Republic Adiation

By GabrielleMoore

  • Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

    President Franklin Roosevelt called December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy." On that day, Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory. The bombing killed more than 2,300 Americans. It completely destroyed the American battleship U.S.S.

  • Republic Aviation announces airplane assembly plant adjoining the Evansville Airport

  • Ground is broken for Republic Aviation plant and office

  • Elder Brooks, an African American, is 1st local civilian death when hit by falling steel at Republic

  • The Evansville Airport is leased to Republic Aviation for a $1 a year

  • Republic Aviation office opened, completed in 62 days by AJ Hoffman Construction Co

  • 6,000th Evansville P-47 completed (this was the day it was announced)

  • First Evansville P-47 is flown, the Hoosier Spirit

    The first P-47 produced in Evansville was called the “Hoosier Spirit,” taking its first flight on September 19, 1942.The P-47 tested its eight machine guns by firing into a large mound of dirt and logs, called a “gun butt.” -In April 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a secret trip to tour the Republic Aviation plant in Evansville.

  • P-47-D aircraft assembly line begins operation; P-47-D model production will run for 32 months

  • Modification Center begins operation

  • P-47s entering combat in England-Europe

  • President Roosevelt visits city, tours Republic Aviation, sees shipyard & ordinance by train

  • 5 Thunderbolts have a “private” air show for Republic Aviation employees

  • Lt. Herbert Fields, a brave man, is first to fly his P-47 carrying a bomb, it worked just fine

  • Republic increases production 300% from previous July, absenteeism was a factor

  • 1,000th Evansville P-47 is completed, named the “Tojo Special”

  • Republic Aviation Corp has highest fighter production totals of all US aircraft plants: Evansville has the highest efficiency

  • P-47s now flying with 2 1,000-pound bombs attached

  • Republic Aviation has a backlog of 275 P-47s stored on airport grass field areas

  • Backlog of P-47s back to normal as vast ferry movement has taken place, 60 pilots on this day

  • P-47 loses power over field and glides between tree and house, avoiding serious injury to anyone

  • Republic Aviation has open house for 25,000 employees and family members

  • Republic Aviation wins 1st E-Award

    The Battle Effectiveness Award (formerly the Battle Efficiency Award, commonly known as the Battle "E"), is awarded annually to the small number of United States Navy ships, submarines, aviation, and other units that win their battle effectiveness competition.

  • P-47s chance to bubble canopy

  • Two P-47s bump wings and crash near Inglefield north of airport, no injuries

  • 2,000th Evansville P-47 completed (this was the day it was announced)

  • Modification builds two 2-seat P-47s for training use, nicknamed the “Doublebolt”

  • 3,000th Evansville P-47 completed (this was the day it was announced)

  • Walter Cockroft, age 17, killed at Republic Aviation by walking into spinning propeller

  • Republic Aviation wins 2nd E-Award

  • Modification builds water-cooled XP-47with water cooled Chrysler Engine

  • 4,000th Evansville P-47 completed, employment is at 8,300 people

  • Re-tooling underway to build engine cowlings for B-29 Superfortresses

  • Republic announces cost reduction of one P-47 from $68,750 to $45,600 from 1942 to 1945

  • Famed south Pacific P-47 fighter “The Jackie” returns home to Evansville plant for 2 week display

  • 5,000th Evansville P-47 completed, the “Grandiana”, man-hours cut from 23,000 to 6,300 per P-47

  • Tornado hits city. Damages several p-47s, warps tails & breaks a hundred blue window panes

  • Republic Aviation wins 3rd E-Award

  • Test pilot Wm Moose was killed as he crashed his P-47 into field 3 miles SW of New Harmony

  • 1st Evansville P-47-N model is flown, change-over was smooth without any lines shutdown

  • Republic Aviation Corporation completes its 15,000th P-47

  • 14 P-47s given to regional schools and colleges, without guns and radios, wings were also offered

  • The last P-47 is flown from Evansville plant, it was the 6,670 P-47

  • International Harvester (IH) buys Republic Aviation Plant for $5,648,000 (date approximate)

  • The IH Plant still contains equipment used in P-47 production by RA, Servel & Hoosier Cardinal

  • International Harvester sells plant and facilities to Whirlpool-Seeger

  • Whirlpool Seeger is the largest city employer at 5,800 mostly in the former Republic Aviation plant

  • Republic Aviation Corporation completes 10,000 and 10,001 P-47s at NY and Evansville