P47 "No guts no Glory" heading home

1fat*******…”why didn’t the USAF paint an A-10 to match the P-47?”

I was at Bentwaters at the time and the likely reason no one painted an A-10 to match the P-47 is the USAF wasn’t big on special paint schemes, at least compared to many allied air forces.

Of course it could have been done, but a lot of permissions would have had to be received, paperwork done…and special paint ordered.

The fact is… with 6 squadrons, 80+ aircraft, two bases, a couple of FOLs in Germany to oversee and to stay on top of NATO requirements…they/we had better things to do. 🙂

You might ask why the P-47 operator didn’t paint his ship to match the Thunderbolt IIs? 🙂

As the Chief of Public Affairs, we did try to accommodate enthusiasts and accommodate the many various civil requests (everything from flypasts, airplane rides…hard to do with single seat aircraft, film requests, tours, talks, etc.) received from the public, the MOD, or MOD community relations advisor, 3rd Air Force and USAFE headquarters, as well as the media.

However, I had to pick my requests carefully before I went in front of the Wing Commander with a request for aircraft or personnel. As stated above, he had other issues to concern him and didn’t necessarily buy into the idea we were in the UK to keep spotters and enthusiasts occupied. 🙂
Luckily, the Rescue organization at Woodbridge were able to take their helicopters to support events like village fetes.

We really did do our best and my UK experience was a great deal of fun.

It was probably at Bentwaters where I saw the two of them flying together ? I shall have to look through my photos,
although I may only have it on video.

Hi All,
That picture of both thunderbolts I just had a wonder why nobody in the USAF at the time ever thought to paint one in the same scheme as NGOG ?
it would have really gone down a treat IMHO…;)

Geoff.

……..of course, NGNG did have a different colour scheme for a short time in 1999 and when it arrived in 1986!

P-47 1999

P-47 1986

Graham

The idea of a repaint into a new scheme is interesting. However, S/No 549192 is the number of the P47 which shared parts in NGNG’s rebuild back in the early 1980s.

Was it this aircraft that used to fly in formation with an A-10 at airshows in the UK ?

I didn’t see the P-47 and A-10 flying together but I have this picture of the two of them taken at a special photo shoot at RAF Alconbury in 1988.

Thunderbolt pair – P-47 and A-10

Graham

Was it this aircraft that used to fly in formation with an A-10 at airshows in the UK ?

Great to see the old girl coming back!

And Snafu at La Ferté Alais too just before heading to the West.

But I guess operating a plane on a grass runway for only one airshow is something, and basing the same plane on an airport with only a grass runway to make early season flights (post maintenance, training) when weather are more raining could be more difficult.

also at La Ferte Alais airshow May 1986

I don’t think grass is the problem, rather the length of the strip. It operated from Raydon too.

Wrt operating off the grass at Chailey, here a couple of photos I got of her at that airshow back in 2004. I thought you might like them. I have also seen her operate off the grass at Goodwood as part of the Goodwood revival.

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🙂 Very nice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99V0FwePei8
Short but informs the possible new scheme.

Well, with the 48th still UK based, I think this is a nice choice of markings for the aircraft…and something a little different. Nice to see the 9th AF get a look in too.

492nd Fighter Squadron? Did they have red chequered noses?

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Appears its getting a new paint scheme with the codes F4-J and S/N 549192

It would be nice to see one in the markings of one of those colourful formation monitoring aircraft

NGNG was a rebuild of two separate P47s, with the fuselage coming from a technical training school. Quite a lot was not put back in and though she looks authentic, there is a lot more that could be done. The 78th FG scheme should stay on the a/c as it represents one the most well known 8AAF fighter groups that served in England. Wherever the a/c ends up, it’ll be very good to see it back on the show circuit. Long may it stay here!

I’m wondering how far the restoration of NGNG went? Does it have much in the way of original equipment? (Armour plate, guns etc?)

Oxcart,

As far as I recall, ‘NGNG’ didn’t have any of the original equipment, armour, guns etc, plus the turbocharger was removed, unlike ‘SNAFU’.

So from a pilots point of view, I guess it would nicer in the display environment because of the lower AUW, compared to if it were partially or totally ‘stock’, and fitted with the above items.

Also, as can be seen on the Courtesy Aircraft sale page, the cockpit was not fitted out authentically/stock, and had modern radios/nav aids fitted on the main panel.

I recall in an article on flying ‘SNAFU’ by Pete Kynsey, and he mentioned the fact that it was easier to three point ‘SNAFU’ because it had all the turbocharger gear (albeit non functioning) and other items of military equipment fitted, therefore putting the center of gravity further aft than on ‘NGNG’.

Cheers

Paul