P-47 No Guts No Glory in the news...
Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:37 am
P-47 aircraft coming to Millville
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
By JEAN JONES
Staff Writer
MILLVILLE -- The Millville Army Air Field Museum is about to realize its greatest dream -- a P-47 aircraft to be displayed as part of the museum's "collection.''
It was really more of a fantasy than a dream, due to the cost and difficulty of even finding such a plane. There are only nine of the WW II aircraft known to be left and four or five of those are in museums.
The plane, owned by the museum's newest member of its board of directors, Tom Duffy, will not immediately be on display, except for possibly special occasions, such as the annual Airshow.
Housing arrangements must be made first.
Dubbed "No Guts No Glory," the $1.7 million plane had been in a collection at Duxbury, England, until recently.
It was acquired last week by Duffy, a Haddonfield collector of WW II warbirds.
It will be flown into Millville Airport, possibly by the end of the month, from Chino, Calif., by Duffy's pilot, who has been familiarizing himself with the aircraft.
The P-47 was the primary plane used here to train pilots who were about to be shipped overseas in gunnery.
It was said to be a favorite of pilots because of the big 18-cylinder engine in front which afforded them a measure of protection.
Duffy has five planes -- all airworthy -- already in a hangar at Millville Airport. His goal has been to acquire aircraft representing every type of mission the U.S flew during the war.
"We're so excited!'' said museum business manager Lisa Jester. "This has been the vision and the dream of everyone here."
Board member Donna Vertolli said the "Q hangar," one of two WW II era hangars left at the airport, is in deteriorating condition.
But the hope is that the metal trusses can be moved to an area adjacent to the museum for reconstruction. That is going to mean a capital campaign to raise money for the move.
The museum already has an A-4 on display outdoors.
"A P-47 is something we've wanted since we were founded in 1988. This is a gift from God," Vertolli said.
Even though there is a lot of work to be done to provide housing for the plane where it can be viewed by the public, Duffy said he feels allowing it to be on display at the museum will be a huge benefit to the facility.
He has been at the airport since last May and allowed the hangar he leases to be used for a "Dancing With the Warbirds" hangar dance last October.
He says he plans to stay here.
"I knew about the airshow and I knew about the significance of the P-47. I learned one was coming back from England and would be for sale," he said. "I knew if an effort wasn't made to get this one, it would be sold to somebody else."
Duffy said once the Q hangar is restored, he probably would allow the rest of his collection to be displayed there.
Among his warbirds are a TBM Avenger, B-25 Mitchell, F-4U Corsair, a Beech Staggerwing and a Grumman Widgeon.
"If the people of the community will help rebuild the Q hangar, it could be the nicest flying museum in the northeast. It could compete with anybody," he said. "It's something for Millville. It's something the museum could be proud of."
And it surely would be a big drawing card for the annual airshow.
Museum President Russell Davis said a preliminary meeting was held Monday to discuss moving the Q hangar into the historic district at the museum.
"We have agreed, as a board, that the Q hangar would be the ideal place to display the P-47 to the public. We're looking now at Millville finding itself a historic preservation site for World War II aviation," he said. "The stars must have been lined up just right when this happened."
Duffy downplays his role in bringing the aircraft here.
"The big story here is the museum and the P-47," he said.
He emphasizes that his private aircraft collection is not on public display, nor will the P-47 be on display until there is an appropriate display facility.
Bill Rich, chairman emeritus of the museum's board and a member of its advisory committee, said the new possibilities opened up by having a P-47 available for display leaves him "absolutely speechless.
"It's the nicest thing that has happened since 1988, when we first started the museum, with Mike Stowe. I ran the museum for two years by myself," he said. "The Millville Army Air Field Museum is part of my life."
Rich was an instructor at "America's first Defense Airport" during World War II and remained in the area after the war, now living in Vineland.
As a former P-47 pilot, the plane and what it stands for means a lot to him.
"I want to be there when it comes in," he said.
http://www.nj.com/news/bridgeton/index. ... ml&coll=10
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
By JEAN JONES
Staff Writer
MILLVILLE -- The Millville Army Air Field Museum is about to realize its greatest dream -- a P-47 aircraft to be displayed as part of the museum's "collection.''
It was really more of a fantasy than a dream, due to the cost and difficulty of even finding such a plane. There are only nine of the WW II aircraft known to be left and four or five of those are in museums.
The plane, owned by the museum's newest member of its board of directors, Tom Duffy, will not immediately be on display, except for possibly special occasions, such as the annual Airshow.
Housing arrangements must be made first.
Dubbed "No Guts No Glory," the $1.7 million plane had been in a collection at Duxbury, England, until recently.
It was acquired last week by Duffy, a Haddonfield collector of WW II warbirds.
It will be flown into Millville Airport, possibly by the end of the month, from Chino, Calif., by Duffy's pilot, who has been familiarizing himself with the aircraft.
The P-47 was the primary plane used here to train pilots who were about to be shipped overseas in gunnery.
It was said to be a favorite of pilots because of the big 18-cylinder engine in front which afforded them a measure of protection.
Duffy has five planes -- all airworthy -- already in a hangar at Millville Airport. His goal has been to acquire aircraft representing every type of mission the U.S flew during the war.
"We're so excited!'' said museum business manager Lisa Jester. "This has been the vision and the dream of everyone here."
Board member Donna Vertolli said the "Q hangar," one of two WW II era hangars left at the airport, is in deteriorating condition.
But the hope is that the metal trusses can be moved to an area adjacent to the museum for reconstruction. That is going to mean a capital campaign to raise money for the move.
The museum already has an A-4 on display outdoors.
"A P-47 is something we've wanted since we were founded in 1988. This is a gift from God," Vertolli said.
Even though there is a lot of work to be done to provide housing for the plane where it can be viewed by the public, Duffy said he feels allowing it to be on display at the museum will be a huge benefit to the facility.
He has been at the airport since last May and allowed the hangar he leases to be used for a "Dancing With the Warbirds" hangar dance last October.
He says he plans to stay here.
"I knew about the airshow and I knew about the significance of the P-47. I learned one was coming back from England and would be for sale," he said. "I knew if an effort wasn't made to get this one, it would be sold to somebody else."
Duffy said once the Q hangar is restored, he probably would allow the rest of his collection to be displayed there.
Among his warbirds are a TBM Avenger, B-25 Mitchell, F-4U Corsair, a Beech Staggerwing and a Grumman Widgeon.
"If the people of the community will help rebuild the Q hangar, it could be the nicest flying museum in the northeast. It could compete with anybody," he said. "It's something for Millville. It's something the museum could be proud of."
And it surely would be a big drawing card for the annual airshow.
Museum President Russell Davis said a preliminary meeting was held Monday to discuss moving the Q hangar into the historic district at the museum.
"We have agreed, as a board, that the Q hangar would be the ideal place to display the P-47 to the public. We're looking now at Millville finding itself a historic preservation site for World War II aviation," he said. "The stars must have been lined up just right when this happened."
Duffy downplays his role in bringing the aircraft here.
"The big story here is the museum and the P-47," he said.
He emphasizes that his private aircraft collection is not on public display, nor will the P-47 be on display until there is an appropriate display facility.
Bill Rich, chairman emeritus of the museum's board and a member of its advisory committee, said the new possibilities opened up by having a P-47 available for display leaves him "absolutely speechless.
"It's the nicest thing that has happened since 1988, when we first started the museum, with Mike Stowe. I ran the museum for two years by myself," he said. "The Millville Army Air Field Museum is part of my life."
Rich was an instructor at "America's first Defense Airport" during World War II and remained in the area after the war, now living in Vineland.
As a former P-47 pilot, the plane and what it stands for means a lot to him.
"I want to be there when it comes in," he said.
http://www.nj.com/news/bridgeton/index. ... ml&coll=10
Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:59 am
Man, I thought we lost another Flyer to a static display. 
Very glad to hear Mr. Duffy has picked up another a/c, his collection is growing very nicely and to the great JOY of us in the North Eastern US.
Tim
Very glad to hear Mr. Duffy has picked up another a/c, his collection is growing very nicely and to the great JOY of us in the North Eastern US.
Tim
Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:02 pm
It is nice, and Milville should be able to top last year's 3 jugs with 4 this year, even 5 or 6 not being totally out of the question some time in the future. Sure would be nice to see this built into a fair sized warbird show.
August
August
Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:15 pm
Where is Duxbury then?
Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:29 pm
its near London City in Yorkcestershire -you know, where the Royale Family, Prinz Carl, Barry and Wilfred live and they say aluminium in a silly way ... 
TT
TT
Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:47 pm
Guess it's down the road from Duxford where the plane was actually based 
Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:24 pm
Do you think it's anywhere near Farnsburrow?
Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:43 pm
Couldn't resist posting a little taster ... 
Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:13 pm
Some of my handiwork there, Peter. Lots of stencilling on that P-47! I wonder if the new owner will keep the same paint scheme. It has stood up well considering that it was applied almost 21 years ago now.
Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:32 pm
All I can say is ~ you did an excellent job Mike !
????
Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:52 pm
I wonder if the new owner will keep the same paint scheme
I would be nice to see a good SWP scheme like the 348th or 35th FGs.
Everyone goes for the ETO. Only 1 or 2 P-51s carry a SWP scheme.
Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:12 pm
It would be very cool to get all 3 of the 78FG-marked P-47s together in the air first though!
Duffy 47
Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:03 pm
When my dad was out there instructing in the B-25, he said something along the lines of the town the museum is at, originally, was the first T-Bolt base in America. I may have the facts screwed up and yes, I do realize the first base probably had Razorbacks, the paint scheme might have tie-ins to the local community and their history.
tc
tc
Re: Duffy 47
Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:50 am
Trey Carroll wrote:When my dad was out there instructing in the B-25, he said something along the lines of the town the museum is at, originally, was the first T-Bolt base in America. I may have the facts screwed up and yes, I do realize the first base probably had Razorbacks, the paint scheme might have tie-ins to the local community and their history.
tc
That is the story I have heard. (First P-47 base in the country) I've been to the Millville show once, and I'd like to get there again, especially now that there is going to be a T-bolt there!
http://www.p47millville.org/
Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:13 pm
A lovely aeroplane and one I'll miss a great deal
And here's Graham Skellam, an ex-Thunderbolt pilot from 113 Squadron (Burma Campaign) admiring her:
I'm glad to hear she's going to a good home.
And here's Graham Skellam, an ex-Thunderbolt pilot from 113 Squadron (Burma Campaign) admiring her:
I'm glad to hear she's going to a good home.