P-39s at Alamein

[stevehnz]

I have just finished ploughing through Antony Beevor's "The Second World War". Not too much of a plough in fact as I found it very readable. A couple of mistakes jumped out at me & one I'm not sure about. On p378, covering the Battle of El Alamein he talks about..."The new 40mm cannon on the American P-39 Airacobras proved a most effective tank-busting weapon."
I've heard of P-39 with (I think), 37mm cannon firing thru the propellor boss, apparently much admired by the VVS, but never before of a P-39 with a 40mm cannon nor any mention of P-39s at Alamein. My best guess is that he means the Hurricane IIDs with the 40mm Vickers S guns. Comments?
Steve.