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P-47 Thunderbolt

According to the sources it´s the P-47D-25 "Dottie Mae" of 2/Lt. Henry G.Mohr jr. 405th FG 511th FS.

Two P-47 were flying very low over the lake during the first days in May ´45 (said to be VE-Day). Obviously they presumed captured US soldiers in the nearby KZ (Concentration Camp) Ebensee and tried to announce the approach of the front and their upcoming liberation. One plane - Mohr´s - touched the lake level with its prop blades, lost the prop and had to ditch shortly afterwards. The pilot left the sinking plane and swam to the shore where he obviously was received by a German officer and must have been POW for some hours.

The ditching explains the good condition of the plane, prop is missing (due to the distruction of the Magnesium under water) with minor damage at fuselage and tail...the good condition is also due to the depth (said to be 75 - 87 meters), the freshwater and the cold temperatures of the Traunsee in Upper-Austria.

	'Dottie Mae' during the War.
	December 1st 2006 Bob, the current owner of Mottie Mae was gracious enough to give us a tour of the aircraft
	Here is the nose-art: Dottie Mae in a Santa outfit in front of a Christmas tree
	Bob in front of the precious nose-art.
	A portion of the front cowling
	The fuselage of Dottie Mae - on the floor buckets of silt as it comes out of the plane.
	The engine
	Bob (l) demonstrating the crash to Hugh (r)
	On the side of the aircraft: Project number, Model number and Serial number
	Beneath the cockpit on the left side is the name of one of the pilots.
	A dataplate
	The upper part is a ultraviolet cockpit light, the lower box with the 2 buttons is a self destruct switch to destroy secret equipment. The pilot would press and hold both buttons to set off the charges.
	The engine from the front

	A partial view of the cockpit
	A total view of the cockpit

	A bullet was used to seal the fuel-line to the extra fuel tanks.
	Silt from the Traunsee
	Bob and the fuselage
	Andreas posing with Dottie Mae
	Ernie Persich inspecting the cockpit
	The gun-sight - looks like new.