List of surviving Republic P-47 Thunderbolts

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is an American fighter aircraft. From the first prototype produced in 1941, 15,686 P-47s were produced, the last of which was accepted by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) from Republic Aviation' Evansville, Indiana factory.

Republic P-47D-40-RA Thunderbolt 45-49192 presented as P-47D-25-RE 42-26671 'No Guts-No Glory' (MX-X) of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, nicknamed "No Guts-No Glory!", while flying for Claire Aviation in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.

Background

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While the majority of the earlier versions and war-weary aircraft were quickly scrapped, most of the last production blocks would continue in service with the post-war USAAF and the new USAF. For the next five years, these aircraft would continue as a front-line fighter with the active United States Air Force. It would also serve for over 10 years with a preponderance of the Air National Guard fighter units east of the Mississippi River.

The P-47 would also be the foundation stock for rebuilding a majority of the post-war European air forces. Unlike the P-51, this aircraft was easily maintained and more forgiving of pilot mistakes (due to its more robust construction). Like the USAF, these aircraft only started to retire as the second generation jets became readily available. In the early 1950s as the now renamed F-47 was being retired from active USAF service, these aircraft were through various Military Assistance Programs (MAPs) offered to numerous South American countries. For the next 15 years, the F-47 would continue as a front line fighter with these nations.

Unlike many of its contemporary World War II fighters, the P-47 was not a sought after aircraft on the postwar civilian marketplace. It did not have the sleek lines needed for an executive aircraft or racing. For the next 22 years, except for two razorback versions, the P-47 would progressively diminish from U.S. skies. It was only in 1968 with the retirement of the Peruvian Air Force's P-47s and the successful importation of six aircraft would the population of these aircraft begin to grow. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, more airframes would be returned from numerous South American countries for restoration and display. In the late 1980s, aircraft from Yugoslavia were also rediscovered and imported. The current batches of P-47s to return to the restored are those from long forgotten wartime crash sites.

Survivors

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Thunderbolt, Museum "Asas de um Sonho", in São Carlos, State of São Paulo, Brazil.
 
P-47D Thunderbolt on display at Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio, Chile.
 
Displays of aircraft and spacecraft at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace (Air & Space Museum), Le Bourget, Paris, France, in December 2023.

Australia

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Under restoration
P-47D

Brazil

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On display
P-47D
 
P-47D 42–26760 on display at TAM Museum, São Carlos – São Paulo State – Brazil
 
Marked as one of the 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron airplanes, which took part in combats in Italy during World War II

Chile

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On display
P-47D

China

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on display

P-47D

 
P-47 on display at Beijing Air and Space Museum, Beijing, China

Colombia

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On display
P-47D
  • 45-49102 – Museo Aeroespacial Colombiano in Bogota.

Croatia

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On display
P-47D

France

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On display
P-47D

Germany

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On display
P-47D
  • 42-7924 – Motortechnica Museum.

Italy

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On display
P-47D

Mexico

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On display
P-47D
  • 44-90205 – Museo de la FAM.

Serbia

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On display
P-47D

Turkey

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On display
P-47D

United Kingdom

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P-47G Thunderbolt s/n 42-25068 at Duxford, 2012
Airworthy
P-47D
On display
P-47D

United States

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Airworthy
P-47D
 
P-47D 45-49406 taxiing at Paine Field, 2010
P-47G
YP-47M
 
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-23278 "Razorback Version", National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio
 
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, Seattle Museum of Flight, Washington
 
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt at the Air Zoo
On display
P-47D
P-47N
Under restoration or in storage
P-47D

[50]

P-47N

Venezuela

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Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Venezuela Airforce.
On display
P-47D

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ "P-47D-25-RE Thunderbolt s/n 42-26757" Jambock.com.br – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 14 September 2018.
  2. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/42-26760" Museu TAM – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 5 March 2015.
  3. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/44-19663" Museu Aeroespacial – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 5 March 2015.
  4. ^ "P-47D-40-RA Thunderbolt s/n 45-49151" Jambock.com.br – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 14 September 2018.
  5. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49485" Museu do Expedicionario – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 5 March 2015.
  6. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90464" Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 1 October 2013.
  7. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49192" The Fighter Collection. Retrieved: 7 March 2018.
  8. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/42-26671" IWM American Air Museum Retrieved: 9 March 2012.
  9. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49295" Archived 5 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine RAF Museum Record. Retrieved: 9 March 2012.
  10. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/42-29150" Allied Fighters. Retrieved: 12 October 2018.
  11. ^ "FAA Registry: N47DM" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  12. ^ "FAA Registry: N767WJ" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  13. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90368" Evansville Wartime Museum. Retrieved: 19 October 2020.
  14. ^ "FAA Registry: N4747P" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Warbird Information Exchange • View topic - DTAM P-47D Thunderbolt "Bonnie" Unveiled". warbirdinformationexchange.org. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  16. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90438" Tennessee Museum of Aviation. Retrieved: 21 August 2020.
  17. ^ "FAA Registry: N647D" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  18. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90460" Tennessee Museum of Aviation. Retrieved: 9 January 2018.
  19. ^ "FAA Registry: N9246B" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  20. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90471" Erickson Aircraft Collection. Retrieved: 31 July 2014.
  21. ^ "FAA Registry: N47DA" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  22. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49205" Palm Springs Air Museum. Retrieved: 1 October 2013.
  23. ^ "FAA Registry: N47RP" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  24. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49346" Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved: 16 March 2020.
  25. ^ "FAA Registry: N3152D" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  26. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49385" Republic P47 Thunderbolt. Retrieved: 14 July 2021.
  27. ^ "FAA Registry: N47DF" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  28. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49406" Flying Heritage Collection. Retrieved: 9 January 2018.
  29. ^ "FAA Registry: N7159Z" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  30. ^ "FAA Registry: N47FG" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  31. ^ "P-47G Thunderbolt/42-25254" Planes of Fame. Retrieved: 16 March 2020.
  32. ^ "FAA Registry: N3395G" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  33. ^ "YP-47M Thunderbolt/42-27385" Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved: 16 March 2020.
  34. ^ "FAA Registry: N27385" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  35. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/42-8205" Museum of Flight. Retrieved: 1 October 2013.
  36. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/42-23278" National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 9 January 2018.
  37. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/44-32691" National Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 13 April 2012.
  38. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/44-32798" Hill Aerospace Museum. Retrieved: 9 January 2018.
  39. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49167" National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 9 January 2018.
  40. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49181" Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum. Retrieved: 9 May 2011.
  41. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49458" New England Air Museum. Retrieved: 13 April 2012.
  42. ^ "P-47N Thunderbolt/44-89320" Air Force Armament Museum. Retrieved: 9 January 2018.
  43. ^ "Warbird Directory: Republic Page 7" Retrieved: 23 September 2022
  44. ^ "P-47N Thunderbolt/44-89425" Peterson Air and Space Museum. Retrieved: 13 April 2012.
  45. ^ "P-47N Thunderbolt/44-89444" Cradle of Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 16 March 2020.
  46. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/42-08310" Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 19 October 2020.
  47. ^ "FAA Registry: N47FF" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  48. ^ https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0goGicPuRz52EEg7NKMG3PRx1W49kVmXFMz8q9nXN2CypzCECWu6AbGDVBnHi6Sxwl&id=100044338303673&mibextid=Nif5oz [bare URL]
  49. ^ "P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90447" American Airpower Museum. Retrieved: 4 October 2013.
  50. ^ "Pilot of vintage World War II plane killed after crashing in Hudson River" New York Daily News Retrieved: 21 January 2022
  51. ^ "FAA Registry: N9246W" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.
  52. ^ "P-47N Thunderbolt/171" Platinum Fighter Sales. Retrieved: 12 August 2021.
  53. ^ "P-47N Thunderbolt/44-89136" Commemorative Air Force Airbase Georgia. Retrieved: 26 July 2022.
  54. ^ "FAA Registry: N844WA" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.

Bibliography

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  • United States Air Force Museum Guidebook. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation, 1975.
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Video

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