republicp47thunderbolt

From a book review of "The Flying Greek": "Col Pisanos recounts his combat record, from fighter sweeps and bomber escort missions to dogfighting, flying the Spitfire, the P-47, and the P-51. While flying a P-47 named Miss Plainfield, he scored his first aerial victory on May 21, 1943. By January 1, 1944, he had become an ace. After his tenth confirmed kill, he crash-landed his P-51 in France and spent six months with the French Resistance, successfully evading capture. Because of his exposure to the French operations, the Air Force could not risk his capture again, so he returned to the U.S. and became a test pilot at Wright Field where he also attended the Air Forceʼs test pilot school. Retired in December 1973."

According to JoeBaugher.com excellent site this is a Republic P-47N-25-RE Thunderbolt.89316 (MSN 1533) Air Materiel Command, Independence Field, MO; Accident 6Feb47 landing in bad weather at Hill Field, UT; 118th FS, 103rd FG, Connecticut Air National Guard, Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, CT; Damaged 9Aug50 taxying at Groton Field, CT; 118th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4709th Defense Wing, Air Defense Command, Suffolk County AFB, Westhampton, NY; Crashed 18Apr52 after losing control 3 miles SE of Flanders, Long Island, NY; Pilot killed

Alexander Smith Hartley II (1922-1985)
See:
www.findagrave.com/memorial/24170103/alexander-smith-hartley