Date:	Friday 18 October 1946
Time:	day
Type:	Republic XF-84A Thunderjet
Owner/operator:	Air Material Command USAAF
Registration:	45-59475
MSN:	AP-23/1
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Shawnee Municipal Airport, Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK -   United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Muroc AFB, Kern County, CA (EDW/KEDW)
Destination airport:	Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio (FFO/KFFO)

Narrative:
Republic XP-84A Thunderjet Prototype 45-59475: On 11 November 1944, Republic received an order for three prototypes of the new XP-84 — known to Republic as the Model AP-23. Since the design promised superior performance to the Lockheed-built P-80 Shooting Star and Republic had extensive experience in building single-seat fighters, no competition was held for the contract. The name "Thunderjet" was chosen to continue the Republic Aviation tradition started with the P-47 Thunderbolt, while emphasizing the new method of propulsion.

The prototype XP-84 (45-59475) was completed in December 1945. In early February 1946, the No. 1 XP-84 was disassembled at the Contractor's plant in Farmingdale and loaded into a KC-97 transport and flown (as cargo) to Muroc AFB, Kern County, California. There it was re-assembled and on 28 February 1946 made its first flight of 18 minutes, piloted by Major William A. Lien. The contractor then after 32 hours and 12 minutes of general flight testing released the airplane to the Air Material Command for Phase II performance tests. These tests were conducted from 2 August 1946 to 6 August 1946 and consumed 10 hours and 40 minutes additional flight time. Results from these tests are included in Air Material Command Report TSFTE-2013 dated 6 September 1946

Subsequently on 18 October 1946 this airplane was damaged beyond economical repair in a forced landing at Shawnee Municipal Airport, Shawnee, Oklahoma while being ferried to Wright Field from Muroc AFB. Pilot William H Councill. The airplane was removed by commercial carrier to Tisker Field, Oklahoma from where it was brought to Wright Field for gun firing tests.

1. Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 Post-World War II Fighters 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
2. Willis, David (2008). "Warplane Classic: Republic F-84 Thunderjet, Thunderstreak and Thunderflash". International Air Power Review. Vol. 24. pp. 132–165. ISSN 1473-9917
3. https://www.seabee.info/seabee_history_racac.htm
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_F-84_Thunderjet#Design_and_development
5. http://www.forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/F-84.html
6. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1945.html
7. https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/rptAF55.asp?RecID=13100
8. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4610.html
9. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/45-59475/
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawnee_Regional_Airport

Republic XP-84 Prototype 45-59475 (USAF Museum/Public Doman)

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
23-May-2023 21:20	Nepa	Updated