Republic Aviation Timeline

By bianca.wargel

  • Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

    .Japanese fighter planes planed a sneak attacked on the american navel base in Honolulu Hawaii

  • 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

    AAF fighter planes of WW II nicknamed "the Jug," This plane made its first flight on May 6, 1941.On April 1943 the Thunderbolt flew its first combat mission

  • 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

    There were 550 of the 750 P-47 available. P-47 gianed range and this dramatically reducing the effectiveness of the German fighter forces.

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

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

  • 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

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

  • Republic Aviation wins 1st E-Award

    It was an award presented by the United States Department of Commerce.Organizations engaged in the marketing of products who make significant contributions to the expansion of the export trade.

  • 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

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

  • 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