LSFM P-47 "Tarheel Hal" going to Evansville Wartime Museum

[kalamazookid]

Looks like Tarheel Hal is in line to get a new paint job.

Source: https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/l ... f-indiana/

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind (WEHT) Rep. Wendy McNamara plans to introduce House Bill 1197 requesting that the P-47 Thunderbolt “Hoosier Spirit II” be declared the official state aircraft of Indiana. The bill is being co-sponsored by Rep. Matt Hostettler, Rep. Holli Sullivan, and Rep. Sharon Negele.

In honor of the first P-47 produced at the Republic Aviation plant in Evansville, named “Hoosier Spirit,” the P-47 Thunderbolt “Tarheel Hal” is being formally renamed “Hoosier Spirit II.” The P-47 arrived at the Evansville Wartime Museum this past October.

Along with a new name, the aircraft will also be getting a new paint job to better reflect its Indiana history and origins. The repainting is planned for the near future.

The Evansville P-47 Foundation is continuing fundraising efforts for the aircraft. Donations can be made at the P-47 Foundation’s website or by contacting a Foundation Board Member at (812) 205-4793.

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[The Ripper]

Perhaps some journalists and news agencies need to research their material more. One article about the P-47's new paint scheme lead me to believe there are only four P-47's flying in the world!

[Mike]

The Evansville group are getting an absolute pasting on Facebook now they’ve unveiled the new scheme for the P-47, to the extent they’re now deleting comments in a fast and furious manner, and blocking anyone who dares to dissent from their view that the scheme is much more “elevated” than the “boring” wartime scheme they’re supposedly commemorating.

[hurricane_yank]

The Evansville group are getting an absolute pasting on Facebook now they’ve unveiled the new scheme for the P-47, to the extent they’re now deleting comments in a fast and furious manner, and blocking anyone who dares to dissent from their view that the scheme is much more “elevated” than the “boring” wartime scheme they’re supposedly commemorating.

For those of us not on there - what is the new scheme?

[junkman9096]

The Evansville group are getting an absolute pasting on Facebook now they’ve unveiled the new scheme for the P-47, to the extent they’re now deleting comments in a fast and furious manner, and blocking anyone who dares to dissent from their view that the scheme is much more “elevated” than the “boring” wartime scheme they’re supposedly commemorating.

For those of us not on there - what is the new scheme?

OMG(oodness), I can see the issue.

https://www.facebook.com/EvansvilleP47F ... 921184291/

Couldn't they have found a P-47 pilot/ace from Indiana who flew a P-47 with a particularly interesting color scheme?

[Firebird]

The Evansville group are getting an absolute pasting on Facebook now they’ve unveiled the new scheme for the P-47

And deservedly so as well.
Talk about not having a clue.

Still, they bought it, so they can do what they like with it.

[Jim MacDonald]

Is she going to still be a flyer or static in a museum? If she's going to just be sitting in a museum gathering dust I guess it doesn't matter how ugly the paint job is, not many people will see her anyways. If she's going to be going to airshows...that paint scheme sucks, IMHO.

Mac

[Mike]

It won’t fly again under their ownership

[Jim MacDonald]

That sucks along with the paint scheme.

Mac

[Dan K]

This thought just struck me:

Weren't factory-fresh "presentation" aircraft often one and the same plane, and the photo department just changed the block lettering according to the city, organization, etc. ?

If Evansville wants to celebrate all of Indiana, how about a factory-fresh scheme with a presentation tribute, and just change the name of the city/organization from time to time? They could even start with some authentic examples from the 40s.

[Mike]

Because the whole point of what they are doing is to commemorate the connection of the P-47 with Evansville, not other cities.

[Dan K]

Because the whole point of what they are doing is to commemorate the connection of the P-47 with Evansville, not other cities.

My apologies.

I read the following from the linked facebook thread and got the impression the display was celebrating all Hoosiers.

We want to honor our community and the effort of everyone in the State of Indiana who contributed to the war effort.

[mexchiwa]

On the one hand - Jugs in non-authentic, non-military markings are exceedingly rare (basically just the racer YP-47M from the 40s (now at Yanks), the N in CAF house colors, and a couple of others from the 50s/60s

On the other hand... Yeesshhh

[Dan Jones]

That's a really unfortunate decision to paint the airplane in what amounts to essentially a Nascar-type paint job. Celebrating the people that built the airplane and it again being in it's "hometown" would probably be much more appropriately done by showcasing the airplane in it's "as left the factory" markings, instead of whatever the hell that mess is. But, it's only paint, so whoever next becomes her caretaker can straighten out the mess when the time comes.

Last edited by Dan Jones on Sun May 09, 2021 4:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[hurricane_yank]

Maybe someone with deep pockets will pony up some cash to take her off their hands.