P-47 Cockpit Dataplate?

[DaveM2]

All

Does anyone know if there is a dataplate in a P-47D cockpit that can identify a particular airframe? If so, where is it located (photo if possible)?

Trying to ID the Beijing Museum P-47 currently on display in the new building.

TIA
Dave

[ssg keay]

So to speak yes. It has on the center of the instrument panel a little plate called the Radio Call sign. The Radio Call sign has the aircraft's serial number on it, which in turn can tell you what model it was. If you go to this site:
http://www.368thfightergroup.com/P-47-2.html
at the very bottom it will show you a listing identifying each variant by serial number.

Danny

[RSwank]

A different location is given on this thread, ....so I guess you can take your pick.
On the right sidewall of the cockpit just outboard the pilot's right shoulder. There is also a photo of what one looks like.

http://www.warbirdinformationexchang...c.php?p=248583

[ssg keay]

Well, I can only speak from experience gather during several P-47 excavations. And if you do a google search for P-47 Instrument Panel, you would see tons of photos of the radio call sign sitting slighty left of center...it is a rectangular plate. Danny

[ssg keay]

Here is a link, scroll down to the bottom part of the page and there you see a radio call sign from a B-17F. All American planes had them to my knowledge.
http://www.303rdbg.com/news/2011-10-23.html
Danny

[ssg keay]

Annnnd, just in case, I found this link to an old ebay auction. Here you can see the radio call very clearly on a Thunderbolt panel:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW2-USAAF-Co...p2047675.l2557

[DaveM2]

Thanks for your help gentlemen.

regards
Dave