WarbirdsNews has just received the latest report from Chuck Cravens on the restoration of Texas Flying Legends Museum’s P-47D Thunderbolt 42-27609 at AirCorps Aviation in Bemidji, Minnesota. We thought our readers would be very interested to see how the project has progressed in the intervening two months since our last article on this important project. So without further ado, here it goes!
Texas Flying Legends P-47D-23RA – Nov/Dec 2017 Report
By Chuck Cravens
Last month we looked into the fabrication and assembly of the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. This month the restoration technicians moved on to skinning the tail cone where those stabilizers will eventually mount.
We continue to seek information on 5th Air Force Thunderbolts to try and identify the original squadron in which this one served. The current leading candidate is the 35th Fighter Group, 40th Squadron. I am waiting to get some earlier wreck images from an Australian friend who once had salvage rights to the wreck and took some images that may show some faint markings.
Inspections
Sections of the fuselage were separated again to examine them carefully as patterns, while the new parts and assemblies are created. Landing gear components were disassembled, which was a real challenge after 75 years in a wet, tropical climate. They were closely checked for condition and serviceability. Any of those landing gear parts that can be restored to service will save a great deal in fabrication costs, so it was time well spent.
Landing Gear Disassembly and Inspection
Reforging new landing gear parts unique to P-47s would be extremely costly so the initial inspection of the original parts acquired for the restoration was done carefully. Many more inspections and testing procedures will follow before we can determine whether or not the parts can be reused in the restored airframe.
Rear Fuselage Skins
The process of making and fitting skins on a P-47 comes with the challenge of compound curves on nearly every skin piece. A template is made of clear plastic, trimmed and fitted until it lays smoothly on its intended location. Then the plastic template is used to mark a piece of Alclad or PureClad skin for cutting. Holes are drilled, deburred, and the skin is clecoed on to trial fit. Once the guys are happy with the fit, the skin section gets a coat of zinc chromate on what will be the interior surface. Only then can the skin be permanently riveted on.
Forward fuselage
And that’s all for this month. WarbirdsNews wishes to thank AirCorps Aviation, Chuck Cravens (for the words) and John LaTourelle (for the images) for making this report possible! We look forwards to bringing more restoration reports on progress with this rare machine in the coming months.
Related Articles
Texas Flying Legends Museum – P-47D Restoration Update Oct./Nov. 2017
Texas Flying Legends Museum’s P-51C Mustang ‘Lopes Hope 3rd’ Flies!
Texas Flying Legends’ Razorback P-47D – A History
Texas Flying Legends P-51C – Restoration Report – June/July 2017
Finding Loren: The Life, Death and Discovery of a P-47…
AirCorps Aviation Launches Aeroscan, 3D Laser Scanning Technology
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
some of these undercart parts still are present in fair condition from ww2 crashes in the Netherlands , like the retauration very much , this is not the one found in the Traunsee in Austria is it [dottie mae] ?
Good to hear from you Eric… this aircraft is not Dottie Mae. That aircraft was restored to flying condition by Allied Fighters … In fact, our sister publication Warbird Digest recently published an in-depth feature on the restoration, including some magnificent air-to-air images in a recent issue which you can order HERE if you wish. Regardless, we really appreciate your interest, and thanks so much for writing in!