Just out by the Evansville, IN newspaper
Rescued P-47 was built here
Getting it home no sure thing
By BYRON ROHRIG Courier & Press staff writer 464-7426 or
blrohrig@evansville.net
June 17, 2005
A tail number obtained from the Air Force confirmed the P-47 Thunderbolt pulled from Lake Traunsee in Austria on Monday was built at Republic Aviation's Evansville plant. The number - 42-29150 - proved the plane was among 6,242 P-47s manufactured here between 1942 and 1945, said Kenneth D. Wilson, local Indiana Division of Republic Aviation historian. An independent serial list confirmed the Evansville origin of the plane, which Wilson said was delivered in June 1944.
News the plane was built in what is now the Whirlpool Corp. plant made more interesting the prospect of obtaining it for a proposed local homefront war museum. But locals interested in a presentable P-47 for Evansville appeared to know little Thursday about how likely that is. "It makes an interesting prospect," said Evansville LST Committee member and historian Tom Lonnberg. "We have people trying to pin down more details about it. That it's Evansville-built adds some intrigue. But what it would cost to bring it here and restore it is unknown."
"To have one that was made in Evansville would be extra special," said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. "But it has to make sense financially and as part of an overall concept for the homefront war museum." However, getting the plane may be especially difficult, according to information received by the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria. Army Sgt. Tana Mobley, a reservist serving there, said on Thursday that embassy officials learned the plane's rescue had been bankrolled by a German donor on behalf of an Austrian historical aircraft association. It wants to restore the aircraft for a museum of its own.
Meanwhile, more was learned Thursday about the circumstances of how the 11-month-old P-47D-28-RA - one of1,028 of that specific model built in Evansville, Wilson said - came to sink to the bottom of Traunsee Lake on the day after Germany surrendered.
On V-E (Victory in Europe) Day May 8, 1945, 2nd Lt. Henry G. Mohr Jr. flew the plane alongside a second P-47 on an armed reconnaissance mission over one of the Nazi's most notorious concentration-prisoner of war camps. During a low pass, Mohr broke off to avoid a smokestack and came in too low while attempting to rejoin his flight, said a spokesman with the Experimental Aircraft Association's 7,000-member Warbirds of America. The Wisconsin-based organization, interested in exhibition of ex-military aircraft, has been following closely this week's recovery operation.
A propeller struck the water's surface, damaging the engine, which lost power, said Warbirds spokesman Bill Fischer. The plane hit the water off Gmunden, Austria, at between 225 and 250 mph and abruptly sank. Mohr, who had no life raft or vest, got out of the cockpit and was pulled from the water by a boater.
Fischer said he learned the details from aviation historian Jack Cook, who in turn spoke with Mohr on Thursday. Cook, contacted afterward, verified the story. Mohr did not immediately respond to a reporter's e-mail.
Mohr's 15th combat mission was a low-level armed reconnaissance of a prisoner-of-war camp at Ebensee, at the southern tip of Traunsee Lake and located in one of the Nazis' most horrible concentration camps. Fischer said Mohr and the other P-47 pilot were under orders to attack the camp if they found evidence that the Germans were killing prisoners in a final, desperate deed.
The camp, where some 20,000 people are believed to have perished, was liberated the following day. It was unclear Thursday if Mohr - with the 9th Air Force, 405 Fighter Group, 511th Fighter Squadron - was taken prisoner.
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with much appreciation & respect, thank you, tom friedman
I WOULD LOVE TO DO IT IF IT STILL EXISTS.ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOW THE FACTS? 
THANKS MIKE