Warbirds

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt In Australia

A Thunderbolt has arrived in Australia! The WWII fighter was recently imported from New Zealand where it was last with the RNZAF Museum. With serial 42-8066 the aircraft is the oldest known complete Thunderbolt still in existence. A model P-47D, the Thunderbolt force landed in a swamp about 40km from Port Moresby during WWII. Differing reports have it that it force landed due to fuel exhaustion or was possibly shot down. When recovered the guns were found to be armed giving weight to the theory of the machine having been involved in combat when it went down.

Recovered in 1968 by Charles Darby and Bill Chapman, the Thunderbolt was transported to New Zealand. After restoration to display standard, the P-47 was put on show at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland. In more recent times it was donated to the RNZAF Museum. While in Sydney, the Director of the RNZAF Museum was talking to Robert Greinhert, a partner in Bankstown based Classic Aviation. The Director, David Provan, indicated that the RNZAF Museum desired an improved WWI display and expressed interest in a damaged Sopwith Pup replica that Robert had brought in from the UK some years before. Robert likewise expressed interest in the Thunderbolt and so a deal was forged. The Pup for the P-47. Earlier this year a C-130 transported the Thunderbolt to Richmond in exchange for the Sopwith Pup.

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