Warbird Information Exchange

Saw this F-47 thunderbolt negative on e-bay, and am very curious to know more about the aircraft and the museum. The aircraft appears to be at some sort of museum, called the Museum of Speed, probably in the fifties. Pore old thunderbolt looks well abused, but I'd love to know which one it is, and whether it survived.

Cheers,
Richard

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=6108181549#ebayphotohosting

If I was a betting man I'd believe that was the P47N later restored by the Puerto Rico ANG during the 60s and painted in pseudo markings of the 345th FS, 350th FG. It is being flown by Col Mike Gilormini in this image and he was with the 345th Devilhawks in WW2.

If you look at the images you linked to, it appears to be PR under the canopy and ANG is visible under the wing. If nothing else it's probably a former PR ANG bird.

This one is 44-89320

Dan

Yes this aircraft was restored in PR and was flown in the US at some airshows. It crashed at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in South Carolina. Someone in the PRANG was trying to sell it to the CAF, I understand. However, since subject P-47 had been on static display with PRANG before being restored by them the aircraft was impounded by the Air Force Museum and is now on display at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

Thanks for the insite guys.... I am pretty convinced that it's a PR-ANG bird too after looking at the details you pointed out. However, I somehow doubt that this is the aircraft which was restored to fly in the sixties.... there just seems to be too much missing from the airframe, especially the tail. Back in the sixties I doubt that they used aircraft in this sort of condition as the basis for a rebuild.... a parts aircraft perhaps, which might explain the lack of so many panels. I'd be curious to know where this museum was... Puerto Rico, perhaps, but it would be interesting to know what else might have been there too.

Cheers,
Richard

A web search reveals there was a 'Daytona Musuem of Speed' in Daytona Beach, Florida. It went out of business in the 1970's.

This was part of an article in either Air Classics or WarBirds Int in 2003 or 04.
It was 44-89213. Became PR ANG restoration.
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