Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Seven tons of American industrial muscle with wings.
The "Jug" was enormous — the heaviest single-engine fighter to see mass service in WWII. Its P&W R-2800 radial, turbocharger, and eight heavy machine guns made it a powerhouse at altitude and a devastating ground-attack aircraft at low level. Pilots loved its ability to absorb punishment and bring them home.
01Entered service with the 56th Fighter Group ("Zemke's Wolfpack") in Europe in 1943. Though less manoeuvrable than contemporary enemy fighters, its diving speed was unmatched — "dive away" became the universal advice when jumped.
02As P-51s took over the escort role in 1944, Thunderbolts turned increasingly to ground attack, blasting locomotives, trains, motor transport, and bridges during the Normandy campaign and beyond. The Ninth Air Force's Thunderbolt groups flew thousands of sorties in the ground-attack role.
03The long-range P-47N was developed specifically for the Pacific. Built around a wet wing for added fuel capacity, it escorted B-29s on raids against Japan from Ie Shima and Saipan and remained in front-line service until the P-80 jet replaced it.
Theatres of operation
- ·Western Europe
- ·Mediterranean
- ·Pacific
Principal operators
- ·USAAF
- ·RAF
- ·Free French Air Force
- ·Brazilian Air Force
Others in the same fight.
Supermarine Spitfire
Mk.I — Mk.24
Hawker Hurricane
Mk.I — Mk.IV
Hawker Typhoon
Mk.IB
North American P-51 Mustang
P-51B / C / D / K