Yet another Australian Coup!!! Thunderbolt New arrival

Hi allThe work going on on the ex MOTAT razorback at Roberts is excellent and will see it fly againg in beautilful condition so I don’t think it is too sad that it was saved from rotting into the ground – it was as you say in very bad shape.

Perhaps you can convince Robert to bring her to Wanaka one year along with the Pay Merlin P40 and Ralphs Beaufort – Now theres a great line up for the future

Regards
John P

Hi Dave – so am I – alziemers – I meet new friends every day and I can hide my own easter eggs!!

Regards
John P

Ah, that’s right, thanks John. Sorry for my vagueness. Getting old.

Hi al

Just to clarify things a little

The P47 and Pup were linked in the one swap.

Tha P40 and the RNZAFM Corsair was the other swap which occured

The swaps were between different Australians.

The P47 is now with Robert Greinert in Sydney – same place as the latest one.

Regards
John P

I have a vague memory from the mid-1970’s, and my parents remember well, seeing them fire up the Lanc. I’m not sure how many engines though, I was pretty young, but I have been told it was a regular event for a while, every weekend or something like that. That was when it was at the main museum, MOTAT 1.

Thanks for that Dave, my memory of the P47 was that it was as you say – a mouldy old thing – very tatty.
And the deal you describe (or anyway the outcome) does indeed sound like a win all round. Excellent stuff.
I also remember years ago (I lived in Westmere in the 80’s, a stones throw for MOTAT) some guys fired up 3 of the Lancs engines. It was a once-only thing, but very impressive for the handful of us standing around.
cheers Dave, Don

Motat swapped the P47D to the RNZAF Museum in about 1993 in return for the RNZAF Museum’s excellent restoration of the Motat Mosquito. Motat still have not been able to reassemble the Mossie due to lack of space, but this should be rectified soon when their new hangar extension is sorted out. The Mossie was restored almost singlehandedly by on of the Museum volunteers, and it was beautifully done. I used to see him beavering away on it often while the rest of the team worked on the Hudson. Such dedication.

I’d seen it before in Auckland, but I took the opportunity to view the P47 when it arrived at Wigram. It was not in great shape at all and all those years outdoors had taken its toll. A lot of it appeared to be just plywood and fibreglass replacing what should have been there. For years a steel bar had been holding the wheels from collapsing, and the inside was completely devoid of anything (as in the deal when recovered the interior was restored and returned to PNG). I have a photo or two somewhere.

Thinking about it now, I am unsure if it was the P40 the RNZAF swapped it for. I think it was actually swapped for the once-flyable but slightly dinged Sopwith Pup replica. Either way, the RNZAF museum got a good deal out of getting shot of the P47; Motat got an awesome deal getting a superb Mossie in place of their mouldering gate guard; and the guy in Aussie is to restore the P47 to flying, so everyone won. I’d be surprised if there will be much original material in the restored P47 though, it will be a massive rebuild to get it flying.

Realistically, since the RNZAF never flew P47’s it was a little odd in both collections here, and it is great that it has gone to a good home were it will fly again.

Well you learn something every day here – I didn’t realise Dave that MOTAT no longer has its Razorback – when I lived in AKL (more than a decade ago) I used to go and look at it – always loved them, along with the B&C Mustangs. Oh well.

Interesting photos John.

The ex-MOTAT Razorback that the RNZAF Museum swapped for their P40F/E, and is now under restoration in Aussie somewhere was also a Pacific veteran with the red on the stars and bars. Perhaps they served together. Hopefully someday we’ll see them in the air together.

That ex-NZ one was always considered the oldest surviving P47D in the world, but I wonder does this new recovery knock it off it’s perch?

According to a WIX posting, it seems the Pacific Wrecks database has these remains beings used for parts copying before ultimate donation to a museum, rather than a rebuild to fly.

This is indeed excellent news – thank you for posting Setter – nice artwork too!

Make it a Flyer! Make it a Flyer! Make it a Flyer!!! Enough museum pieces, they need a FLYING P-47 downunder!!

Mark

How about: they need flying P-47s downunder!!!! (note the plural)

Cees

Great news. I also can’t wait to see another razorback P47 in the sky! 😎

Thanks for posting John.

J.V.

Make it a Flyer! Make it a Flyer! Make it a Flyer!!! Enough museum pieces, they need a FLYING P-47 downunder!!

Mark

Hi

Enlargement of art area for comparison

regards
John P

Republic P-47D-4-RA Thunderbolt

42-22687 lost 29th April 1944

1st Lt. Marion C. Lutes (0-665424) (MIA)

yep 42-22687!

http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:FLBusJX-xkUJ:www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-47/42-22687.html+42-22687&hl=en

Recovered October 2004

http://www.airpirates.com/gallery/GUINEA/Harris_P_47

http://www.airpirates.com/gallery/GUINEA/Harris_P_47_7

http://www.airpirates.com/gallery/GUINEA/Harris_P_47_8

http://www.airpirates.com/gallery/GUINEA/Harris_P_47_9

Same images of the woman under the cockpit

is Mr Allen getting his cheque book out?.. It is 100% guarented Combat Veteran (though with no kills)! – And while he is at it.. He should see the Hurricane in Aeroplane Monthly this month as well!

Hi,

This P-47 is covered in some detail in April/May 1999 edition of classic wings,
and according to the article it’s identity is P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22687. located near
Gasap, New Guinea.
hope this helps.
cheers.

The one that was covered by a landslide?

Cees

It is a razorback.. So it is probably P-47D but could maybe a P-47C or P-47B.

Were P-47B ever in the Pacific?

“Bubbles” started from

P-47D-25-RE
and
P-47D-26-RA

But she has 4 ‘kills’

Can you read the name on the cockpit?

Hi,

This P-47 is covered in some detail in April/May 1999 edition of classic wings,
and according to the article it’s identity is P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22687. located near
Gasap, New Guinea.
hope this helps.
cheers.