AA33827 P-47D Thunderbolt® Republic 28RA, Dottie Mae

When Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-29150 “Dottie Mae' took to the air following the end of a lengthy restoration project in June 2017, she was not only a fine example of this brute of a wartime fighter, but could also claim to be arguably the most historic airworthy former wartime aircraft found anywhere in the world. Recovered from Lake Traun in Austria some twelve years earlier, this aircraft had the distinction of being the last Allied fighter to be lost prior to the end of the war in Europe, one which wasn't lost to enemy action, but the exuberance of a pilot who just flew too low when undertaking a morale boosting aviation show of strength flight. Assigned to fly over a recently liberated German labour camp in the town of Ebensee, Austria, a force of twenty Thunderbolts made their way at relatively low altitude from their base at Kitzingen, but with Mohr in 'Dottie Mae' always appearing to be flying lower than the rest of the flight. After overflying the town, the Thunderbolts headed out over Lake Traun and broke formation, however almost immediately, the propeller of Mohr's P-47 struck the surface of the water and was dragged in. Pilot Lt. Mohr managed to escape unscathed, but his aircraft quickly sank to its watery resting place, along with the ignominy of being the last Allied fighter lost during the war in Europe.