P-47 on the Autobahn

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2628

I believe this is from the 22nd Fighter Squadron-36th Fighter Group, dated Mar. 45, Fusa Germany, looks like the engine has siezed (one bent blade), has 5 kill markings.

Regards,
Mike

Mudge · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:50 pm

OK...if this is a stupid question just remember, it ain't my first and won't, I'm sure, be my last.

If the engine seized, does that mean no hydraulic power to lower the gear?
If that's not the case, why do you suppose he didn't lower the gear?

Mudge the educable

ps. That's also a pretty ratty looking piece of road to be the autobahn. I always thought the autobahn was a really high-tech piece of construction.

b29driver · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:32 pm

The gear will free fall pretty reliably on a P-47. The problem is not getting it down, but being sure that you really want it down when deadstick landing. Typically much less damage is done, and the event is much more survivalable with gear up, as opposed to gear down when the engine is dead. The "Jug" glides like a "greased sewer lid" with the gear up and glides like a "depleted uranium brick" with the gear down.

Starduster77 · **Joined:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:00 am **Posts:** 169

Got this from Tom Bullard who's uncle flew in this squadron,the 22 FS 36 FG.
"Patty" belonged to Wilton Earle. Ship was damaged by flak and he finally had to land it on the autobahn. Tony Donato, a US soldier in A Battery, 5th Artillery, 1st Infantry Division pulled Earle from the aircraft; Earle refused to be in any of the photos, but instead took all the photographs with Donato's Kodak 116 box camera.
Do you have any other photo's of this P-47D?
Thanks Rick

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2628

Starduster77 wrote:

Got this from Tom Bullard who's uncle flew in this squadron,the 22 FS 36 FG.
"Patty" belonged to Wilton Earle. Ship was damaged by flak and he finally had to land it on the autobahn. Tony Donato, a US soldier in A Battery, 5th Artillery, 1st Infantry Division pulled Earle from the aircraft; Earle refused to be in any of the photos, but instead took all the photographs with Donato's Kodak 116 box camera.
Do you have any other photo's of this P-47D?
Thanks Rick

Interesting story. I don't see Wilton Earle on any Ace list, but the a/c has 5 kill markings.???
The picture is from the National Archives Army Signal Corps collection and was taken by Pvt. Hollander.

Regards,
Mike

Starduster77 · **Joined:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:00 am **Posts:** 169

Maj. Earle did not have 5 air kills.
All of his were aircraft destoryed on the ground.
The web sight Web-Birds(no more) had the same story with other photo's.
This photo could have been takin latter I don't know.
Just in case anyone is intrested in this pilot.
On April 12 1945 along with Lt.Col. Douglas (Co 36FG), Maj. Earle and 9 other pilots destroyed 74 german planes on the ground at various airfields.
So he made it back after this belly landing.
Here are the other 9.
Lt. O.G. Olsen (Galesburg, IL)
Lt. L.E. Ash
Capt. G.W. Evans (Laurel, MS)
Capt. F.R. Johnson (Philadelphia, PA)
Capt. J.E. "Hollywood" Ferrar (St. Albans, NY)
Lt. W.W. Hall (Washington, DC)
Lt. R.C. Fisher (Pittsburgh, PA)
Lt. W.L. Cobb (El Segundo, CA)
Capt. John B. Fitts, Jr. (Richmond, VA)Tom's uncle.
There is a photo of this group around a sign with 74 destroyed on it but I do not have it.
This list is from Mr.Bullard .
Rick

Starduster77 · **Joined:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:00 am **Posts:** 169

One thing I notice on the photo above is that the P-47D is roped off so this photo was maybe taken latter .
Oh well ,still a nice photo.
Rick

Django · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:23 am

Why rope it off, with 2 soldiers guarding it?

ww2John · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:35 am

Django,

They might not be guards. I mean...war..soldiers with guns...could be lookey-loos looking at the bird on the ground? Or, could be guards getting their picture taken?

John

Dan K · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:34 pm

Django wrote:

Why rope it off, with 2 soldiers guarding it?

Surely you've heard the following about WWII:

The Germans fight for Der Fuhrer und Lebensraum.

The Japanese fight for their emperor.

The British fight for God and country.

And the Americans fight for souvenirs. :wink:

Django · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:59 pm

Gotcha!

Hahaha!

BCDonato · **Joined:** Wed Oct 24, 2012 4:18 pm **Posts:** 2

FYI that was my grandfather (Anthony Donato) and I have photos of this and His contact info If you would like to speak with him about it. Brentdonato@gmail.com

robkamm · **Posted:** Wed Oct 24, 2012 7:39 pm

post them up. would love to hear first hand accounts and fresh pictures. welcome to the forum

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:35 pm

Could we try again with the picture as its a red X now...

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2628

Lynn Allen wrote:

Could we try again with the picture as its a red X now...

We could.....

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P-47 on the Autobahn

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