Soplata P-47N query

American Aviation Historical Society – 1987

“Mr. Soplata does not have a complete Thunderbolt, but he does have the fuselage of another P-47N that was never completed. He obtained it from Earl Reinert, who had worked for Republic and saved several incomplete airframes from the from the Evansville factory”

American Aviation Historical Society – 1987

“Mr. Soplata does not have a complete Thunderbolt, but he does have the fuselage of another P-47N that was never completed. He obtained it from Earl Reinert, who had worked for Republic and saved several incomplete airframes from the from the Evansville factory”

“When I saw it in 1996 and again in 1997 it was a simple fuselage, acquired from Earl Rheinert at some point.

An artcile in the Smithonian Magazine in 2007 by Walter’s son Wally says

“”We brought home a second, nearly airworthy B-25 in 1966. Also that year, we got a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fuselage, a North American F-86 Sabre fuselage, and a complete Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, an early pre-ejection-seat model. Oddest of those we hauled that year, a wrecked B-57 Canberra bomber was dreadfully difficult to dismantle in the bitter cold winter.”

Additionally the American Aviation Historical Society in 1987 suggests the fuselage is off an P-47N-RA

“When I saw it in 1996 and again in 1997 it was a simple fuselage, acquired from Earl Rheinert at some point.

An artcile in the Smithonian Magazine in 2007 by Walter’s son Wally says

“”We brought home a second, nearly airworthy B-25 in 1966. Also that year, we got a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fuselage, a North American F-86 Sabre fuselage, and a complete Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, an early pre-ejection-seat model. Oddest of those we hauled that year, a wrecked B-57 Canberra bomber was dreadfully difficult to dismantle in the bitter cold winter.”

Additionally the American Aviation Historical Society in 1987 suggests the fuselage is off an P-47N-RA

What is interesting is all references to the YP-47M say it was N4477M but the photo clearly shows N4477N

Actually both photo are NX4477N

What is interesting is all references to the YP-47M say it was N4477M but the photo clearly shows N4477N

Actually both photo are NX4477N

That last shot is almost exactly the same angle and is 100% proof (if anyone else wanted it)

That last shot is almost exactly the same angle and is 100% proof (if anyone else wanted it)

Here is a photo I found of that jug when it was being flown by Odom. This is the machine now with Yanks.

jim

Here is a photo I found of that jug when it was being flown by Odom. This is the machine now with Yanks.

jim

Didn’t know about the Dec ’11 shots on WIX; how’d I miss that! Looks like the P-47 has moved a few yards from where I saw it beside the C-82 pod (visible in the background in the WIX shot), and that there’s what looks like a stripped F-86D/K/L nose on its side in front of the Thunderbolt. I don’t remember seeing that. There was an intact F-86D/L ex Georgia ANG out front.

I expect the site is slowly being cleared…but it’ll take years. Many of the “best” of Walt’s treasures have already found new homes, with two–the Mitchell “Wild Cargo” and the F2G racer–having flown again.

Love the Reinert T-bolt pic. Registration looks like N4477N, which if memory serves was either revived or reused on Charles Osborn’s restored P-47D in the early 90s. I think Reinert may also have had the YP-47M Bendix racer that ended up with Yanks Air Museum in California; my guess is he had more than one T-bolt and Walt got an incomplete spare…

S.

I agree with you Steve… the P-47 in Peter’s photo is almost certainly the YP-47M.

Cheers,
Richard

Didn’t know about the Dec ’11 shots on WIX; how’d I miss that! Looks like the P-47 has moved a few yards from where I saw it beside the C-82 pod (visible in the background in the WIX shot), and that there’s what looks like a stripped F-86D/K/L nose on its side in front of the Thunderbolt. I don’t remember seeing that. There was an intact F-86D/L ex Georgia ANG out front.

I expect the site is slowly being cleared…but it’ll take years. Many of the “best” of Walt’s treasures have already found new homes, with two–the Mitchell “Wild Cargo” and the F2G racer–having flown again.

Love the Reinert T-bolt pic. Registration looks like N4477N, which if memory serves was either revived or reused on Charles Osborn’s restored P-47D in the early 90s. I think Reinert may also have had the YP-47M Bendix racer that ended up with Yanks Air Museum in California; my guess is he had more than one T-bolt and Walt got an incomplete spare…

S.

I agree with you Steve… the P-47 in Peter’s photo is almost certainly the YP-47M.

Cheers,
Richard

Didn’t know about the Dec ’11 shots on WIX; how’d I miss that! Looks like the P-47 has moved a few yards from where I saw it beside the C-82 pod (visible in the background in the WIX shot), and that there’s what looks like a stripped F-86D/K/L nose on its side in front of the Thunderbolt. I don’t remember seeing that. There was an intact F-86D/L ex Georgia ANG out front.

I expect the site is slowly being cleared…but it’ll take years. Many of the “best” of Walt’s treasures have already found new homes, with two–the Mitchell “Wild Cargo” and the F2G racer–having flown again.

Love the Reinert T-bolt pic. Registration looks like N4477N, which if memory serves was either revived or reused on Charles Osborn’s restored P-47D in the early 90s. I think Reinert may also have had the YP-47M Bendix racer that ended up with Yanks Air Museum in California; my guess is he had more than one T-bolt and Walt got an incomplete spare…

S.

Didn’t know about the Dec ’11 shots on WIX; how’d I miss that! Looks like the P-47 has moved a few yards from where I saw it beside the C-82 pod (visible in the background in the WIX shot), and that there’s what looks like a stripped F-86D/K/L nose on its side in front of the Thunderbolt. I don’t remember seeing that. There was an intact F-86D/L ex Georgia ANG out front.

I expect the site is slowly being cleared…but it’ll take years. Many of the “best” of Walt’s treasures have already found new homes, with two–the Mitchell “Wild Cargo” and the F2G racer–having flown again.

Love the Reinert T-bolt pic. Registration looks like N4477N, which if memory serves was either revived or reused on Charles Osborn’s restored P-47D in the early 90s. I think Reinert may also have had the YP-47M Bendix racer that ended up with Yanks Air Museum in California; my guess is he had more than one T-bolt and Walt got an incomplete spare…

S.

?…Yes, 42 years ago…and in the intervening time was it parted out and the fuselage passed from Earl Reinert to Walter Soplata or is this another Reinert P-47?

Mark

Mark, I would get your ‘friend’ Peter to post the pic on WIX and ask the same question, bound to get some more info on it.

Re. the aircraft “just rotting” outside, you have to remember that if Walter had not gone to the great effort and personal expense to collect them in the first place they would all be pots and pans by now.

D-Day + 25 = 1969 ?

?…Yes, 42 years ago…and in the intervening time was it parted out and the fuselage passed from Earl Reinert to Walter Soplata or is this another Reinert P-47?

Mark

Here is a shot Earl sent to me c.1970. It is possibly the same P-47.

Mark

D-Day + 25 = 1969 ?

Never ceases to amaze me, the amount of information out there (and people willing to share it!) Thanks everybody!
Looking at the last couple of shots in Mark Pilkington’s post, it looks like the site is being cleared? Shame if it all rots away outside.

When I saw it in 1996 and again in 1997 it was a simple fuselage, acquired from Earl Rheinert at some point. It was sitting outside, rather than inside either the B-36 or C-82. There was a fuselage for a P-63 inside the B-36 however. I will have to check my photographs, as I can’t remember whether there was a traditional P-47N spine on it or not.

Cheers,
Richard

Here is a shot Earl sent to me c.1970. It is possibly the same P-47.

Mark

Amazing!