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
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
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.
