Another perspective on the Fifth's hard-working maintenance crews

Major Repairs to a P-47D-16-RA 'Jug'

 

27th Air Depot

Fifth Air Force

 

Men from the 27th Air Depot about to set to repairing a 'Jug' from the 35th Fighter Group, as evidenced by the cowl marking (a red horizontal 'V' if you look carefully).

This aircraft was ground-looped at Port Moresby on an unknown date in 1944, ripping the maingears from their housings. There is weeks or work ahead here for this enthusiastic gang. The Wright R-2800 engine will require replacing for a start, then the structural extrusions in the wing where the main gears attach will have to be removed by drilling then re-riveted with new components. This will also require complete removal of both wings, so they can be bolted into steel-framed jigs for work to proceed.

The 27th ADG kept a huge "boneyard" of aircraft written-off in accidents, canibalising their airframes for such parts, including maingears, of which this Jug will require two replacements (left and right).

 

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