WW2 Republic Aviation P-47 test pilots

[Vincennes]

This past weekend I bought a Lot of 66 photos and 4 documents that were the property of Kenneth A Ritchey (paid $25 for all). From the material in the Lot I am guessing Ritchey was a pilot before WW2 (there are a number of photos of WW1 aircraft and pre-WW2 experimental aircraft including Roscoe Turner's 1938 racing aircraft), a flight instructor in the Army at Chanute Field early in WW2 (a great 8x30" 37th. School Squadron photo with about 60 autographs on the back, and over a dozen photos of trainer aircraft...many in crashes), a test pilot at the Republic Aviation P-47 assembly plant in Evansville, Indiana late in WW2 and then worked for Curtis Wright by 1949. The Lot included his Private Pilot Examiner and Commercial Pilot Examiner certificates awarded after WW2.

 

This photo shows the Republic Aviation test pilots at Evansville. It is autographed (not printed signatures) by Thomas Cushman, Ken Tyler, Vic Pixey (Chief test pilot) and Don Packard. I THINK the man without an autograph is Kenneth A Ritchey.

 

Has anybody ever heard of Ritchey?

 

Paul

[BEAST]

Paul,

It looks like he had a crash in 1945

 

44-87785 P-47N-1-RE -? -? Evansville (IN, USA) - Accidenté le 04/01/45 (IN, USA) - Pilote : Kenneth A. Ritchey (the question marks are for his unit)

 

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/p-47.database/...se/44-xxxxx.htm

 

You should be able to request a copy of the accident report for him.

[Bugme]

$25 bucks for it all!?!? provenance was smiling down on you that day!

[Vincennes]

Paul,

It looks like he had a crash in 1945

 

44-87785 P-47N-1-RE -? -? Evansville (IN, USA) - Accidenté le 04/01/45 (IN, USA) - Pilote : Kenneth A. Ritchey (the question marks are for his unit)

 

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/p-47.database/...se/44-xxxxx.htm

 

You should be able to request a copy of the accident report for him.

 

Beast,

 

Yes, I was aware of that crash report. Thanks. He also had an earlier one at Evansville.

 

430630 P-47D 42-22532 Republic Aviation TACGC 4 Ritchey, Kenneth A USA IN Evansville, IN

 

Do the accident reports contain anything about the pilot? Has anyone bought one?

 

Paul

[Vincennes]

A researcher in Evansville came up with a Republic Aviation publication which showed a picture of Ritchey and gave his title as "Assistant Chief Test Pilot". The man in my original photo without the autograph IS NOT Ritchey. His picture is attached.

 

Paul

[MarkA]

Ken Tyler, second from the left was the Best Man at my parent's wedding, not really sure how they knew him. He was an AVG pilot who later flew in England.

[[email protected]]

Hi, Do you happen to have any more pictures of these pilots? Don Packard, the one furthest right, was my grandfather. He was killed during a test flight in 1944. I have the accident report of his crash. Thanks, Candy Johnson

[Vincennes]

Hi, Do you happen to have any more pictures of these pilots? Don Packard, the one furthest right, was my grandfather. He was killed during a test flight in 1944. I have the accident report of his crash. Thanks, Candy Johnson

 

Unfortunately none of the other photos are identified, but I do not think I have any more Republic Aviation photos from that lot.

 

Paul