P-47 in Evansville, IN circa 1980's

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:16 pm

I just found that the registry had a P-47 listed as restored to static display and then was lost in a building fire. Did anyone ever see this aircraft. Any history on it.

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:49 pm

Wasn't that one fished out of a lake in Florida (Jay Wisler might have been involved with that) and then was being restored by some former Republic employees? It kind of rings a bell...

Speedy · **Posted:** Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:36 pm

Interesting...I didn't know that they had one there. When we would fly into Evansville for the hydroplane races the old P-47 plant is still off one end of the airport. I remember that they had a big model in the lobby of the terminal, but never knew that they had a real one.

I'd be interested in more info too.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:22 am

I believe it was a P-47B and burned in a fire..............
Over to those who aren't just pulling answers outa their arses :shock:

Dan K · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:04 am

Jack Cook wrote:

I believe it was a P-47B and burned in a fire..............
Over to those who aren't just pulling answers outa their arses :shock:

Keep pulling, Jack! :wink:

The Jug on display in Evansville was 42-8320, a P-47D-2-RE. Crashed into Lake Kerr in Florida on Aug. 12, 1943.

The Heritage Commission in Evansville restored it to static in the colors of 42-22250, "Hoosier Spirit", the first Jug to roll out the Evansville factory doors.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:02 am

Any pics out there?

kingpin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:29 am

Hello All

I have lived in Evansville since 1990. I have never seen a real fullsize P-47 displayed anywhere. The plane in question from I had heard was fished out of a lake in Florida? It looked pretty bad like swiss cheese. The group that was trying to get it going fell short on funds from the stories I have heard. It was moved from location to location in Evansville till it was stored in an old warehouse. The warehouse went up in flames along with everything stored inside.
As a matter of fact the Whirlpool factory that is here shutdown and moved production to Mexcio. Not sure what is going to happen to original Republic factory that is now Whirlpool.

Glen

florida.warbirds · **Joined:** Fri Aug 22, 2014 8:25 am **Posts:** 158

This just popped up on one of FB feeds.

On the 12th of August 1943, a P-47D crashed into Lake Kerr, Between Orlando and Jacksonville. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft after it impacted the water and sank. I would imagine the events of that day were part of Pilot, James Rickards' thoughts every day for much of the rest of his life. In October 1986, the aircraft was located and recovered by my good friend, Don Lambert. Amazingly, this manual was in the aircraft when it crashed. Unbelievably after 40 years in the lake, it was still readable.

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2629

http://warbirdregistry.org/p47registry/p47-428320.html

https://www.aircorpsaviation.com/septem ... -update-2/

Dan K · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2023 2:23 pm

florida.warbirds · **Joined:** Fri Aug 22, 2014 8:25 am **Posts:** 158

Dan,

Do you have a picture of the full newspaper write-up?

Matt

Dan K · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2023 9:39 pm

florida.warbirds wrote:

Dan,

Do you have a picture of the full newspaper write-up?

Matt

Sort of...

Spotted it here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/401307759572

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P-47 in Evansville, IN circa 1980's

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