Evansville Wartime Museum

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Coordinates: 38°02′30″N 87°32′13″W / 38.0416°N 87.537°W / 38.0416; -87.537
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Evansville Wartime Museum
Evansville Wartime Museum is located in Indiana
Evansville Wartime Museum
Location within Indiana
Established2013 (2013)
LocationEvansville, Indiana
Coordinates38°02′30″N 87°32′13″W / 38.0416°N 87.537°W / 38.0416; -87.537
TypeMilitary museum
PresidentMike Tiemann
CuratorMcKay Miles
Websitewww.evansvillewartimemuseum.org

The Evansville Wartime Museum is a military museum located at the Evansville Regional Airport in Evansville, Indiana.

History[edit]

Background[edit]

During World War II, Evansville was the site of a Republic Aviation factory that built Republic P-47 Thunderbolts.[1]

Plans to obtain an aircraft for display in the city began as early as 1986, when a former supervisor at the plant, Frank Whetsel, purchased the wreckage of a P-47D, serial number 42-8320, that had crashed in Lake Kerr in Florida and founded the P-47 Heritage Commission.[2][3][4] The airplane arrived in Evansville the following February and was delivered to the University of Southern Indiana.[5][6] The Commission attempted to raise money by holding a bingo game in 1991, but was accused of violating state gambling laws. A group called the P-47 Foundation, led by Andy Easley, purchased the project from the commission.[7][8]

Following Frank's death in 1992, his son Jim took over the project. The intent was to display it in the airport terminal that was under construction at the time. However, the airframe was destroyed on 18 March 1997 in a fire at the Franklin Industrial Center where it was being restored.[9][10] Immediately following the fire, the foundation attempted to obtain an example from the Air Force Museum System, but was unsuccessful. It was also forced to return an engine that had been on loan.[11]

Establishment[edit]

In 2013, plans were announced to open the Freedom Heritage Museum at the Evansville Regional Airport.[12] The museum opened on 27 May 2017, shortly after changing its name to the Evansville Wartime Museum.[13][14] It was finally able to acquire a P-47, Tarheel Tal, from the Lone Star Flight Museum in 2020.[15][16] The airplane was repainted the following year as Hoosier Spirit II, to represent the first P-47 built in Indiana.[17][18] Following an effort by the foundation, the P-47 was designated the official state aircraft of Indiana in 2021.[18][19]

The museum was significantly damaged by a storm on 2 April 2024.[20]

Exhibits[edit]

The museum has a number of galleries focused on World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War as well as three flight simulators.[21]

Collection[edit]

Aircraft[edit]

The museum's P-47D with its previous name, Tarheel Tal

Ground vehicles[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ TenBarge, Andi (11 June 2014). "Ground School to Introduce Enthusiasts to Evansville's Own P-47 Thunderbolt". Evansville Courier & Press. p. 8A. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  2. ^ Armstrong, Dan (5 December 1986). "USI to Provide Space for P-47 During Restoration Work". Evansville Press. p. 3. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  3. ^ Derk, James (16 June 1987). "Support for P-47 Work Hasn't Gotten Off Ground". Evansville Courier. p. 13. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Goodall, Geoff (26 February 2023). "Republic" (PDF). Geoff Goodall's Aviation History Site. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  5. ^ Rabe, Jean (4 February 1947). "Cleared for 'Landing'". Evansville Press. p. 1. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. ^ Rabe, Jean (5 February 1987). "P-47 has Long Way to Go, But Restorers are Hopefull". Evansville Press. p. 19. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  7. ^ Rohrig, Byron (16 October 1991). "Bingo Controversy Threatens Campaign to Restore P-47 Aircraft". Evansville Courier. p. A6. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  8. ^ Whetsel, Jim (26 April 2009). "Prior P-47 Effort Went Up in Smoke". Evansville Courier & Press. p. A13. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  9. ^ Derk, James (18 May 1997). "Fire Deals What Could Be Fatal Blow to P-47 Display Effort". Evansville Courier. p. A11. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  10. ^ Root, Tonya (19 March 1997). "Head of P-47 Group Hoping for Another Plane". Evansville Press. p. 15. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  11. ^ Armstrong, Dan (17 July 1997). "P-47 Foundation Seeks New Plane". Evansville Press. pp. 1, 16. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  12. ^ Martin, John (18 October 2013). "Facility to Show City's War Effort". Evansville Courier & Press. pp. 1A, 13A. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  13. ^ Martin, John T. (19 January 2017). "WWII Museum Unveils Name Change". Indianapolis Star. pp. 4A, 5A. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  14. ^ Loesch, Sarah (23 May 2017). "Evansville Wartime Museum to open for public". Evansville Courier & Press. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  15. ^ "'Tarheel Hal' comes home to Evansville". TriStateHomepage.com. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Lone Star Flight Museum Announces The Sale Of The B-17 Thunderbird". Warbirds News. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  17. ^ "New look unveiled for Evansville's P-47, Hoosier Spirit II". TriStateHomepage.com. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  18. ^ a b Endale, Brook (12 January 2021). "Proposed bill would make Evansville's P-47 Thunderbolt official state aircraft". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Evansville's P-47 Thunderbolt is now Indiana's official state aircraft". TriStateHomepage.com. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  20. ^ Lyman, Jill (2 April 2024). "Storms Rip Part of Roof Off Evansville Wartime Museum". 14 News. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  21. ^ Santini, Aaron (4 April 2022). "Wartime Museum Announces Changes". Hot 96. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Stearman-Boeing N2S-1 Kaydet, s/n 3185 USN, c/n 75-0962, c/r N50142". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  23. ^ Lucca, Josh (30 June 2022). "Evansville Wartime Museum adds new World War II exhibit". 14 News. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  24. ^ "P-47 Foundation, Evansville Museum Acquire 1943 Chrysler Sherman Tank". Princeton Clarion. 31 May 2022. p. A3. Retrieved 8 October 2023.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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