WW2 timeline

By Hollywood22

  • Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

    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

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

    Known as the "Jug," the P-47 was built in larger numbers than any other fighter in American history. Affectionately nicknamed "Jug," the P-47 was one of the most famous AAF fighter planes of WWII. Although originally conceived as a lightweight interceptor

  • 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

  • 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

    He serves as a flight leader on the combat missions and has done dive bombing with his Thunderbolt P-47, carrying a 500-pound bomb.

  • 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

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

  • 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 President's "E" Award was created by Executive Order of the President on December 5, 1961, to afford suitable recognition to persons, firms, or organizations which contribute significantly in the effort to increase United States exports.

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

  • P-47s chance to bubble canopy

  • 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)

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

    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.

  • 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

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

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

  • 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

  • 6,000th Evansville P-47 completed

  • Republic Aviation announces closure of Evansville Plant

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

  • Republic Aviation plant is offered for sale or lease

  • Employment at the Evansville plant is at 250 people

  • Modification Center begins operation

  • 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