Sitting on the shelf at a Navy Exchange is a piece of commemorative naval aviation memorabilia that’s as authentic as a $20 Rolex.
As blogger CDR Salamander posted, the garment depicted below is for sale at an unnamed exchange. The issue: The aircraft depicted on the shirt has zilch to do with the Navy — it’s from some other part of the military.
This shirt, sold at a Navy Exchange, depicts a non-Navy airplane. // http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/
The Scoop Deck couldn’t verify what type of plane is on the shirt, and we didn’t want to make an educated guess because of a debilitating fear that we’d make a blunder as huge as, say, commemorating the centennial of naval aviation with a non-naval plane.
Anyone want to take a stab at it?
9 Comments
Looks like a spitfire (from the half-moon covers on the landing gear).
I think it’s a P-47 Thunderbolt.
It is a Republic P-47….aka “tank-killer”. Top WWII ace was Francis “Gabby” Gabreski with “Unadilla Killa”.
Bottom photo on this webpage:
http://www.jetplanes.co.uk/vintageaircraft/p47.html
I can’t say that’s the source they used but using Google’s similar photo search reveals this image all over the internet:
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=strict&authuser=0&tbs=simg:CAESZRpjCxCo1NgEGgIICwwLELCMpwgaPAo6CAESFPcE8APyA5kC7wOYAv4EywWLBIEDGiCYblRFZ4CXRuZ3o5Xa9kd4tvmcmzm7imu2jEpvKMmFigwLEI6u_1ggaCgoICAESBNitD3sM&q=p+47+thunderbolt&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ZALVTq2BBMrc0QHEm6nwAQ&ved=0CDoQsw4&biw=1228&bih=639#q=P47+thunderbolt&hl=en&safe=strict&authuser=0&sig=117469949132268073091&tbs=simg:CAESEgkvIrwRNLfZWiF2prR6FyQjtQ&tbm=isch&iact=hc&vpx=474&vpy=225&dur=1461&hovh=119&hovw=160&tx=22&ty=204&ei=2APVTsSkEMrf0QGfnr3lAQ&page=1&tbnh=119&tbnw=160&ved=1t:722,r:2,s:0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=559bcb2eae9e319f&biw=1228&bih=639
Sorry for the long URL. I hope it works.
I agree. Looks like a P-47.
USAAF P-47 delta model. Come on Scoop Deck – you should have known that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P-47-2.jpg
It’s a P-47 Thunderbolt … one of the earlier models with the razorback canopy.
I’d find this error funnier if the DoD hadn’t named the US Navy and USMC newest aircraft after a “legendary” USAAF fighter…
Oddly enough:
“On 23 June, Manila Bay came under enemy air attack during refueling operations east of Saipan. Two fighter bombers attacked her from dead ahead, dropping four bombs which exploded wide to port. Intense anti-aircraft fire suppressed further attacks, and as a precautionary and rather unusual move which Raymond A. Spruance later characterized as “commendable initiative”, Manila Bay launched four of the P-47s she was ferrying to fly protective CAP until radar screens were clear of contacts. The Army fighters then flew to Saipan, their intended destination. Manila Bay launched the remaining planes the next day and returned to Eniwetok, arriving on 27 June.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Manila_Bay