WIX Archives
Re: Questions about two other P-47 airframes
Posted by MGm on Wed Oct 31, 2001 07:25:50 PM
In reply top Questions about two other P-47 airframes posted by Mike Henniger on Sun Oct 28, 2001 12:00:17 AM
Yes, you're right Mike.
The RAFM Thunderbolt is 45-49295.
It was aquired from Yugoslavia by Warbirds of Great Britain in 1985.
It was then swapped for a gate guardian Spitfire.
AJD Engineering restored the wings, and it was finished off and painted as "KL216", RS-L, by TFC at Duxford.
The blue serial and code markings, represent a Thunderbolt of 30 Sqn RAF, based in India in early '45.
The original KL216 was 44-20756, a P47D-30-RE.
There are no genuine RAF P47's extant....unless......
I am not aware that anyone knows the true ID of the Beijing P47.
But it cannot be 42-27601 as the P47-D23-RA block were Razorbacks.
7601 does not represent it's real serial, as it does not fit into any other P47 serial blocks.
Most of the Beijing aircraft carry four digit serials, which are probably Chinese Air Force serials, or "maintainence" or "display airframe" serials.
TTFN
Mick