This aircraft is a P-47D-40 (S/N 45-49167), and it was built at the Republic plant in Evansville, Ind. In the late 1940s, it was transferred to the Peruvian air force. The aircraft came to the museum in 1981. It is painted as the P-47D-30 Five by Five flown by Col. Joseph Laughlin, commander of the 362nd Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, in early 1945.
Republic P-47D
Thunderbolt
Production P-47B, -C, early -D and -G series aircraft had metal-framed greenhouse cockpit canopies. Late -D series (dash 25 and later) aircraft and all -M and -N series production aircraft were given clear bubble canopies, which gave the pilot improved rearward vision.