Republic Aviation TImeline

By katie.waters

  • Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

    Franklin D. Roosevelt called this "a date which will live in infamy." It was a tragic attack on Pearl Harbor and had killed more than 2,300 Americans. People were trapped inside ships that were flipped over and by the time they had found them, they were alrready dead or when they tried to save them, the water would rise up from the pressure of the ship being down and holding all of that water inside

  • 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.

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

    The P-47 Thunderbolt is a plane that was made in Evansville. The P-47 was also used to war.

  • 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

    Republic Aviation wins 1st E-Award

    An E-Award 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

    • Airspeed of 400 mph at 25,000 feet.
    • Armament of six .50 caliber machine guns, preferably eight.
    • Armor plating to protect the pilot.
    • Self-sealing fuel tanks
    • A minimum of 315 gallons of fuel.

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

  • 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

  • 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

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

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

  • Republic Aviation announces closure of Evansville Plant

  • Republic Aviation plant is offered for sale or lease

  • Employment at the Evansville plant is at 250 people

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

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

  • 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