Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Fighter Aviation Engineering's Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, 'Nellie B',
G-THUN, flying a display routine at Duxford's VE Day Flying Day 2025, together with The Fighter Collection's Grumman F8F Bearcat.
Fighter Aviation Engineering's Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, 'Nellie B', G-THUN, is operated by Air Leasing and spends time based at both Duxford and Sywell. For this display the Thunderbolt was flown by Pete Kynsey.
It was built in 1945 at Republic’s Evansville factory, Indiana, as serial No. 45-49192 and served with the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Training Command during the last few months of World War 2.
In 1953 it was one of a group of P47’s sent to the Peruvian Air Force. It was given the Peruvian Air Force serial 119 and served there until 1967. The aviation historian and enthusiast Ed Jurist recovered this and 5 other P-47s to the USA, with over 45 tons of spares.
All six were made airworthy and operated by the Confederate Air Force (CAF) from Harlingen, Texas.
In April 1975, Ed Jurist sold his aircraft, a Mosquito, Mustang, Spitfire and six P47s to David Tallichet.
This P-47 was delivered to the Kansas Wing of the YAF, in February 1977. In January 1980, it was sold to Robin Collard, in Texas, but it crashed during take off during its delivery flight due to engine failure. In June 1980 its remains, another fuselage and parts, were sold to Jon Ward in Nevada. In 1984 the project was sold to Ward’s friend, Jim Kirby, who in turn sold it to The Fighter Collection at Duxford, UK. The 2nd project fuselage was sold to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, for completion of the static P-47D now located in the American Air Museum, Duxford.
This one was sent to Steve Hinton’s Fighter Rebuilders, Chino, California. It flew again in August 1985, and appeared as 'No Guts, No Glory', and arrivied at The Fighter Collection on 22nd of January 1986. It was sold to Claire Aviation Inc and went back to USA on 01/3/2007.
In early 2018 it was sold to Fighter Aviation Engineering in the UK and now wears the markings of 'Nellie B', the aircraft of Lt. Colonel James K.Johnson, Commanding Officer of the 48th Fighter Wing, whilst the Wing were based in Belgium and Germany between October 1944 and June 1945. The aircraft was assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron (The Mad Hatters) - one of 3 Fighter Squadrons with the 48th Fighter Wing.
Bearcat - The Fighter Collection's Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat, G-RUMM, is flown here by Stu Goldspink. The aircraft was built in 1948 for the US Navy. She served at a number of Naval Air Stations before being modified to F8F-2P standard in 1952. The F8F-2 was an improved version using a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-30W radial piston engine, a redesigned engine cowling, taller fin and rudder, and four 20 mm cannons. The F8F-2P was a Photo-reconnaissance version of the F8F-2, with camera equipment and only two 20 mm cannons. 60 were built.
Following Navy service she was struck off charge in January 1957 and passed through two private owners in the US; the first from 1957 to 1972, and the second until 1981. The second owner fully overhauled and flew her once again in 1975. In 1981 it joined The Fighter Collection and is now the longest serving member of their fleet.
It wears the markings of Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat BuNo.95318, '201-B', flown by Lieutenant Commander Caldwell the Air Group Commander of VF-19, on board USS Boxer (CV-21) in 1947.
21 Bearcats survive of which 15 are airworthy. This is the only airworthy F8F-2P and the only airworthy Bearcat in the UK and Europe.
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © StephenKeeler (HightFlight) All Rights Reserved
Fighter Aviation Engineering's Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, 'Nellie B',
G-THUN, flying a display routine at Duxford's VE Day Flying Day 2025, together with The Fighter Collection's Grumman F8F Bearcat.
Fighter Aviation Engineering's Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, 'Nellie B', G-THUN, is operated by Air Leasing and spends time based at both Duxford and Sywell. For this display the Thunderbolt was flown by Pete Kynsey.
It was built in 1945 at Republic’s Evansville factory, Indiana, as serial No. 45-49192 and served with the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Training Command during the last few months of World War 2.
In 1953 it was one of a group of P47’s sent to the Peruvian Air Force. It was given the Peruvian Air Force serial 119 and served there until 1967. The aviation historian and enthusiast Ed Jurist recovered this and 5 other P-47s to the USA, with over 45 tons of spares.
All six were made airworthy and operated by the Confederate Air Force (CAF) from Harlingen, Texas.
In April 1975, Ed Jurist sold his aircraft, a Mosquito, Mustang, Spitfire and six P47s to David Tallichet.
This P-47 was delivered to the Kansas Wing of the YAF, in February 1977. In January 1980, it was sold to Robin Collard, in Texas, but it crashed during take off during its delivery flight due to engine failure. In June 1980 its remains, another fuselage and parts, were sold to Jon Ward in Nevada. In 1984 the project was sold to Ward’s friend, Jim Kirby, who in turn sold it to The Fighter Collection at Duxford, UK. The 2nd project fuselage was sold to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, for completion of the static P-47D now located in the American Air Museum, Duxford.
This one was sent to Steve Hinton’s Fighter Rebuilders, Chino, California. It flew again in August 1985, and appeared as 'No Guts, No Glory', and arrivied at The Fighter Collection on 22nd of January 1986. It was sold to Claire Aviation Inc and went back to USA on 01/3/2007.
In early 2018 it was sold to Fighter Aviation Engineering in the UK and now wears the markings of 'Nellie B', the aircraft of Lt. Colonel James K.Johnson, Commanding Officer of the 48th Fighter Wing, whilst the Wing were based in Belgium and Germany between October 1944 and June 1945. The aircraft was assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron (The Mad Hatters) - one of 3 Fighter Squadrons with the 48th Fighter Wing.
Bearcat - The Fighter Collection's Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat, G-RUMM, is flown here by Stu Goldspink. The aircraft was built in 1948 for the US Navy. She served at a number of Naval Air Stations before being modified to F8F-2P standard in 1952. The F8F-2 was an improved version using a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-30W radial piston engine, a redesigned engine cowling, taller fin and rudder, and four 20 mm cannons. The F8F-2P was a Photo-reconnaissance version of the F8F-2, with camera equipment and only two 20 mm cannons. 60 were built.
Following Navy service she was struck off charge in January 1957 and passed through two private owners in the US; the first from 1957 to 1972, and the second until 1981. The second owner fully overhauled and flew her once again in 1975. In 1981 it joined The Fighter Collection and is now the longest serving member of their fleet.
It wears the markings of Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat BuNo.95318, '201-B', flown by Lieutenant Commander Caldwell the Air Group Commander of VF-19, on board USS Boxer (CV-21) in 1947.
21 Bearcats survive of which 15 are airworthy. This is the only airworthy F8F-2P and the only airworthy Bearcat in the UK and Europe.
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © StephenKeeler (HightFlight) All Rights Reserved
