P-47 Thunderbolt USAAF ww2 fighter (2024)

P-47C WZ-Z, serial 41-6630 “Spokane Chief” of the 78th Fighter Group, 84th FS in flight

Col Martin of 87th FS, 79th FG and P-47D 44-20441 “10 Grand” – 10000th Built P-47 1945

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group at Kings Cliffe, 26 March 1943

56th Fighter Group, 62nd FS P-47C serial 41-6347 in flight

lt Donald J. Corrigan of the 352nd FS, 353rd Fighter Group with his crew chief and P-47D 42-25771, code SX I

Fire Power Demonstration of 78th Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt 1943

Republic P-47D-11 Thunderbolt 42-75452 B7-R, pilot 1lt Vernon R. Richards of the 374th FS, 361st Fighter Group

Pilot in co*ckpit of Republic XP-47B Test Aircraft 1941

P-47D 42-8390 from the 352nd FS, 353rd Fighter Group, 8th AF, flipping over after takeoff – Raydon 22 April 1944

Prototype XP-47N Thunderbolt, serial 42-27387 in flight

French P-47D 42-25829 from GC II/5 and 57th Fighter Group #18, Corsica Amendola AB

P-47D Thunderbolt 42-26357 of the 353rd Fighter Group fitted with rocket launchers at Raydon

Bomb Hangs from USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt in Normandy France 1944

German P-47 Thunderbolt T9+FK – 42-8370 ex 355th FG

Ace Norman Olson hangs replica DFC on P-47 Thunderbolt from 357th FS, 355th Fighter Group

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd, FS 78th Fighter Group at Duxford September 1944

View of machine muns and landing gear of P-47 Thunderbolt

P-47D Razorback LH-X 42-8634 “Dove of Peace IV” pilot Col Glenn E. Duncan of the 353rd Fighter Group

Ace Pilot Col David C. Schilling in P-47 1944

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 9th Air Force prepare for a mission in France

Republic P-47D-5 Thunderbolt code WR-P 42-8404 “Speed”, “Lil Jo” of the 354th FS, 355th Fighter Group pilot LtCol Thomas Hubbard, November 1943

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 406th Fighter Group line up for take off before a mission

Thunderbolt #412 42-75460 “Princess Pat” of the 73rd FS. 318th Fighter Group – Saipan 1944

P-47 Thunderbolt with bazooka-type triple rocket launchers and P-40 in the background

Burning P-47D “Memphis Rebel” B8-G

Lt Richard Keywan of the 352nd FS, 353rd Fighter Group and his P-47D 42-75707, code SX-A

Lt Bayard C. Auchincloss of the 350th FS, 353rd FG in the co*ckpit P-47D-22 serial 42-25740 “The New Yorker”, code LH-B

Pilots and P-47 Thunderbolt from 351st Fighter Squadron, 353rd FG

P-47 of the 353rd Fighter Group fully loaded with bombs – September 1944

P-47 Thunderbolts 73 and 96 of the 325th Fighter Group

Lt Fields and armament crew of the 351st FS, 353rd Fighter Group and P-47D code YJ-F, serial 42-75570 named “Devils Thumb” – 1943

Ground crew loading rockets on P-47 Thunderbolt

P-47D-28 44-19566 of the 82nd FS, 78th FG MX-X – August 1944 Duxford

P-47D code LH-L, serial 42-26455 named “Maggie V” of the 353rd Fighter Group , 350t FS. Pilot: Lt Kenneth Chetwood

British P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on airfield in Burma 1944

P-47D 42-74672 “El Shafto” of the 350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd FG up on its nose – May 1944

Thunderbolt #603 44-20978 “Torrid Tessie” and 42-26840 “Hellzapoppin” of the 346th Fighter Squadron, 350th FG, 12th AF

P-47D Bubbletop of the 78th Fighter Group

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 365th Fighter Group preparing to take off July 1944

P-47 of the 348th FG parked on Airstrip

P-47D 44-20571 D5-C of the 386th Fighter Squadron, 365th Fighter Group

P-47D 42-76594 with Malcolm Hood anmed “Zombie” QI-U, flown by Cpt Ronald Upp of 356th Fighter Group, 361st Fighter Squadron.

P-47B serial 41-6060 engine test

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group fly in formation – 11 March 1943

P-47 Razorback YJ-N 42-74706 “Babe” of the 351st FS, 353rd Fighter Group at Hethel

P-47E Thunderbolt at Wright Field

P-47D of the 404th Fighter Squadron, 371st FG

Pilot Inspects Guns on P-47 Thunderbolt at Base in England 1943

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 362nd Fighter Group take off 1944

Brazilian P-47D being refueled Italy

The co*ckpit interior of Republic P-47D Thunderbolt

P-47 Thunderbolt code E9+Z of the 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron

F/O Peter Pompetti 78th Fighter Group 84th FS Ace in P-47C Thunderbolt “Darkie”, code WZ+R England 1943

Captured P-47 Thunderbolt T9+LK from Zirkus Rosarius Goettingen Germany

P-47D-28 Thunderbolt of the 365th Fighter Group 388th FS, code C4+T 42-28932

Republic P-47 Thunderbolts 7AF Pacific

Republic P-47 Thunderbolts on aircraft carrier 7AF

365th Fighter Group 387 FS P-47 Thunderbolt

Republic P-47 Razorback

Republic P-47N-1-RE Thunderbolt 44-87837 of the 413rd Fighter Group PTO

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt 78th Fighter Group 82nd Squadron, USAAF crew

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt 365th Fighter Group 1945 color photo

P-47 Thunderbolt on Airfield

Ace Capt Bud Mahurin 56th Fighter Group in P-47D , England 1944

Major Gil Talbot 354th Fighter Group

P-47 Thunderbolts on aircraft carrier 7AF

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt code “M” 7of the 318th Fighter Group, 7th AF PTO

“Shorty Miriam” 44-32760 flown by Lt. Norman Davis

P-47 Republic on aircraft carrier 7AF pacific

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt from 365th Fighter Group 1945 color photo 2

Early Model P-47 Thunderbolt

P-47 Thunderbolt of 365th Fighter Group – Col Ray Stecker

P-47D-25 42-26641 “Hairless Joe” of the 56th Fighter Group, 62nd FS with Nose Art . Pilot: Col. David C. Schilling

Wreck of Thunderbolt 42 26060 near Kornelimünster, Aachen Germany October 1944

P-47B 41-6002 of the 56th Fighter Group in flight

Shot Down P-47 Thunderbolt 355 Fighter Group, 358 Squadron

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Razorback “C” from the 318th Fighter Group PTO

P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter “Frivolous Sal” nose art

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt “Teddy” flown by Maj. Michael Jackson

P-47D Thunderbolts of 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron on Mission Over Philippines 1945 color photo

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt on airfield

365th Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolts

P-47 Thunderbolts in mothballs Clark Field Philippines

P-47 Thunderbolt Mk I FL804 of No. 134 squadron RAF in Burma

Republic P-47N-5 Thunderbolt #701 44-88538 of the 414th Fighter Group PTO

P-47D-20 Thunderbolt of the 358 Fighter Group, 367 Fighter Squadron code CP+D, D-Day stripes Cardonville 17 06 1944

P-47D-30 TC20 44-33199 after slight accident

P-47D-20 Thunderbolt “Razorback” of the 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron with D-Day stripes

Thunderbolt 43-25429 318th Fighter Group, 19 Fighter Squadron, Saipan 1944 PTO

Republic P-47 Razorback “MISS DALLAS”

Capt Moore and Lt Kreimann of 15th Fighter Group on P-47D Thunderbolt Stinger V nose art, color photo

Thunderbolt 43-25429 318th fighter group with bazooka rocket tubes “Miss Mary Lou” 1944 PTO

Capt Bob Johnson of 56th Fighter Group Ace in P-47D Thunderbolt

Razorback HV-L 41-6211 “JACKIE” of the 61st FS, 56th FG, England 1943

Capt Bob Johnson of 56th Fighter group ace In his P-47D Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt 43-25429 318 Fighter Group with bazooka rocket tubes “Miss Mary Lou” Saipan 1944 PTO

P-47D Thunderbolt “3” of Mexican Air Force 44-33713

1 Grupo de Aviacao de Caca 1st Brazilian Fighter Group P-47D Thunderbolts

Mustang of 43-25024 384th FS, 364th FG and P-47D 42-74635 63rd FS, 56th FG crashed into each other, Suffolk, England 27 November 1944 8AF

Republic P-47D-23-RA Thunderbolt (Razorback) #23, serial 42-27859 of the 35th Fighter Group, 39th FS and P-38, PTO

Crash landed P-47 42-26060 and American soldiers, 1944

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Nose Art

Republic P-47D Lt Harry Moore from 354th Fighter Group

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt from 9th AF nose art Texan

P-47 nose art “Maximun Goose”

201st Mexican Fighter Squadron P-47D 42-27995 in color 1945

P-47 of the 78th Fighter Group, 83rd Fighter Squadron, code HL+B, 1943

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt 9AF D-Day stripes

P-47D Thunderbolt Lt King 350th fighter group Flak damaged

Republic P-47D-28-RA color photo, 56th Fighter Group Nose Art “Pat”, code UN+V 42-28543. Thunderbolt flown by Capt Gordon Stevens

P-47 Thunderbolt and jeep

P-47D Razorback Thunderbolt CBI 1944

P-47D Lt Ambrose 373rd Fighter Group, 410th Squadron, code R3+O

P-47D-15-RE 42-76127 “Turnip Termite”, 365th Fighter Group 387th FS with D-Day stripes

The co*ckpit interior of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

P-47D-22 42-26060 LM-C 62nd FS, 56th FG Kornelimünster, Germany 1944

Republic P-47D TC20

P-51C 43-25034 and P-47D 42-74635 UN-D of the 63rd FS, 56th FG

P-47 Thunderbolt shot down in germany

Thunderbolts North Africa 1944

P-47D Thunderbolt TC10

1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron P 47D Thunderbolt Italy 1944

P-47 Thunderbolt of the 9th AF and Caterpillar D7 Tractor (818th Engineer Aviation Battalion) – France 1944

Republic P-47D-4-RA Thunderbolt 42-22794 color photo

P-47 Thunderbolts ready for take off

Thunderbolt 42-26688 of the 373rd Fighter Group, 411st Squadron, code U9+K, 1944

Thunderbolt 41-6211 HV-L “JACKIE” of the 61st FS, 56th FG

Thunderbolt “Juicy Luc” 42-28229 W3-M of the 50th Fighter Group, 313th FS, color photo.

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt PTO

Thunderbolt 41-6243 code WZ+K from 78th FG, 84th Fighter Squadron in flight, 10 June 1943

P-47 Thunderbolts “Bubbletop” at Neubiburg Germany, code W3+K 50th Fighter Group 313th FS

Razorback of the 35th Fighter Group, 40th FS PTO

Thunderbolt 42-75185 UN-X named “Princess Pat” of the 56th Fighter Group, 63rd Fighter Squadron in flight

P-47D Thunderbolt Lt King of the 350th Fighter Group – Flak damaged photo

P-47D Thunderbolts Bubbletop of the 9th AF with D-Day stripes

P-47 Thunderbolt of the 78th Fighter Group in flight – 1943

P-47D Thunderbolts 5D3 42-27260 Flak Happy, 5B2 and 5C6 of the 350th Fighter Group over Italy 1944

P-47D with D-Day Invasion Stripes of the 366th FG sits on its hardstand on the northeast corner of Thruxton airfield England, June 1944

Armorers load fragmentation bombs under the wing of a 353rd Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt – 8th AF England 1944

P-47D Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group 63rd Squadron in flight 1944

Republic P-47D-30-RA Thunderbolt 44-32950

P-47 Thunderbolt history dates back to 1939 and previous project, carried out in the Seversky Aircraft Company. 1 August this year, chief designer Alexander Kartveli in response to a formal requirement, introduced the draft lightweight high-altitude fighter with the designation AP-10. This aircraft, in contrast to previous projects record, was powered by liquid-cooled inline engine, not the engine of an air-cooled. Weapons were supposed to be two 12.7 mm machine guns above the engine. The machine had to have a curb weight 2200 kg and home approx. 2800 kg, bearing surface of 16 m2 and reach speeds of 667 km/h at an altitude of 4500 m, reaching it in 3.5 minutes. United States Army Air Corps became interested in the project, but requested to strengthen weapons, even at the expense of performance. 4 guns 7.62 mm were added to the wings, and the weight increased to 2980 kg. In November 1939, the prototype was ordered under the designation XP-47. In January 1940,. Ordered free of weapons, radios and other equipment another copy under the designation XP-47A, as soon as possible to test the capabilities of the machine.
The ongoing war in Europe clearly indicated that the fighters must have strong armor, high firepower and self-sealing fuel tanks. The XP-47 was not able to meet these requirements due to insufficient engine power. In order to the Air Force never rejected the project, the company produced a brand new machine – the later P-47 Thunderbolt. The project had little to do with the XP-47 and XP-47A. The first drawings of the aircraft were created in September 1940. USAAC especially laid stress on getting the maximum speed at the highest height of at least 640 km/h on 10000 m. US Aviation had in fact dominate at altitudes above 8,000 meters, and only then gradually lower the ceiling name and destroy enemy action closer to the ground. When designing new aircraft were used solution in the previous design, the Republic P-43 Lancer and XP-44, and even ready-made fuselage sections of the P-43. Used radial, 18-cylinder, air-cooled engine Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp, with a capacity of 1900 hp, equipped with a turbocharger, which was placed behind the fuselage (have already tested the concept in P-43 Lancer) up to 7 meters away from the propeller. Exhaust fumes were applied pipes on the sides at the bottom of the hull, and the exhaust outlet of the turbocharger it is just before the tailwheel. Cable inlet air from the compressor to the engine also led along the hull, but over wings. In order to make full use of engine power used four blade propeller with a diameter of up to 3.66 m, which necessitated the use of high-main landing gear. Wings, with proven Republic profile S-3, had an elliptical outline. Tail wheel, retractable in-flight in the fuselage, was controllable. Self-sealing fuel tanks were placed in the hull. The plane was supposed to have curb weight 5216 kg, reach a speed of 644 km/h at 7620 m and 4572 m altitude to reach in 5 minutes. June 12, 1940, the project presented USAAC that on September 6 ordered a prototype under the designation XP-47B. The prototype airframe was ready on 4 May 1941. 13 September USAAC placed an order for 773 machines, 171 as P-47B and 602 as P-47C. Thunderbolt name, approved by the USAAF, invented one of the company directors of Republic, C. Hart Miller. The prototype had first flew on 6 May , 1941. It achieved during subsequent flights, the speed of 663 km/h at 7800 m, and so more than planned, and at the height of 4572 m rising up in 5 minutes. During the trial there have been problems shake the tail and the oil system failure and a turbocharger at high altitudes. The prototype was destroyed in an accident on 8 August , 1942.
The plane was well-armored, armed and equipped and extremely resistant to damage. P-47 Thunderbolt fall out the worst on the fly to the ground, and preferably at a height of 8,000 to 12,000 m, Which resulted from the application of efficient (especially at high altitudes) turbocharger. Thanks to her was one of the best single-altitude fighter in World War II. The preferred tactic in the attack was the attack in advance and escape at level, and in defense of not fighting circular and rapid transition to a diving half barrels. Comparing the P-47 Thunderbolt with a later version of the P-51D Mustang, P-47 surpassed his performance at altitude above 7500 m, moreover, was more resistant to damage, and strongly armed. Comparing the P-47 German aircraft, the P-47 Thunderbolt surpassed all versions Messerschmitt Bf109G and Focke-Wulf Fw190A. It rivaled only versionsMesserschmitt Bf109G and K from engine DB-605D and Focke-Wulf Ta152. P-47M Thunderbolt version could even make almost equal the fight against jet fighter Me262. The co*ckpit was spacious, well ventilated and heated, which provided great comfort pilots, not only because of the heat, but also thanks to its unique removing ice from the glazed cabin. The disadvantage of the first version was a large number of small windows, which limited visibility. Strong arming allowed to eliminate an opponent after giving a brief series. A major role at the effectiveness of combat aircraft played a rejected application on the fly additional fuel tanks – thanks to its significantly increased the radius of the effective operation of the machine. For its features pilot and combat resistance to damage the machine was liked and appreciated by pilots.Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in WW2 history to be powered by a single piston engine. Production: 15660 aircrafts

P-47 Thunderbolt USAAF ww2 fighter (2024)

References