US Army Air Forces Bell RP-63A Kingcobra

Additional Information:

The Bell P-63 Kingcobra was a fighter aircraft that was developed by Bell Aircraft during World War II. Based on the preceding Bell P-39 Airacobra, the P-63’s design incorporated suggestions from P-39 pilots and was superior to its predecessor in virtually all respects. In September 1942, even before the prototype flew, the USAAF ordered it into production as the P-63A. Deliveries of production P-63As began in October 1943 but shortly after the USAAF concluded the Kingcobra was inferior to the P-51 Mustang and declined to order larger quantities. The P-63 was therefore not accepted for combat use by the United States Army Air Forces.

The P-63’s main use in American military service was the unusual one of a manned flying target to be used for gunnery practice. The aircraft was generally painted bright orange to increase its visibility and all armament and the regular armor was removed so over a ton of armored sheet metal was applied to the aircraft. This plane was fitted with sensors that would detect hits, and these hits were signaled by illuminating a light in the propeller hub where the cannon would have been. This earned the aircraft the unofficial nickname of Pinball. Special rounds made of a lead/Bakelite combination were developed that would disintegrate upon impact and these were known as the “Cartridge, Caliber .30, Frangible, Ball, or M22”.

The RP-63 “Pinball” target aircraft were modified from five P-63As and 95 on the production lines and in 1948, the surviving RP-63A aircraft were re-designated the QF-63A. An additional 200 production RP-63C aircraft were modified on the production line. Similarly, the surviving RP-63Cs were re-designated QF-63Cs. Many of the “target” aircraft were eventually used as target tugs.

Kirtland Field’s bombardier school in Albuquerque New Mexico used the RP-63A’s for scoring the hits by student bombardiers on the bombing targets in 1943. They were also used as “Pouncer” or enemy aircraft to attack bombers en route during training flights.

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