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Scale 1:28   Length 15.5"   Wingspan 17.5"

Photography by Action Asia Photo
© 2002-8 Action Asia Photo - All Rights Reserved
www.actionasiaphoto.com

The P-47 Thunderbolt was a massive fighter able to out-dive anything in the air. Eight .50 caliber machine guns gave the plane awesome firepower. Fighting on every front and built in larger numbers than any other American fighter, the P-47 made a tremendous contribution to victory.

The prototype Thunderbolt first took to the air in May 1941. Production began with the P-47B and the first became operational in April, 1943 with the Eighth Air Force stationed in the UK. The P-47B's range was not really good enough for escort duties and its maneuverability was poor. AAF pilots soon learned - in evasive actions - that the Thunderbolt could out-dive any Luftwaffe airplane encountered to make an escape.

By mid-1943 improved P-47Cs were becoming available with external fuel tanks to increase range and a longer fuselage to improve maneuverability. However, the razor back canopy restricted the pilot's rearward vision and with the next version - the P-47D - came the introduction of the "bubble top" canopy.

While the P-47D became the version most produced,  the P-47Gs and P-47Ms followed with more powerful engines for an  increased maximum speed of 470 mph.

In all, 15,579 P-47s were built, making it one of America's leading fighter airplanes of WW II.  P-47s flew more than 546,000 combat sorties between March 1943 and August 1945, destroying 11,874 enemy aircraft, some 9,000 locomotives and about 6,000 armored vehicles and tanks.

By the end of the war the Thunderbolt had been used in every active war theater with the exception of Alaska. In addition to getting an impressive record as a high-altitude escort fighter, the P-47 gained recognition as a low-level fighter-bomber because of its ability to absorb tremendous battle damage and still keep flying to return home their pilots - who referred to the planes affectionately as "The Jug".

The final version - the P-47N - was built primarily for use against the Japanese.

In addition to serving with the AAF, P-47s were flown in action by the Australia's, British, Free French, Russians, Mexicans and Brazilians.

Crew:          One
Length:       36 ft 2 in
Wingspan:   40 ft 10 in
Weight:       13,500 lbs loaded
Engine:        Pratt&Whitney R-2800-59 of 2,5350 hp
Speed:         429 mph maximum at 30,000 feet
Ceiling:        40,000 ft
Range:        1,100 miles (with auxiliary fuel tank)
Armament: Six or eight wing-mounted .50-cal Browning machine guns and ten 5-inch HVAR rockets or up to 2,500 lbs of bombs

Related Links
P-40 Jug Advocates
P-40 Thunderbolt Pilots Association