USAAF
5th AF
348th FG
341st FS
July 13, 1944
Ray Fairfield 1968
Justin
Taylan 2000
Justin
Taylan 2006
Pilot Captain
Samuel V. Blair
Armor Sgt. Robert P. Harrell (died 2000)
Force
landed ?
Pilot History
Blair scored a total of seven victories. He survived the war, and passed away
in the 1980s. The airplane's crew chief was Sgt Marshall.
Aircraft
History
This P-47 had Constructor Number 270. Assigned to 348th FG to Samuel V. Blair. Blair had several assigned
P-47's with the nickname "Frankie".
This may have been his first or second Thunderbolt.
Wartime History
Force landed at Hood
Point Airfield (Hula Airfield) east of Port Moresby. The rear fuselage was
severely damaged, and was abandoned upside down at the end of the
runway.
Recovery
The engine, cockpit section
and tail were recovered circa 1968 by Bill Chapman to Jackson Airport, to use as spare parts for the restoration of P-47D "Sweetwater
Swatter" 42-8066.
In the early 1970s was given to Charles Darby to be restored and returned to the PNG War Museum. In exchange, he was allowed the right to export P-47D "Sweetwater Swatter" 42-8066.
Restoration
Exported to New Zealand, it was externally restored at MoTA,
and returned to the PNG
Museum for display.
Removal To Australia, United States
In 2001, the aircraft
was given to Robert
Greinert / HARS to
re-restore it back in Australia, where some minor restoration work (stripping of paint) was completed. Instead it was sold to the Pima Air & Space Museum and is in
storage awaiting restoration.
References
Thanks to PIMA Air & Space Museum, Bruce Hoy, Charles Darby and Michael Claringbould for additional
information.
P-47
Photo Archive
