Republic of Farmingdale

[tracker]

Those of you in age groups 1-4 may or may not know that Republic Aviation built more than 9000 P-47 Thunderbolts in WW II at Republic Airport in Farmingdale. The "Jug" had eight .50 caliber machine guns on the wings plus bombs and rockets. That aircraft flew 746,000 sorties and was critical in defeating Germany. Republic also built the F-84 and more than 800 F-105 Thunderchiefs [Thuds] that flew in Vietnam.  

[kjtrains]

Interesting history here.  That's a lot of sorties.  Great facts on the Republic Airport in Farmingdale.  Thanks.

[Richard S]

Tracker's history lesson inspires me to post photographs:

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt ("Jug"):

Republic F-84 Thunderjet:

Republic F-105 Thunderchief ("Thud")

In 1965, Republic was taken over by Fairchild Hiller and ceased to exist as an independent company. It's legacy lives on, however, in the descendant of the P-47 Thunderbolt -- the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II ("Warthog" or simply "Hog"), revered by front-line ground forces today, who are apt to speak of it with hushed reverence for its close air support capabilities:

[kjtrains]

Thanks for the pictures, Richard.  I'm a plane fanatic, not a pilot, just like planes.

[theirishguard]

I also love planes and I'm not a pilot, just used them to jump out of.   Tom

[tracker]

Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane?

[kjtrains]

Will explain later!    

[tracker]

I know, the jumpmaster told you to jump.

[kjtrains]

Tracker.  You answered your own question.    

[theirishguard]

roger that   Tom

[tracker]

It was a rhetorical question. I did not join the "Caterpillar Club" otherwise known as a nylon letdown but there is no doubt that it has a skill and thrill combination that is unique.

[Craigt]

My father studied aeronautical engineering just after WWII.  One of his classmates had flown Jugs in combat.  He said it was so easy to fly you could teach your grandmother to fly it.  And it was so rugged she would be safer flying it than being in church on Sunday morning.

Craig T.

[tracker]

That is a great metaphor, Craig T. Thank you.