<article><hdr>Airborne shot of a Bell XP-59</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>The USAAF requested the Bell Aircraft Company to undertake development of a jet fighter design, using research conducted by the British into gas turbine power plants. The official request was made during September 1941 when Bell was working on a new radial engined, twin boomed pusher fighter designated the XP-59. To maintain secrecy the manufacturer allocated the designation XP-59A to the jet engined project, although the XP-59 was in any case cancelled. Construction of what was to become the first US jet fighter began in the Spring of 1942, with the prototype being transported to Muroc Dry Lake (later Edwards AFB) for flight tests in September 1942. Following manufacturers and AAF tests, the company began delivering the YP-59As to Muroc for flight development of the General Electric I-16 engines. Production versions of the Airacomet ,as it was known, with the P-59A which was a single seater with three machine guns and a cannon mounted in the nose. These were followed by the P-59B which achieved a production run of 30 aircraft before the contract was cancelled in favour of the North American P-80. Despite th P-59B being delivered to the 412th Fighter Group, this unit was a specially formed for trials, with the majority of P-59Bs being restricted to test work. </hi>
