P-47 "Dottie Mae"

[mustang1]

I read the news feature in Aeroplane November 2005 about the P-47. In the feature is stated they found the main fuel tank full of water, and about 80 gallons of US avgas in the auxiliary tank. The avgas was collected and stored for possible reuse. What possible reuse is there after 60 years? Could it be reuse to power an airplane?

[Paul Krumrei]

Why would they risk using that old garbage in a bird? I know I wouldn't trust it.

If they found that much fuel, as I read the article on the bird sometime ago I thought the pilot ran out of fuel and ditched? Or was it that he took small arms fire after locating a concentration/prison camp/

cant remember, reading so much lately, they start to blend.

[tom d. friedman]

the old fuel is probably a collectable curio that they will sell in vials or tubes to raise money$$$ for restoration, or just display the vintage gas in a museum display concerning the p-47. i can't imagine shipping 60 year old av gas to a collector via ups (kaboom!!!!) or to stretch the theory even farther...... when the b-24 "lady be good" was found in libya in 1959, authorities were amazed at the fact that many of the fluids on the long downed bomber were still in great condition 16 years after she went missing. scientists studied the fluids to find out the key to their being still airworthy after so many years. this could be a full circle study, testing av fluids in the tropics after 60 years. who knows what motivates the people involved in the recent recovery?? regards, tom

[Jack Cook]

I thought the pilot ran out of fuel and ditched? Or was it that he took small arms fire after locating a concentration/prison camp/

He touched the lake while rejoining his flight and almost drowned because he couldn't swin and wasn't wearing a Mae West.