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I need information

M

maguireted

Charter Member
It is about P47.I would like to know where they were built during the WW2 and how the P47 arrived in England. By boat or by crossing the Atlantic.
In fact, I would like to make the flight from the factory in the USA to the United Kingdom. Thank you, Best Regards , Anna​
 
This page has a very lengthy description of the various routes used to get from the USA to the UK during WWII.

http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/VII/AAF-VII-4.html

Most of the P-47s were built in California flown to the east coast and then flew the northern route via Canada, Greenland and Iceland to Scotland.

A while ago I started a trip in FSX from my local airport to London, England via the northern route using a Piper Twin Commanche. I got as far as Goose Bay Airport in Newfoundland and Labrador before I got sidetracked (actually I was sidetracked by beta testing on the P-47 as it happens) but one of these days I will pick up my saved flight and continue my journey.

Making the journey in a P-47 sounds like it would be a lot of fun but make sure you load enough fuel for the hop from Canada to Greenland as that is a big patch of ocean to cross.
 
Tako_Kichi said:
... Most of the P-47s were built in California...
Click to expand...

I never heard of any California production source for the P-47.

Republic built most of the T-bolts themselves, and they were located in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York - the opposite side of the continent from California.

Curtiss built some Thunderbolts under license, but I don't believe Curtiss had any California facilities. Their main operation was in Buffalo, New York. I seem to recall that they also had a facility somewhere in Ohio or thereabouts - still the opposite end of the continent from California. Few if any Curtiss P-47s went overseas.

It may be correct that some T-bolts were flown across the Atlantic, but I'm certain that many, probably the large majority, were shipped as deck cargo.
 
Mick said:
...

I seem to recall that they also had a facility somewhere in Ohio or thereabouts - still the opposite end of the continent from California. Few if any Curtiss P-47s went overseas.


It may be correct that some T-bolts were flown across the Atlantic, but I'm certain that many, probably the large majority, were shipped as deck cargo.
Click to expand...

The other plant was in Evansville, Indiana. The production workers there called themselves the Indiana Raiders and took pride in finishing their orders ahead of schedule.

P-47 production:

Farmingdale, NY 9087
Evansville, IN 6242
Buffalo, NY (Curtiss) 354
 
Hmmm...I thought I had read somewhere that they were built on the west coast but I Googled Republic and sure enough they were on the east coast. My mistake. :redface:

The good news is that maguireted will now have a much shorter journey to make.
 
The tail assembly and the prop were removed. The airplane was given a protective coating, wrapped and placed on a ship to the UK. Not sure how many, if any, made the flight accross.
 
Most aircraft flown to the UK from the US, flew into Prestwick, near Glasgow, Scotland. Apart from being conveniently placed for transatlantic flights, it has the fewest recorded foggy days in the UK, therefore nearly always open.

Aircraft transported over by ships usually docked at Liverpool, with aircraft being taken to RAF Burtonwood, east of Liverpool and just north of the river Mersey for assembly and testing prior to distribution to squadrons.

Burtonwood is now closed and built over, no sign of it remains except for one or two road names.
 
a last question

Thank you very much for your help. Also I have a question ;
after the war, how the P47 and other aircrafts are returned to the USA? Thank you , Regards , Anna
 
Thank you Herr Jankees , very interesting . I understand now but what work! What courage for this men ! Regards Anna
 
Goodness...! 16,000 planes! Thats a large amount of aircraft of one type.


Have a good flight Maguireted if you fly it over. Have lots of coffee ready beside you for the flight. :d

Earplugs too for the sound/drone of the huge engine.


Bill
 
MudMarine said:
Buffalo New York!!:applause:
Click to expand...

Beef on Weck!:ernae:
Back on topic...I flew as a passenger on a Navy C-47/R4D
across the North Atlantic back in 1961. The aircraft was
on a flight from the US to the Mediterranean carrying a group
of SeaBees and their equipment. I was only going as far
as the UK, where I was to meet my ship.

I don't recall the exact route we flew but we departed
from a field in New Jersey and made at least two stops
before reaching Prestwick. Then on to Mildenhall where I
deplaned and caught a train into London. I'm think
we stopped in Newfoundland and Iceland. Greenland
may also have been on our route.

A couple of memorable events occurred with regards to that
flight. First, the crusty old Chief who was the loadmaster,
and I believe the co-pilot, asked everyone their weight.
When I replied "oh, about 125" he said "not 'ABOUT', exactly?"

When the cargo door was closed I recall still being able
to see some daylight around the edge.

Inflight it was COLD! There was only one electric pot to
heat water for coffee for all onboard...probably 12-14 of us.

Reaching Mildenhall I felt as though I had been transported
back in time some 20 years. The brick buildings on the
airfield looked just like those I had seen in movies and
newsreels from WWII. And then the train, with those
separate outside doors for each compartment, was
another thing that impressed my young self, having
also seen those in movies. Quite an adventure for my
trip 'abroad'!

Paul ( formerly from Batavia )
 
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