P-47M Thunderbolt 45-49192/G-THUN, exported to Tom Duffy’s Millville Army Air Field Museum in New Jersey in September 2006, is due back in the UK in late April following acquisition by Fighter Aviation Engineering of Dunmow, Essex. The fighter was operated by The Fighter Collection for 20 years from 1986, wearing the markings of the 78th Fighter Group/82nd Fighter Squadron CO Lt Col Ben Mayo’s Duxford-based Thunderbolt, No Guts — No Glory!
The CAA register shows that G-THUN will now be finished as an example coded F4-J. These codes denote an aircraft assigned to the 9th Air Force’s 48th Fighter Group/492nd Fighter Squadron, which would be very appropriate since today’s 48th Fighter Wing and 492nd FS are based as part of the US Air Force presence in the UK, flying the F-15E Strike Eagle from RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.
