The United States Postal Service unveiled its newest stamp commemorating the accomplishments of the Long Island built P-47 Thunderbolt fighter in a ceremony held at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

"This is an incredible honor for all the Long Islanders who worked on the manufacturing of this magnificent fighter and those who flew this plane into combat sixty years ago," Bill Wheeler of Hempstead, who flew the plane as a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during the second World War, said. "This plane was vital to our war efforts, to be remembered in this fashion pays tribute to those who gave their lives for our country and to the men and women at Republic who worked so hard to build it."

Josephine Rachiele, a former Republic Aviation employee, added, "Those of us working on the production line were doing our best to provide those on the front lines with the best possible fighter plane. For our efforts to be remembered in this manner so many years later is a true honor."

The P-47 is considered the most significant fighter aircraft of World War II. Built by Republic Aviation, the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter was the largest and most powerful single-engine fighter of the war. Production topped any other allied fighter with 15,683 P-47s, most of them manufactured at Republic Aviation in Farmingdale. The P-47 remained a vital part of the US Airforce until 1956.

"The Postal Service must be commended for honoring those Long Islanders on the ground in Farmingdale and the pilots who flew into combat aboard a P-47 for the contributions they made towards our nation's victory in WWII," Claudia Oakes, COO of The Cradle of Aviation, said.

The Cradle of Aviation Museum's IMAX(r) Dome Experience is showing the following films: NASCAR, Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag and Aliens of the Deep. For schedule and prices call 572-4111. The museum is located on Charles Lindbergh Blvd. in Garden City, adjacent to Nassau Community College. For information, visit www.cradleofaviation.org.