Republic Aviation Timeline

Dec 7, 1941

12/7/1941 Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

They attacked our harbor in Hawaii so we entered the war and dropped nuke on them.
Mar 22, 1942

3/22/1942 Republic Aviation announces airplane assembly plant adjoining the Evansville Airport
Apr 6, 1942

5/15/1942 The Evansville Airport is leased to Republic Aviation for a $1 a year
May 10, 1942

5/10/1942 Elder Brooks, an African American, is 1st local civilian death when hit by falling steel at Republic
May 10, 1942

5/10/1942 Elder Brooks, an African American, is 1st local civilian death when hit by falling steel at Republic
May 15, 1942

5/15/1942 The Evansville Airport is leased to Republic Aviation for a $1 a year
Jun 10, 1942

6/10/1942 Republic Aviation office opened, completed in 62 days by AJ Hoffman Construction Co.
Sep 19, 1942

9/19/1942 First Evansville P-47 is flown, the Hoosier Spirit

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is one of the largest and heaviest fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single 4-stroke internal combustion engine
Oct 25, 1942

10/25/1942 P-47-D aircraft assembly line begins operation; P-47-D model production will run for 32 months
Jan 3, 1943

1/3/1943 Modification Center begins operation
Apr 15, 1943

4/15/1943 P-47s entering combat in England-Europe
Apr 15, 1943

4/15/1943 P-47s entering combat in England-Europe
Apr 27, 1943

4/27/1943 President Roosevelt visits city, tours Republic Aviation, sees shipyard & ordinance by train
Jul 16, 1943

7/16/1943 5 Thunderbolts have a “private” air show for Republic Aviation employees
Jul 16, 1943

7/16/1943 5 Thunderbolts have a “private” air show for Republic Aviation employees
Sep 17, 1943

Sept, 1943 Lt. Herbert Fields, a brave man, is first to fly his P-47 carrying a bomb, it worked just fine
Oct 17, 1943

Oct. 1943 Republic increases production 300% from previous July, absenteeism was a factor
Dec 7, 1943

12/7/1943 1,000th Evansville P-47 is completed, named the “Tojo Special”
Dec 31, 1943

12/31/1943 Republic Aviation Corp has highest fighter production totals of all US aircraft plants: Evansville has the highest efficiency
Jan 23, 1944

1/23/1944 P-47s now flying with 2 1,000-pound bombs attached
Jan 23, 1944

1/23/1944 P-47s now flying with 2 1,000-pound bombs attached
Feb 1, 1944

2/1/1944 Republic Aviation has a backlog of 275 P-47s stored on airport grass field areas
Feb 1, 1944

2/1/1944 Republic Aviation has a backlog of 275 P-47s stored on airport grass field areas
Feb 18, 1944

2/18/1944 Backlog of P-47s back to normal as vast ferry movement has taken place, 60 pilots on this day
Feb 18, 1944

2/18/1944 Backlog of P-47s back to normal as vast ferry movement has taken place, 60 pilots on this day
Mar 12, 1944

3/12/1944 P-47 loses power over field and glides between tree and house, avoiding serious injury to anyone
Apr 28, 1944

4/28/1944 Republic Aviation wins 1st E-Award

The President's “E” Award was created by Executive Order of the President to afford suitable recognition to persons, firms, or organizations which contribute significantly in the effort to increase United States exports.
May 3, 1944

5/3/1944 Two P-47s bump wings and crash near Inglefield north of airport, no injuries
May 17, 1944

May 1944 P-47s chance to bubble canopy
May 18, 1944

5/18/1944 2,000th Evansville P-47 completed (this was the day it was announced)
Jul 17, 1944

July 1944 Modification builds two 2-seat P-47s for training use, nicknamed the “Doublebolt”
Aug 11, 1944

8/11/1944 3,000th Evansville P-47 completed (this was the day it was announced)
Aug 24, 1944

8/24/1944 Walter Cockroft, age 17, killed at Republic Aviation by walking into spinning propeller
Sep 19, 1944

4/15/1944 Republic Aviation has open house for 25,000 employees and family members
Sep 19, 1944

9/19/1944 Republic Aviation Corporation completes 10,000 and 10,001 P-47s at NY and Evansville Plants
Sep 27, 1944

9/27/1945 The last P-47 is flown from Evansville plant, it was the 6,670 P-47
Oct 17, 1944

10/17/1944 Republic Aviation wins 2nd E-Award
Nov 17, 1944

Nov. 1944 Modification builds water-cooled XP-47with water cooled Chrysler Engine
Dec 3, 1944

12/3/1944 4,000th Evansville P-47 completed, employment is at 8,300 people
Dec 17, 1944

Dec. 1944 Re-tooling underway to build engine cowlings for B-29 Superfortresses
Jan 11, 1945

1/11/1945 Republic announces cost reduction of one P-47 from $68,750 to $45,600 from 1942 to 1945
Feb 17, 1945

Feb. 1945 Famed south Pacific P-47 fighter “The Jackie” returns home to Evansville plant for 2 week display
Mar 18, 1945

3/18/1945 5,000th Evansville P-47 completed, the “Grandiana”, man-hours cut from 23,000 to 6,300 per P-47
Mar 18, 1945

3/18/1945 Tornado hits city. Damages several p-47s, warps tails & breaks a hundred blue window panes
May 24, 1945

5/24/1945 Republic Aviation wins 3rd E-Award
Jun 18, 1945

6/18/1945 Test pilot Wm Moose was killed as he crashed his P-47 into field 3 miles SW of New Harmony
Jun 18, 1945

Test pilot Wm Moose was killed as he crashed his P-47 into field 3 miles SW of New Harmony
Jun 21, 1945

6/21/1945 1st Evansville P-47-N model is flown, change-over was smooth without any lines shutdown
Jul 15, 1945

7/15/1945 6,000th Evansville P-47 completed (this was the day it was announced)
Jul 21, 1945

7/21/1945 Republic Aviation Corporation completes its 15,000th P-47
Aug 20, 1945

8/20/1945 Republic Aviation announces closure of Evansville Plant
Sep 7, 1945

9/7/1945 Republic Aviation plant is offered for sale or lease
Sep 11, 1945

9/11/1945 Employment at the Evansville plant is at 250 people
Sep 27, 1945

9/27/1945 The last P-47 is flown from Evansville plant, it was the 6,670 P-47
Oct 11, 1945

10/11/1945 14 P-47s given to regional schools and colleges, without guns and radios, wings were also offered
Apr 1, 1946

1/4/1946 International Harvester (IH) buys Republic Aviation Plant for $5,648,000 (date approximate)
May 17, 1946

5/17/1946 The IH Plant still contains equipment used in P-47 production by RA, Servel & Hoosier Cardinal
Sep 27, 1955

5/17/1946 The IH Plant still contains equipment used in P-47 production by RA, Servel & Hoosier Cardinal
May 12, 1956

12/5/1956 Whirlpool Seeger is the largest city employer at 5,800 mostly in the former Republic Aviation plant

12/7/1941 Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

3/22/1942 Republic Aviation announces airplane assembly plant adjoining the Evansville Airport

5/15/1942 The Evansville Airport is leased to Republic Aviation for a $1 a year

5/10/1942 Elder Brooks, an African American, is 1st local civilian death when hit by falling steel at Republic

5/10/1942 Elder Brooks, an African American, is 1st local civilian death when hit by falling steel at Republic

5/15/1942 The Evansville Airport is leased to Republic Aviation for a $1 a year

6/10/1942 Republic Aviation office opened, completed in 62 days by AJ Hoffman Construction Co.

9/19/1942 First Evansville P-47 is flown, the Hoosier Spirit

10/25/1942 P-47-D aircraft assembly line begins operation; P-47-D model production will run for 32 months

1/3/1943 Modification Center begins operation

4/15/1943 P-47s entering combat in England-Europe

4/15/1943 P-47s entering combat in England-Europe

4/27/1943 President Roosevelt visits city, tours Republic Aviation, sees shipyard & ordinance by train

7/16/1943 5 Thunderbolts have a “private” air show for Republic Aviation employees

7/16/1943 5 Thunderbolts have a “private” air show for Republic Aviation employees

Sept, 1943 Lt. Herbert Fields, a brave man, is first to fly his P-47 carrying a bomb, it worked just fine

Oct. 1943 Republic increases production 300% from previous July, absenteeism was a factor

12/7/1943 1,000th Evansville P-47 is completed, named the “Tojo Special”

12/31/1943 Republic Aviation Corp has highest fighter production totals of all US aircraft plants: Evansville has the highest efficiency

1/23/1944 P-47s now flying with 2 1,000-pound bombs attached

1/23/1944 P-47s now flying with 2 1,000-pound bombs attached

2/1/1944 Republic Aviation has a backlog of 275 P-47s stored on airport grass field areas

2/1/1944 Republic Aviation has a backlog of 275 P-47s stored on airport grass field areas

2/18/1944 Backlog of P-47s back to normal as vast ferry movement has taken place, 60 pilots on this day

2/18/1944 Backlog of P-47s back to normal as vast ferry movement has taken place, 60 pilots on this day

3/12/1944 P-47 loses power over field and glides between tree and house, avoiding serious injury to anyone

4/28/1944 Republic Aviation wins 1st E-Award

5/3/1944 Two P-47s bump wings and crash near Inglefield north of airport, no injuries

May 1944 P-47s chance to bubble canopy

5/18/1944 2,000th Evansville P-47 completed (this was the day it was announced)

July 1944 Modification builds two 2-seat P-47s for training use, nicknamed the “Doublebolt”

8/11/1944 3,000th Evansville P-47 completed (this was the day it was announced)

8/24/1944 Walter Cockroft, age 17, killed at Republic Aviation by walking into spinning propeller

4/15/1944 Republic Aviation has open house for 25,000 employees and family members

9/19/1944 Republic Aviation Corporation completes 10,000 and 10,001 P-47s at NY and Evansville Plants

9/27/1945 The last P-47 is flown from Evansville plant, it was the 6,670 P-47

10/17/1944 Republic Aviation wins 2nd E-Award

Nov. 1944 Modification builds water-cooled XP-47with water cooled Chrysler Engine

12/3/1944 4,000th Evansville P-47 completed, employment is at 8,300 people

Dec. 1944 Re-tooling underway to build engine cowlings for B-29 Superfortresses

1/11/1945 Republic announces cost reduction of one P-47 from $68,750 to $45,600 from 1942 to 1945

Feb. 1945 Famed south Pacific P-47 fighter “The Jackie” returns home to Evansville plant for 2 week display

3/18/1945 5,000th Evansville P-47 completed, the “Grandiana”, man-hours cut from 23,000 to 6,300 per P-47

3/18/1945 Tornado hits city. Damages several p-47s, warps tails & breaks a hundred blue window panes

5/24/1945 Republic Aviation wins 3rd E-Award

6/18/1945 Test pilot Wm Moose was killed as he crashed his P-47 into field 3 miles SW of New Harmony

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

6/21/1945 1st Evansville P-47-N model is flown, change-over was smooth without any lines shutdown

7/15/1945 6,000th Evansville P-47 completed (this was the day it was announced)

7/21/1945 Republic Aviation Corporation completes its 15,000th P-47

8/20/1945 Republic Aviation announces closure of Evansville Plant

9/7/1945 Republic Aviation plant is offered for sale or lease

9/11/1945 Employment at the Evansville plant is at 250 people

9/27/1945 The last P-47 is flown from Evansville plant, it was the 6,670 P-47

10/11/1945 14 P-47s given to regional schools and colleges, without guns and radios, wings were also offered

1/4/1946 International Harvester (IH) buys Republic Aviation Plant for $5,648,000 (date approximate)

5/17/1946 The IH Plant still contains equipment used in P-47 production by RA, Servel & Hoosier Cardinal

5/17/1946 The IH Plant still contains equipment used in P-47 production by RA, Servel & Hoosier Cardinal

12/5/1956 Whirlpool Seeger is the largest city employer at 5,800 mostly in the former Republic Aviation plant