This the one?
Posted on 03/09/2006 3:54:19 PM PST by riverflyer
The P-47 recovered from a lake up in Austria was assinged to the 9th AF, 405th Grp, 511th Sq, the unit to which I was a member. On October 15th 1944 I was assinged to this aircraft and subsequently flew 39 missions in it of my total 76. a friend in the unit offered to paint a pinup on it with "Dottie Mae" my wife at the time next to it. Although I picked up shrapnel on several occassions, the aircraft brought me through the war without a scratch. I was able to put in 22 years with the military and 27 with United Airlines and am currently retired at the age of 83.
Great story. Have to find some pictures...
Any news reports on the recovery???
Congratulations on the recovery of your flying friend, the thunderbolt - and a BIG "thank you" for your service in the cause of freedom!
Welcome to Free Republic. Thank you, sir.
Welcome to Free Republic! I can't wait to see some pictures of the plane!
Thanks so much for your service to our great Country! You guys saved the world from the evil doers of your generation...way to go!!
I'm looking forward to hearing more about your adventures, especially how the Thunderbolt ended up in the lake.
Please get more information and keep us updated.
Did he bail out and the plane crashed into lake?
Welcome to FR
My favorite WW II fighter.
Robert Johnson is my favorite WW II Ace.
I'd salute you, but I'm such a loser, I'd probably poke my eye out. How did it get there?
God bless you, and THANK you for your service to your country.
P47....my second favorite Jugs
General characteristics P-47C
Primary function Fighter
Contractors Republic Aviation Corp., Curtiss-Wright Corp.
Power plant One Pratt&Whitney R-2800-21 engine
Thrust 2,300 HP 1,715 kW
Wingspan 40.75 ft 12.42 m
Length 36 ft 10.99 m
Height 14.2 ft 4.32 m
Wingarea 300 sq ft 27.9 sq m
Weight empty 10,710 lb 4,858 kg
max. 16,215 lb 7,355 kg
Speed 433 mph 697 km/h
Initial climb rate 2,805 ft/min 855 m/min
Range 1,725 miles 2,776 km
Armament 8x 12.7mm machine guns, 1x 227 kg bomb
Crew One
First flight May 6, 1941 (XP-47B)
Date deployed 1943
General characteristics P-47N-5
Primary function Fighter
Power plant One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp 18-cylinder, two-row radial engine
Thrust 2,800 HP 2,088 kW
Wingspan 42,5 ft 12.97 m
Length 35.4 ft 10.79 m
Wingarea 322 sq ft 29.91 sq m
Weight empty 11,650 lb 5,285 kg
max. 20,680 lb 9,380 kg
Speed 460 mph 740 km/h
Initial climb rate 2,805 ft/min 855 m/min
Range 2,350 miles 3,781 km
Armament 8x 12.7mm machine guns, up to 1,135 kg bombs
Crew One
Date deployed 1945
Cost Approx $54,600
Number built 15,683 (all types)
Try this Freep website link.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1422578/posts
The one in the picture looks like a Razorback.
http://www.pbase.com/marauder61/p47_airtoair_session
Great pics of one of the few flying P47's here. Click on the little pic to make it big.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.