Republic Aviation Timeline

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    World War II

  • Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor

    Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor
  • Republic Aviation announces airplane assembly plant adjoining the Evansville airport

    Republic Aviation announces airplane assembly plant adjoining the Evansville airport
  • Ground is broken for Republic Aviation plant and office

    Ground is broken for Republic Aviation plant and office
  • Elder Brooks is 1st local civilian death when hit by falling steel at Republic

  • The Evansville Airport is leased to Republic Aviation for a $1 a year

    The Evansville Airport is leased to Republic Aviation for a $1 a year
  • Republic Aviation office opened

    Republic Aviation office opened
  • First Evansville P-47 is flown

    First Evansville P-47 is flown
  • P-47-D aircraft assembly line begins operation

    P-47-D aircraft assembly line begins operation
  • Modification Center begins operation

    Modification Center begins operation
  • P-47s entering combat in England Europe

    P-47s entering combat in England Europe
  • President Roosevelt visits city

    President Roosevelt visits city
  • 5 thunderbolts have a "private" air show for Rupublic Aviation employees

    5 thunderbolts have a "private" air show for Rupublic Aviation employees
  • Lt. Herbert Fields is first to fly his P-47 carrying a bomb

    Lt. Herbert Fields is first to fly his P-47 carrying a bomb
  • Republic increases production 300% from previous July

    Republic increases production 300% from previous July
  • 1/000th Evansville P-47 is completed

    1/000th Evansville P-47 is completed
  • Republic Aviation Corp has highest fighter production totals of all US aircraft plants

    Republic Aviation Corp has highest fighter production totals of all US aircraft plants
  • P-47s now flying with 2 1,000- pound bombs attached

    P-47s now flying with 2 1,000- pound bombs attached
  • Republic Aviation has a backlog of 275 P-47s stored on airport grass field areas

    Republic Aviation has a backlog of 275 P-47s stored on airport grass field areas
  • Backlog of P-47s back to normal as vast ferry movement has taken place

    Backlog of P-47s back to normal as vast ferry movement has taken place
  • P-47 loses power over field and glides between tree and house

    P-47 loses power over field and glides between tree and house
  • Republic Aviation has open house for 25,000 employees and family members

    Republic Aviation has open house for 25,000 employees and family members
  • Republic Aviation wins 1st E-Award

    Republic Aviation wins 1st E-Award
  • P-47s chance to bubbly canopy

    P-47s chance to bubbly canopy
  • Two P-47s bump wings and crash near Inglefield north of airport

    Two P-47s bump wings and crash near Inglefield north of airport
  • 2,000th Evansville P-47 completed

    2,000th Evansville P-47 completed
  • Modification builds two 2-seat P-47s for training use

    Modification builds two 2-seat P-47s for training use
  • 3,000th Evansville P-47 completed

    3,000th Evansville P-47 completed
  • Walter Cockroft killed at Republic Aviation by walking into spinning propeller

    Walter Cockroft killed at Republic Aviation by walking into spinning propeller
  • Republic Aviation Corporation completes 10,000 and 10,001 P-47s at NY and Evansville plants

    Republic Aviation Corporation completes 10,000 and 10,001 P-47s at NY and Evansville plants
  • Republic Aviation wins 2nd E-Award

    Republic Aviation wins 2nd E-Award
  • Modification builds water-cooled XP-47 with water cooled Chrysler Engine

    Modification builds water-cooled XP-47 with water cooled Chrysler Engine
  • Re-tooling underway to build engine cowlings for B-29 Superfortress

    Re-tooling underway to build engine cowlings for B-29 Superfortress
  • 4,000th Evansville P-47 completed, employment is at 8,300 people

    4,000th Evansville P-47 completed, employment is at 8,300 people
  • Republic announces cost reduction of one P-47 from $68,000 to $45,000

    Republic announces cost reduction of one P-47 from $68,000 to $45,000
  • Famed south Pacific P-47 fighter "The Jackie" returns home to Evansvilleplamt for 2 week display

    Famed south Pacific P-47 fighter "The Jackie" returns home to Evansvilleplamt for 2 week display
  • 5,oooth Evansville P-47 completed, the "Grandiana", man-hours cut from 23,000 to 6,300 per P-47

    5,oooth Evansville P-47 completed, the "Grandiana", man-hours cut from 23,000 to 6,300 per P-47
  • Tornado hits city

    Tornado hits city
  • Republic Aviation wins 3rd E-Award

    Republic Aviation wins 3rd E-Award
  • 6,000th Evansville P-47 completed

    6,000th Evansville P-47 completed
  • 1st Evansville P-47-N model is flown

    1st Evansville P-47-N model is flown
  • Republic Aviation Corporation completes its 15,000th P-47

    Republic Aviation Corporation completes its 15,000th P-47
  • Republic Aviation announces closure of Evansville Plant

    Republic Aviation announces closure of Evansville Plant
  • Republic Aviation plant is offered for sale or lease

    Republic Aviation plant is offered for sale or lease
  • Employment at the Evansville Plant is 250 people

    Employment at the Evansville Plant is 250 people
  • The last P-47 is flown from Evansville plant

    The last P-47 is flown from Evansville plant
  • 14 P-47s given to regional schools and colleges

    14 P-47s given to regional schools and colleges
  • International Harvester buys Republic Aviation Plant for $5,648,000

    International Harvester buys Republic Aviation Plant for $5,648,000
  • The IH Plant still contains equipment used in P-47 production by RA, Servel & Hoosier Cardinal

    The IH Plant still contains equipment used in P-47 production by RA, Servel & Hoosier Cardinal
  • IH sells plant and facilities to Whirlpool-Seeger

    IH  sells plant and facilities to Whirlpool-Seeger
  • Whirlpool-Seeger is the largest city employer at 5,800

    Whirlpool-Seeger is the largest city employer at 5,800