 1936.

Bell XFM mockup.

Bell XFM-1.

Bell XFM-1, July 3, 1937.

Bell XFM-1 propeller installation and aft view of right nacelle, July 21, 1937.

Bell XFM-1, upper surface outer wing panel, October 7, 1937.

Bell XFM-1, October 7, 1937.

Bell XFM-1.

Bell YFM-1 fuselage assembly line, February 26, 1940.

Bell YFM-1A, September 30, 1940.

Bell YFM-1B, Bell Aircraft Corporation, Buffalo, New York, March 26, 1940.

Bell XFM-1 (36-351).

Bell YFM-1 (38-486).

Bell YFM-1, November 1, 1939.

Bell YFM-1A, August 15, 1940.

Bell YFM-1.

Bell YFM-1A.

Close-up of nose of YFM-1A in previous photo showing entry door open and with steps built in to door.

Bell YFM-1B, 15, 10th Air Base Squadron Chanute Field, Illinois, 1941.

Bell YFM-1B, 18, 10th Air Base Squadron Chanute Field, Illinois, 1941.

Bell YFM-1B, 19, 10th Air Base Squadron Chanute Field, Illinois, 1941.

Bell YFM-1, 19, and another YFM-1 behind it, with a P-35, 150, 10th Air Base Squadron Chanute Field, Illinois, 1941.

Bell YFM-1B, 20, 10th Air Base Squadron Chanute Field, Illinois, 1941.

Bell YFM-1, 10th Air Base Squadron Chanute Field, Illinois, 1941.

Bell YFM-1.

Bell YFM-1B.

Bell YFM-1.

Bell YFM-1 (36-351).

Bell YFM-1A.

Crashed Bell YFM-1 (38-492), Aurora, New York, June 21, 1940.

Bell YFM-1B Airacuda, note the slightly ajar crew entry hatch with in-built step.

Bell XFM-1, Bell Aircraft Corporation, Buffalo, New York, April 25, 1939.

Bell XFM-1, April 25, 1939.

Bell YFM-1, December 5, 1939.

YFM-1 (38-486).

Bell XFM-1.

Bell XFM-1½.

YFM-1A.

A Bell FM-1 Airacuda mockup at the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory wind tunnel at Hampton, Virginia (USA). Not a "real" aircraft, this full-size mockup of the Bell FM-1 Airacuda was tested in Langley's 30 x 60 Full Scale Tunnel in 1937. (United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Photo ID: EL-2003-00276)