Needle in Haystack - non-NMF P-47N?

[seiran01]

Is anyone aware of a P-47N (or F-47N) in any finish that was not natural metal? I've been looking around for a while and coming up with nothing for US schemes. 

I know multiple air forces operated T-bolts in the decades after the war, and RoC/Taiwan had the -N model, but in NMF. I have not been able to determine if anyone else had that variant but I'm guessing if anyone operated a painted -N, it was a foreign force.

Thanks for any info that you guys can provide!

Mike

[seiran01]

**  I see that Guatemala and Nicaragua also flew the -N, but it seems also in NMF...

[seiran01]

Yes, they had a few down in central America.  The CAF's -N undergoing restoration is ex-Nicaraguan (and also ex-Puerto Rico ANG) according to this article:

http://warbirdsnews.com/aircraft-restoration/thunderbolt-survivors-latin-american-story.html

 

 

[Gazzas]

I saw this one:

 

Though, I admit I've done nothing more thank click on a photo of it, without verifying it's bona fides.

 

[Joe Hegedus]

7 hours ago, Gazzas said:

I saw this one:

 

Though, I admit I've done nothing more thank click on a photo of it, without verifying it's bona fides.

 

That's probably the only way you're going to find a non-NMF "N" model; a warbird.  I believe that one was operated by the Confederate Air Force?  The image of the right side shows text under the stab; the last line looks like an "N" number but I can't make out what it reads.

[Out2gtcha]

8 hours ago, Gazzas said:

I saw this one:

 

Though, I admit I've done nothing more thank click on a photo of it, without verifying it's bona fides.

 

 

54 minutes ago, Joe Hegedus said:

That's probably the only way you're going to find a non-NMF "N" model; a warbird.  I believe that one was operated by the Confederate Air Force?  The image of the right side shows text under the stab; the last line looks like an "N" number but I can't make out what it reads.

 

 

ITs : N47TB, 1946 Republic P-47N-20-RE, C/N: 44-89136    

 

N47TB was restored to NFM:

 

 

 

According to the Warbird Registry, this P47N S/N 45-53436 has been part of the Commemorative Air Force since 1962, most recently registered as N47TB “Meat Chopper”. The original “Meat Chopper” served with the 464th FS/507th FG in 1945 based on Ie Shima in the Pacific theater.

 

Interesting history of this bird in Guatemala and Nicaragua:

 

http://warbirdsnews.com/aircraft-restoration/thunderbolt-survivors-latin-american-story.html

[LSP_Ray]

Am  correctly remembering the two blues scheme above was used on some P-47M's in Europe?

[seiran01]

Far as I know, that's correct Ray; the -N was painted in that scheme as an airshow warbird only

[Out2gtcha]

6 minutes ago, LSP_Ray said:

Am  correctly remembering the two blues scheme above was used on some P-47M's in Europe?

 

Just now, seiran01 said:

Far as I know, that's correct Ray; the -N was painted in that scheme as an airshow warbird only

 

 

Surly was, M only as Mike mentioned......................

 

[Padubon]

On 1/12/2020 at 3:32 PM, seiran01 said:

Is anyone aware of a P-47N (or F-47N) in any finish that was not natural metal? I've been looking around for a while and coming up with nothing for US schemes. 

I know multiple air forces operated T-bolts in the decades after the war, and RoC/Taiwan had the -N model, but in NMF. I have not been able to determine if anyone else had that variant but I'm guessing if anyone operated a painted -N, it was a foreign force.

Thanks for any info that you guys can provide!

Mike

I was born in Guatemala and I am quite familiar with its history.

When I was in college I did a paper about the involvement of the CIA in the 1954 coup to get rid off the Guatemalan president Jacobo Arbenz Guzman, accused you be a communist.

The CIA backed a group of ultra right anti government group, led by an Army Officer, Col. Carlos Castillo Armas. 
Part of the assistance included Four P-47N, and Two P-51, all nicknamed “Sulfato” (Magnesium Sulfate was used as a laxative), because literally scared the crap out of the civilian population. 
The planes were based in Honduras and Nicaragua.

The aircraft were painted with a very light grey color, just before shipment to Honduras with absolutely no markings.

Later, after the coup and with Col. Castillo Armas as president, markings were added to the remaining P-47 and Two P51s.

The first two pictures are from the revolution, the third is after.

This one shows the “Volcán de Agua” (Water Volcano) in the background.

Enjoy.

 

 

[Joe Hegedus]

22 hours ago, Out2gtcha said:

Thanks, Brian.  I'd almost be willing to build that one in the two-tone blue.  

 

 

ITs : N47TB, 1946 Republic P-47N-20-RE, C/N: 44-89136    

 

N47TB was restored to NFM:

 

 

 

According to the Warbird Registry, this P47N S/N 45-53436 has been part of the Commemorative Air Force since 1962, most recently registered as N47TB “Meat Chopper”. The original “Meat Chopper” served with the 464th FS/507th FG in 1945 based on Ie Shima in the Pacific theater.

 

Interesting history of this bird in Guatemala and Nicaragua:

 

http://warbirdsnews.com/aircraft-restoration/thunderbolt-survivors-latin-american-story.html

 

[Juggernut]

On 1/13/2020 at 3:10 PM, Out2gtcha said:

 

 

 

Surly was, M only as Mike mentioned......................

 

 

The colors in that photo are grey and green, not the two tone blue.  The 56th group squadron colors used on the P-47M are:  

61st - black upper surfaces (Sqd code HV)

62nd - grey and green upper surfaces (sqd code LM)

63rd - two tone blue, reportedly French blue and azure blue but either may have been lightened or darkened (sqd code UN)

 

all over natural metal under surfaces and wing/stabilizer leading edges.

 

As a point of note, the 56th fighter group was the only unit to operate the P-47M and was never issued the P-47N.  The N, was designed for operation in the Pacific.  
 

As for whether there are any painted N models, I think that Central/South American air forces are your best bet.

Edited January 23, 2020 by Juggernut