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.

Background 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 then 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.

Surviving aircraft

Australia Under restoration P-47D 42-8066 – Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Wollongong. 42-8310 – Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Wollongong. 42-27608 – Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Wollongong.

Brazil On display P-47D 42-26757 – Santa Cruz AFB in Rio de Janeiro. Wartime "A5". Painted as 44-19660 "C5"."P-47D-25-RE Thunderbolt s/n 42-26757" Jambock.com.br – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 14 September 2018. 42-26760 – Museu TAM in Sao Carlos. Wartime "B2". Painted as 42-29265 "B5"."P-47D Thunderbolt/42-26760" Museu TAM – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 5 March 2015. 44-19663 – Museu Aeroespacial in Rio de Janeiro. Wartime "A6". Painted as 42-19662 "D5"."P-47D Thunderbolt/44-19663" Museu Aeroespacial – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 5 March 2015. 45-49151 – Museu Aeroespacial in Rio de Janeiro. Painted as 42-26766 "B4"."P-47D-40-RA Thunderbolt s/n 45-49151" Jambock.com.br – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 14 September 2018. 45-49485 – Museu do Expedicionário in Curitiba. Painted as 42-26756 "A4"."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49485" Museu do Expedicionario – in Portuguese. Retrieved: 5 March 2015.

Chile On display P-47D 45-49219 – Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio in Santiago de Chile. Painted as FACH N° 750.

China on display

P-47D

Unknown number - Beijing Air and Space Museum in Beihang University, Beijing. Painted as United States Army Air Forces with Invasion stripes and with the white and black checkerboard cowling of 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force. Without number.

Colombia On display P-47D 45-49102 – Museo Aeroespacial Colombiano in Bogotá.

Croatia On display P-47D 13109 (ex-Yugoslav AF) – Technical Museum, Zagreb.

France On display P-47D 44-20371 – Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace north of Paris.

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

Italy On display P-47D 44-89746 – Italian Air Force Museum in Bracciano.

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

Serbia On display P-47D 44-90464 (ex-Yugoslav AF 13056) – Museum of Aviation, Belgrade."P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90464" Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 1 October 2013.

Turkey On display P-47D 44-33712 – Istanbul Aviation Museum

United Kingdom

Airworthy P-47D 45-49192 Nellie – Duxford Aerodrome in Cambridgeshire."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49192" The Fighter Collection. Retrieved: 7 March 2018. On display P-47D 42-26671 – Imperial War Museum Duxford."P-47D Thunderbolt/42-26671" IWM American Air Museum Retrieved: 9 March 2012. 45-49295 – Royal Air Force Museum London."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49295" RAF Museum Record. Retrieved: 9 March 2012.

United States Airworthy P-47D 42-29150 Dottie Mae – based at Allied Fighters in Sun Valley, Idaho."P-47D Thunderbolt/42-29150" Allied Fighters. Retrieved: 12 October 2018."FAA Registry: N47DM" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 44-32817 Chief Ski-U-Mah – based at Fagen Fighters WWII Museum, in Granite Falls, Minnesota."FAA Registry: N767WJ" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 44-90368 Hoosier Spirit II – based at Evansville Wartime Museum in Evansville, Indiana."P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90368" Evansville Wartime Museum. Retrieved: 19 October 2020."FAA Registry: N4747P" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 42-27609 Bonnie- Based at the Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot, North Dakota

44-90438 Wicked Wabbit – based at Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, Tennessee."P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90438" Tennessee Museum of Aviation. Retrieved: 21 August 2020."FAA Registry: N647D" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 44-90460 Hun Hunter XVI – based at Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, Tennessee."P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90460" Tennessee Museum of Aviation. Retrieved: 9 January 2018."FAA Registry: N9246B" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 44-90471 Hairless Joe – based at Erickson Aircraft Collection in Madras, Oregon."P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90471" Erickson Aircraft Collection. Retrieved: 31 July 2014."FAA Registry: N47DA" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 45-49205 Squirt VIII – based at Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, California."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49205" Palm Springs Air Museum. Retrieved: 1 October 2013."FAA Registry: N47RP" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 45-49346 (unnamed) – based at Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49346" Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved: 16 March 2020."FAA Registry: N3152D" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 45-49385 (unnamed) – based at the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs, Colorado."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49385" Republic P47 Thunderbolt. Retrieved: 14 July 2021."FAA Registry: N47DF" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 45-49406 Tallahassee Lassie – based at Flying Heritage Collection in Everett, Washington."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49406" Flying Heritage Collection. Retrieved: 9 January 2018."FAA Registry: N7159Z" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. P-47G 42-25068 Snafu – privately owned in Sacramento, California."FAA Registry: N47FG" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 42-25254 Spirit of Atlantic City, NJ – based at Planes of Fame in Chino, California."P-47G Thunderbolt/42-25254" Planes of Fame. Retrieved: 16 March 2020."FAA Registry: N3395G" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. YP-47M 42-27385 (unnamed) – based at Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California."YP-47M Thunderbolt/42-27385" Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved: 16 March 2020."FAA Registry: N27385" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.

On display P-47D 42-8205 Big Stud/88 – Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington."P-47D Thunderbolt/42-8205" Museum of Flight. Retrieved: 1 October 2013. 42-23278 Fiery Ginger IV – National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio."P-47D Thunderbolt/42-23278" National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 9 January 2018. 44-32691 (unnamed) – Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia."P-47D Thunderbolt/44-32691" National Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 13 April 2012. 44-32798 (unnamed) – Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill AFB in Utah."P-47D Thunderbolt/44-32798" Hill Aerospace Museum. Retrieved: 9 January 2018. 45-49181 (unnamed) – Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49181" Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum. Retrieved: 9 May 2011. 45-49458 Norma – New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. It is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49458" New England Air Museum. Retrieved: 13 April 2012. P-47N 44-89320 Expected Goose – Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, Florida."P-47N Thunderbolt/44-89320" Air Force Armament Museum. Retrieved: 9 January 2018. 44-89348 (unnamed) – Lackland AFB, Texas."Warbird Directory: Republic Page 7" Retrieved: 23 September 2022 44-89425 Wild Hair – Peterson Air and Space Museum at Peterson AFB, Colorado."P-47N Thunderbolt/44-89425" Peterson Air and Space Museum. Retrieved: 13 April 2012. 44-89444 Cheek Baby – Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. It is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio."P-47N Thunderbolt/44-89444" Cradle of Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 16 March 2020. Under restoration or in storage P-47D 42-08130 (unnamed) – for static display at the Pima Air and Space Museum adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona."P-47D Thunderbolt/42-08310" Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 19 October 2020. 44-32814 (unnamed) – in storage at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida, Ex-Venezuelan Air Force aircraft."FAA Registry: N47FF" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 44-90447 Jacky's Revenge – American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, New York. Crashed into the Hudson River 27 May 2016, pilot killed. Wreckage recovered. Unknown what will happen with the aircraft."P-47D Thunderbolt/44-90447" American Airpower Museum. Retrieved: 4 October 2013. "Pilot of vintage World War II plane killed after crashing in Hudson River" New York Daily News Retrieved: 21 January 2022 45-49130 (unnamed) – in storage at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, Tennessee."FAA Registry: N9246W" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021. 45-49167 Five by Five – to airworthiness at the American Heritage Museum in Stow, Massachusetts."P-47D Thunderbolt/45-49167" American Heritage Museum. Retrieved: 18 December 2025.

P-47N 171 - in storage with unknown owner. Formerly owned by the late Walter Soplata in Newbury, Ohio. 44-89136 Lil Meatie's Meat Chopper – to flightworthiness by the Commemorative Air Force (Airbase Georgia) at Atlanta Regional Airport in Peachtree City, Georgia. Heavily damaged after an accident on 21 March 2002 in Albuquerque, NM."P-47N Thunderbolt/44-89136" Commemorative Air Force Airbase Georgia. Retrieved: 26 July 2022."FAA Registry: N844WA" FAA.gov. Retrieved: 15 July 2021.

Venezuela

On display P-47D 44-32809 – Aeronautics Museum of Maracay.

References

Notes

Bibliography

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

External links

Base de Données: P-47 Database History of ex-350th FG / 1° GAvCa Brazilian AF in World War II History of Brazilian AF AeroWeb: P-47s On Display