P-47 crash 1950

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sun Mar 13, 2005 9:07 pm

Here's one for you wreck crashers.
P-47D flown by Lt Col James G. Thorsen advisor to the NH ANG was killed in the crash of his P-47D Thundersolt on Bill Williams Mountain, Williams, Arizona on March 24, 1950. This was his birthday and he was on a cross country to his home of Portland, OR when he was caught in a Thunderstrom and forced to bail out. The P-47 circled around and snagged his parachute and carried him to his doom. A month long search by the AF had no success and it was reportedly the largest search ever undertaken at that time. About a year later an annomomas caller called the county sheriff and gave the location of the crash. Searchers located the wreck and found the Col's body stripped of valuables hence the nature of the mystery caller. Thorsen was destined for high rank in the AF and was a famous and highly decorated fighter pilot. He flew with the 31st FG, 350th FG ending the war with 3 kills and has CO of the 308th FS and later commanded the 79th FG. It would be interesting to get the crash report and also maybe to find out if the wreckage still exists.

HarvardIV · **Joined:** Mon Oct 04, 2004 9:08 pm **Posts:** 1437

Hi Jack, Thanks. That's about 90 miles away!

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2005 1:58 pm

The serial number of this P-47 was 45-49475 with another location given has Tusayan, AZ very close to the original location on the AF report of death that I have. Here's a shot of Col Thorsen by his Spitfire MK VIII in 1944 while he was comming the 308th FS.

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:20 pm

My God, what a horrible way for a pilot to meet his end. I can only imagine what was going through his mind as the plane made its way slowly back around toward him. I guess when it's really a person's time to go, there's not much to keep fate from dropping the gavel on you.

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P-47 crash 1950

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