A Strange Shape in the Air
In the skies over wartime America, a peculiar aircraft appeared—sleek, silent, and flying without a visible propeller. But what truly shocked those who saw it wasn’t just the shape of the plane. It was the pilot.
Witnesses described a gorilla in a derby hat, cigar in hand, at the controls. This bizarre scene was not a hallucination or hoax. It was part of a calculated effort to keep America’s first jet fighter, the Bell P-59 Airacomet, hidden in plain sight.
Jet Engines and Practical Jokes
In 1942, the Bell P-59 became the first jet-powered fighter aircraft developed by the United States. Designed in secrecy, it relied on British jet engine technology shared with the U.S. at the height of World War II. Bell Aircraft’s test pilot was Jack Woolams, a fearless aviator and known prankster.
While flying the top-secret aircraft, Woolams sometimes wore a gorilla mask, derby hat, and held a cigar. He would fly close to formations of unsuspecting propeller-driven aircraft, astonishing other pilots who couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
Flying Undercover
To maintain secrecy, the Airacomet was disguised during testing. Mechanics mounted a fake wooden propeller to its nose while it was on the ground.
Woolams’ gorilla disguise was an added layer of absurdity meant to distract any potential onlookers or spies. If someone reported a pilot in a gorilla suit flying a plane with no propeller, military officials could easily dismiss the sighting as fantasy.
The Plane That Came Too Late
Although the P-59 flew, it was never used in combat. It was outpaced by faster, more advanced jet fighters from Britain and Germany. Bell Aircraft produced 66 units, but they served only as training and research platforms. Jack Woolams continued testing aircraft until his death in 1946.
Had he lived, he was expected to fly the Bell X-1 rocket plane—later used by Chuck Yeager to break the sound barrier. The gorilla mask, however, remained one of his most unforgettable contributions to aviation lore.
In 1942, U.S. pilots spotted a strange aircraft—sleek, silent, and propellerless.
The real shock came from the cockpit: a figure in a gorilla mask, derby hat, and cigar.
It was test pilot Jack Woolams flying America’s first jet, the secret Bell P-59 Airacomet…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/UE8EowW89j
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) June 17, 2025