Airbase Georgia Volunteers, AirCorps Aviation Making Progress

The Commemorative Air Force’s Airbase Georgia acquired a P-47N Thunderbolt built by Republic Aviation, and they knew that to restore it back to airworthiness they had a long road ahead of them. But support from volunteers and the general public has been fueling progress on one of the most ambitious restoration projects in its history.

When the aircraft was first acquired in 2022, volunteers immediately began cataloguing thousands of parts, repairing wing damage, and fabricating fittings in the machine shop. The experts at AirCorps Aviation have been a big help in tackling tasks such a replacing belly skins, cowlings, and cowl flaps.

The steady support of the Ray Foundation, along with public generosity, have been providing funding for the project that so far has secured the engine mount, N-model brakes that are hard to come by, ailerons, rims, and new leading edges.

The volunteers of Airbase Georgia, many of whom are lifelong aviation enthusiasts, have worked tirelessly over countless hours to make sure the restoration is technically precise and faithful to historic plans and specs.

More than 15,000 Thunderbolts filled the skies back in the 1940s, but now just 13 remain airworthy in the U.S. This P-47N is one of the founder Lloyd Nolen’s original acquisitions and will be headed to join the others in that select group in the air one day.

Once it is flying again, the aircraft may be painted in the livery of “Lil’ Meaties Meat Chopper” to honor Lt. Oscar Francis Perdomo, the last American “Ace in a Day” of World War II.

FMI:  commemorativeairforce.org/