P47-Thunderbolt ? X42?

Hanswaga · Jan 17, 2022

Among pictures my parents left us I found this one, taken November 1945. My questions regard the plane. (The ladies I know, that's my mother and one of her sisters)

Am I correct, thinking this is a P47 Thunderbolt?
Does anyone recognize the emblem on the engine-cover?
Does 'X42' help identify the unit the plane belonged to?
Where could this picture have been taken, probably in Holland?

From Holland: thanks for your help!

Snautzer01 · Jan 17, 2022

Thats a p-47D, 7 kill ace, post war exhebition

Wurger · Jan 17, 2022

It looks like the P-47D or N of the 86th FS, 79th FG, 12th AF, USAAF. So its code can be X42. The emblem on the engine cowling is like the one below and indicates the 86th Fighter Squadron.

The source: 86th Fighter Squadron - 79th Fighter Group

Snautzer01 · Jan 17, 2022

Nice one Wurger. Now to find x42 7 kill ace.

fubar57 · Jan 17, 2022

79th FG was based mostly in the Mediterranean with four bases in S.E. France in '44. Going through the Group history now................

fubar57 · Jan 17, 2022

......found another photo of "X42". This is a full shot with the aircraft facing to the right. Caption says,"Shortly after the end of the war, this P-47 flown by Flight Officer Wilbert Norton of the Comanches became part of the Wings of Victory Exhibition in Amsterdam in the Netherlands." (Beentjes)

Wurger · Jan 17, 2022

Nice find Geo.

fubar57 · Jan 17, 2022

PM showing the aircraft sent my friend. I suspect he was only the current flyer of X42. Nothing is mentioned of him in the history. There is a list of victories somewhere that I'll try to find.

EDIT: a small correction. He is listed in the history twice and there is a photo of him

fubar57 · Jan 17, 2022

The same book has a list of pilot claims and F.O Norton is not listed

Wurger · Jan 17, 2022

What is the book titled and the number of the page with the image ?

fubar57 · Jan 17, 2022

Pg. 221 from this book

Wurger · Jan 17, 2022

Great!

Hanswaga · Jan 17, 2022

fubar57 said:
......found another photo of "X42". This is a full shot with the aircraft facing to the right. Caption says,"Shortly after the end of the war, this P-47 flown by Flight Officer Wilbert Norton of the Comanches became part of the Wings of Victory Exhibition in Amsterdam in the Netherlands." (Beentjes)

Wow, you guys are amazing, digging into history over 75 years ago, finding the plane and the place in just a few hours.
Amsterdam sounds right, my mother's family was living in Amsterdam.

Thanks from Holland!

Greg Boeser · Jan 17, 2022

Well, there are hundreds of people on this site who have enormous libraries, primary documents, and no lives.

Thumpalumpacus · Jan 17, 2022

Greg Boeser said:
Well, there are hundreds of people on this site who have enormous libraries, primary documents, and no lives.

The knowledge-base here is simply amazing.

MiTasol · Jan 17, 2022

Greg Boeser said:
Well, there are hundreds of people on this site who have enormous libraries, primary documents, and no lives.

Speaking about yourself?

buffnut453 · Jan 17, 2022

MiTasol said:
Speaking about yourself?

It takes one to know one.

MiTasol · Jan 17, 2022

And proud of it

Capt. Vick · Jan 17, 2022

Huzzah!

Snautzer01 · Jan 18, 2022

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P47-Thunderbolt ? X42?

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