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Bell Aircraft P-39 Airacobra: Historical Fighter Airplane Platinum and Natural Diamond Brooch or Commendation

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    Posted 9 years ago

    whlong
    (38 items)

    This Diamond and Platinum P-39 Airacobra Brooch ( P-39 Cobra, P-400, MK-I, P-39 Caribou ) is one of two of the best kept secrets of World War II. It could also be one of largest platinum and diamond brooches in the world. Two of the best kept jewelry secrets of World War Two, involving the United States of America and the United Kingdom, ( Great Britain ). A true symbol of British and American cooperation during World War Two. This brooch commemorated the completion of the first order for 386 Bell p-39 Airacobra military fighter airplanes for the R.A.F., London's 601 Squadron, and all of the countries belonging to the United Kingdom.

    This royal gift, presented to Lawrence Dale Bell, founder of the Bell Aircraft Company, (today known as Bell Helicopter, a Division of Textron, Bell, or Bell Flight ), was directly placed in a bank "trust,” where it resided in a bank vault for many years and kept from public view and public knowledge. The first of two p-39 Airacobra brooches, privately and secretly, presented, ( 1942 ), to Lawrence Dale "Larry" Bell, founder of The Bell Aircraft Company, by King Peter II, the godson of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, of the United Kingdom. Young King Peter II, who at this time was 18 years old, often acted as an envoy for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, also belonged to the R.A.F., the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom. Both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, refused to leave London during the bombing in 1942. ---- Note: The military of Yugoslavia did "not" place an order, purchase, or utilize any of the Bell Aircraft military aircraft. ---- During World War Two, beginning to end, the country of Yugoslavia had "no" Bell P-39 Airacobra military aircraft.

    This and other items were left behind by Lucille M. Bell, who was the wife of Lawrence Dale Bell, founder of Bell Aircraft Corporation. Among the first customers of Bell Aircraft Corp. was the United States Air Force, ( under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and later President Truman ), and the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom, ( under King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and P. M. Winston Churchill ). This brooch is a P-39 Airacobra interceptor/fighter airplane, or otherwise known by the R.A.F. as a P-39 Cobra, P-400 Caribou, or MK - 1 . Later, during World War Two, due to the "Lend Lease Act", the P-39 Airacobra was used by the Russian Red Air Force, ( under Joseph Stallen ), and other Allied European countries.

    Materials: solid platinum, natural brilliant cut diamonds, rock crystal, emeralds and sapphires. indications are of European manufacture, due to qualities of the clasp and detail of craftmanship. The overall construction indicates very early production Bell aircraft design. The item measures approx. 3.25 inches from wing tip to wing tip, all materials used of highest quality. See Part 2 and Part 5 , " P-39 Airacobra Brooches" for a more detailed description and historical aspects. --------- "Google" - Part 9 The Bell P-39 Airacobra Brooches - for "Precious Metal Analysis" conducted by and under the control of --- Koved Technology, LLC., representing the "Thermo-Fisher Scientific Corporation". -------- Also -------- "Google" - Part 7 The Bell P-39 Airacobra Brooches - compared to General Dwight D. Eisenhower's Russian "Order of Victory Commendation", presented by Joseph Stalin and is on display at -- "The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum".

    This item could very well be the world's largest diamond and platinum airplane brooch, the world's most historically significant World War II piece of jewelry, and aviation's most invaluable high-end, fine jewelry item.

    This item is currently being researched as to purpose, people, and other historical information and is one of two P-39 Airacobra brooches left behind by Lucille M. Bell, wife of Lawrence Dale Bell, (Larry Bell), founder of the Bell Aircraft Company.

    The other P-39 Airacobra brooch -- the "VICTORY IN EUROPE" -- or -- "V-E DAY BROOCH" -- ( GVII ) -- is silver, platinum, and gold, and is approximately the same size. ---------- Germany surrendered May 7, 1945 ---- During a nation wide radio broadcast, Winston Churchill declared "VICTORY IN EUROPE" -- or -- "V-E DAY", on May 8, 1945 -- marking the end of World War Two in Europe. ---- In July, 1945, King Peter II presented the silver, "V-E DAY BROOCH" -- ( GVII ) -- to Lawrence Dale "Larry" Bell, Founder of the Bell Aircraft Company. ---- Japan surrendered September 2, 1945, marking the end of World War Two, world wide. ---- For security purposes the precious stone count and quantity will not be made public and cannot be determined from any photograph made public. Also, the location of these items have not been and will not be made public. Both items are privately owned and have never been offered for sale. Photographic examination only -- except for a "Precious Metal Analysis" by "Koved Technology, LLC.", representing "The Thermo-Fisher Scientific Corporation". --------- Also - "Google" - Parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , and 12-- The P-39 Airacobra Brooches of Lawrence Dale "Larry" Bell Founder of The Bell Aircraft Company. -------- Part 10, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, joined in the research, 30 days before Her Majesty's passing. ------ Part 11, correspondence from "The House of Garrard", London, ---- previously "Garrard and Co.", London, England. - ( updated 4/10/2023 )

    The intent of this posting is to collect and share information of a verifiably historical and educational nature. -- If you have any questions or information you would like to add, or any questions about these pieces, of a historical or educational nature, please contact -- Wayne Hugh Long -- via email -- whlong2715@gmail.com. --- via phone / text - 843-685-9468 --- updated 1/29/2023.

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    Comments

    1. inky inky, 9 years ago
      What fabulous things...thanks so much for sharing!...:-).. And welcome to CW.
    2. kyratango kyratango, 9 years ago
      Incredible! A master piece, plus historical related, WOW!!!
    3. Koppel Koppel, 9 years ago
      Stunning piece!
    4. scottvez scottvez, 9 years ago
      One of the nicest WW2 era sweetheart pieces that I have seen!

      scott
    5. DrFluffy DrFluffy, 9 years ago
      Wow... It's stunning. Cant' wait to see the other pieces.
    6. kiwipaul kiwipaul, 9 years ago
      That is an amazing piece of jewelry. Clearly no expense was spared. It's huge! I especially like the rock crystal cockpit hoods. The mind boggles to think of the sort of occasions where it would've been worn.
    7. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 9 years ago
      It's St. Pat's day and I'm green with envy!
    8. whlong, 9 years ago
      FOR KIWIPAUL ----- QUESTION ---- HOW DID YOU KNOW THE COCKPIT HOODS WERE ROCK CRYSTAL ? HAVE YOU SEEN THIS ITEM BEFORE ??? OR DO YOU KNOW OF ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ITEM ??? ----- I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ITEM AND OTHERS FOR OVER 2 YEARS --- INVOLVED MANY MUSEUMS AND INSTITUTIONS ---- USA AND EUROPE ----- THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ----- IF YOU KNOW OR HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ITEM, IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND WELCOMED. ----- YOU ARE RIGHT !! ---- THE CUT ROCK CRYSTAL IS ONLY USED IN THE CANOPY WINDOWS ----- ALL OTHER STONES ARE NATURAL DIAMONDS, EMERALS, AND SAPPHIRES. ------- AGAIN ANY INFORMATION WILL BE APPRECIATED ----- THANK YOU SO MUCH. --- WHLONG...
    9. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 9 years ago
      Whlong, I didn't catch your address. LOL!! More than half (4,600) P-39s went to the Ruskies.
    10. ron1939 ron1939, 9 years ago
      World War Two. Art .Jewelry. everything you could want wow.
    11. kiwipaul kiwipaul, 9 years ago
      Hi Wh Long, I only just picked up your query. Sorry I have no knowledge of the item other than your listing. Based on your description I assumed the cockpit hood must be where the rock crystal was used, I figured the canopy windows are too big to be diamonds.

      Good luck with your research, there is no doubt this was made by a master jeweler, however without documentation such as a receipt it may be very difficult to identify the maker.
    12. whlong, 9 years ago
      Yes the canopy windows are rock crystal. ---- this is the only place on the item where rock crystal is used. ----- I am continuing to dig and collect information ---- I am looking in all directions --- following any and all leads. ----- whlong.
    13. whlong, 9 years ago
      To --- Kiwipaul ----- just as information, there are many museums and institutions looking into these items ---- this search has been going on for two years plus ---- we know more now, than when we started ----- whlong....

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