List of surviving P-47 Thunderbolts

P-47D-30RA 45-49192, nicknamed No Guts No Glory!, still flying for Claire Aviation in Wilmington, Delaware

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was an American fighter aircraft. Beginning in 1942, 15,686 P-47’s were produced, the last of which was accepted by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) from Republic Aviation' Evansville factory.

Background

While the majority of the earlier versions and war-weary aircraft were quickly scrapped, most of the last production blocks would continue in service with the post-war USAAF and the new USAF. For the next five years, these aircraft would continue as a front-line fighter with the active airforce. It would also serve for over 10 years with a preponderance of the National Guard fighter units east of the Mississippi River.

The P-47 would also be the foundation stock for rebuilding a majority of the post-war European airforces. Unlike the P-51, this aircraft was easily maintained and more forgiving of pilot mistakes (due to its more robust construction). Like the USAF, these aircraft only started to retire as the second generation jets became readily available. In the early 1950s as the now renamed F-47 was being retired from active USAF service, these aircraft were through various Military Assistance Programs (MAPS) offered to numerous South American countries. For the next 15 years, the P-47 would continue as a front line fighter with these nations.

Unlike many of its contemporary World War II fighters, the P-47 was not a sought after aircraft on the post-war civilian marketplace. It did not have the sleek lines needed for an executive aircraft or racing. For the next 22 years, except for two razorback versions, the P-47 would progressively diminish from U.S skies. It was only in 1968 with the retirement of the Peruvian Air Force's P-47s and the successful importation of six aircraft would the population of these aircraft begin to grow. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, more airframes would be returned from numerous South American countries for restoration and display. In the late 1980s, aircraft from Yugoslavia were also rediscovered and imported. The current batches of P-47s to return to the restored are those long forgotten wartime crash sites.

P-47 Survivors

Airworthy

United States

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-8205 owned by the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.^[1]
• P-47G Thunderbolt, s/n 42-25234 owned by the Planes of Fame in Chino, California.^[2]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-27385 owned by the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.^[3]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-32817 owned by Lewis Vintage Collection LCC in San Antonio, Texas.^[4]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-90368 owned by the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, Texas.^[5]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-90438 owned by Aviation Management Resources in Wilmington, Delaware.^[6]
• P-47N Thunderbolt, s/n 44-90447 owned by PT-17 Inc. in Dover, Delaware.^[7]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-90460 owned by Neal Melton of Luttrell, Tennessee.^[8]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-90471 owned by Tillamook Air Museum in Tillamook, Oregon.^[9]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49181 owned by Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan.^[10]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49192 owned by Claire Aviation Inc in Wilmington, Delaware.^[11]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49205 owned by Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, California.^[12]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49346 owned by the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.^[13]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49385 owned by Alan Wojciak in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[14]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49406 owned by Vulcan Warbirds Inc. of Seattle, Washington.^[15]
• P-47N Thunderbolt, s/n 45-53436 owned by the Commemorative Air Force in Midland, Texas. It is based at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas.^[16]

On display

P-47 of the Expeditionary Museum in Curitiba, Brazil.

Brazil

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-19663 at the Guaratingueta Air Force Base.^[17]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-26450 at the Guararapes Air Force Base.^[18]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-26757 at the Santa Cruz Air Force Base.^[19]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-26762 at the Curitiba Air Force Base.^[20]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49151 at the Museu Aeroespacial.^[21]

Chile

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49219 at the Museo Nacional de Aeronautica Chile.^[22]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49509 at a FAC base.^[23]

Croatia

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n unknown, ex-Yugoslav AF 13109 "13109" at the Technical Museum, Zagreb.^[24]

France

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-20371 at the Musee de l'Air.^[25]

Germany

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-7924 at the Motortechnica Museum.^[26]

Italy

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-89746 at the Italian Air Force Museum.^[27]

Mexico

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-90205 at the Museo de la FAM.^[28]

Turkey

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-33712 at the Turkish Air Force Museum.^[29]

United Kingdom

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49295 at the RAF Museum in RAF Cosford.^[30]

United States

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-23278 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.^[31]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-32691 at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington D.C..^[32]
• P-47N Thunderbolt, s/n 44-89320 at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, Florida.^[33]
• P-47N Thunderbolt, s/n 44-89348 at Lackland AFB, Texas.^[34]
• P-47N Thunderbolt, s/n 44-89444 at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. It is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.^[35]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49167 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.^[36]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49458 at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. It is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.^[37]

Venezuela

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-32809 at the Aeronautics Museum of Maracay.^[38]

Under restoration

Australia

• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-8066 by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Sydney.^[39]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-8310 by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Sydney.^[40]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-27608 by Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Sydney.^[41]

United Kingdom

• P-47G Thunderbolt, s/n 42-25068 by the The Fighter Collection in Duxford.^[42]

United States

• P-47B Thunderbolt, s/n 41-5920 by Randy Ferris of Bensenville, Illinois.^[43]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 42-26766 by Bill Destefani of Shafter, California.^[44]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-32798 by Hill Aerospace Museum in Utah.^[45]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 44-32814 to flightworthiness by Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.^[46]
• P-47N Thunderbolt, s/n 44-89425 by Peterson Air and Space Museum in Peterson AFB, Colorado.^[47]
• P-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 45-49130 to flightworthiness by Neal Melton of Luttrell, Tennessee.^[48]

References

Notes

1. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-8205" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
2. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-25234" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
3. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-27385" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
4. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-32817" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
5. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-90368" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
6. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-90438" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
7. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-90447" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
8. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-90460" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
9. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-90471" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
10. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49181" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
11. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49192" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
12. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49205" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
13. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49346" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
14. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49385" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
15. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49406" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
16. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-53436" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
17. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-19663" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
18. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-26450" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
19. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-26757" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
20. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-26762" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
21. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49151" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
22. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49219" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
23. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49509" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
24. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/unknown" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
25. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-20371" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
26. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-7924" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
27. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-89746" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
28. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-90205" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
29. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-33712" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
30. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49295" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
31. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-23278" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
32. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-32691" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
33. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-89320" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
34. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-89348" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
35. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-89444" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
36. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49167" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
37. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49458" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
38. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-32809" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
39. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-8066" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
40. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-8310" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
41. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-27608" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
42. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-25068" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
43. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/41-5920" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
44. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/42-26766" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
45. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-32798" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
46. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-32814" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
47. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/44-89425" Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved: 21 April 2011.
48. ^ "P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49130" FAA Registry. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.

Bibliography

• United States Air Force Museum Guidebook. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation, 1975.

External links

• BASE DE DONNÉES: P-47 Database, accessed December 11, 2009
• Warbird Central: P-47 Serial Numbers, accessed December 11, 2009
• History of ex-350th FG / 1° GAvCa Brazilian AF in WWII, accessed December 11, 2009
• History of Brazilian AF, accessed December 11, 2009
• AztecModels: History Mexican Squadron 201, accessed December 11, 2009
• US Warplanes: P-47 Thunderbolt, accessed December 11, 2009
• AeroWeb: P-47s On Display, accessed December 11, 2009

Video

• No Guts No glory