Last Peruvian T-bolt

Air Classics, Jun 2003

Returned home, this historic warrior is for sale

Next to Brazil, Peru operated the largest number of Republic P-47 Thunderbolts in Latin America - receiving a total of 56 under MDAP grants. The Thunderbolts started arriving in Peru in July 1947 where they served alongside 18 vintage Curtiss P-36Gs (who knows if one of these machines survives in Peru?). The Thunderbolts faithfully served the Peruvians although accidents reduced the number of operational aircraft and the Peruvians also started negotiating for newer jets from the US and British government.

During June 1958, the first Lockheed F-80C Shooting Stars began to arrive in Peru and it was thought that the country would retire its 32 surviving T-Bolts but a decision was made to retain the machines as fighter-trainers.

A June 1966 survey showed that a dozen of the machines were still left and were in open storage at Piura Air Base. One of these aircraft was shipped to the USAF Museum in Ohio while another example was sent to Lima for display. In one of the true Warbird coups, Ed Jurist purchased six of the P-47s and shipped them to Texas in 1969 along with tons of spare parts to become the backbone of the P-47 Warbird fleet. The remaining planes were scrapped.

The aircraft that went to Lima is P-47D-30-RA USAAF s/n 45-49452 and it was delivered to the Fuerza Aerea Del Peru on 21 July 1947 and received the coding FAP 450. After its retirement, FAP 450 was placed on outdoor display at several locations and its condition went downhill. At some point, it received a giant tail wheel while the main gear doors are not stock. Also, the airframe began to suffer from corrosion. When the plane was imported into the USA it was held by Customs for a year and a half - Customs claiming that the tired warrior was a "weapons platform!" Currently, the Thunderbolt is located at Tucson, Arizona, and up for sale. Interested parties may contact Dick Wright at 520-877-8774. AC