At the time Georgian immigrant Alexander Kartveri of Republic Aviation conceived the Thunderbolt in 1940, it seemed to go against nearly all the current norms in fighter design which called for them to be lightweight, nimble and streamlined. Nicknamed the “Jug” because it resembled a milk bottle when turned on its nose, the P-47 was certainly none of these, being the largest and heaviest single-seat aircraft to see service in World War II. But its huge 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine, coupled with a unique supercharging system, helped the aircraft overcome its portly fuselage and heavy weight to become the most-produced fighter in American history, with over 15,000 eventually being built.
Early Thunderbolts had a number of difficulties, but those were mostly overcome with the introduction of the P47-D. This upgrade introduced a water-methanol injection system for emergency power, a better supercharger installation, stronger tires and a “universal” wing which allowed the Thunderbolt to carry both bombs and drop tanks simultaneously. However, though tanks and other improvements did significantly increase the Thunderbolt’s range, it was never able to escort U.S. bombers all the way to Berlin or beyond, a role in which the P-51 Mustang would eventually became famous.
In July of 1943, partway into the P-47D production run, the aircraft received its most visually significant modification – the adoption of a bubble canopy. Previous models had been sometimes called “razorbacks” due to the sharp dorsal ridge on the fuselage, but the P-47D-25 had a cut-down rear body to accommodate the new canopy. This change was immensely popular with pilots as it significantly improved rear visibility. At the same time, the P-47D-25 also received a new Hamilton Standard paddle-type propeller which boosted high altitude performance and climb rates.
It was in the last two years of the war that the P-47 really came into its own, establishing itself as one of the premier fighter-bombers of the war. An extremely fast and stable gun platform, Thunderbolts flying at treetop level used bombs, rockets, and their eight Browning .50 cal. machine guns to wreak destruction on German targets throughout Europe, claiming nearly 100,000 railway cars, 70,000 trucks and 6,000 tanks destroyed by the war’s end.
Thunderbolts also served in the Pacific theater against Japan. Colonel Neel E. Kearby of the Fifth Air Force claimed 22 Japanese aircraft and was awarded the Medal of Honor for an action in which he downed six enemy fighters on a single mission. He was shot down and killed over Wewak in March 1944.
The P-47 also served with other Allied air forces, including those of France, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. Mexican and Brazilian squadrons fighting alongside the USAAF also flew the P-47.
Facts and General Characteristics of the P-47D-25 Thunderbolt:
Contractor: Republic Aviation
Type: Fighter/bomber
Crew: One
Wingspan: 40 ft. 9 in. (12.4 m)
Length: 36 ft. 2 in. (11 m)
Height: 14 ft. 8 in. (4.5 m)
Weight: Empty: 10,000 lbs. (4,536 kg), Max Takeoff: 17,500 lbs. (7,938 kg)
Power Plant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 2,000 hp (1,500 kW)
Propeller: Hamilton-Standard hydromatic paddle-blade propeller
Max Speed: 426 mph (686 km/h) at 30,000 ft. (9,100 m)
Ceiling: 42,000 ft. (13,000 m)
Range: 1,030 miles (1,660 km)
Armament: Eight .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns (3400 rounds)
Up to 2,500 lbs. (1,100 kg) of bombs
Ten 5 in. (130 mm) unguided rockets
Number Built (all variants): 15,636
Number Still Airworthy: 14
Facts and General Characteristics of the Model:
This model represents the P-47D-25 #42-26860 L3-O “Angie” flown with the 512th Fighter Squadron, 406th Fighter Group based in France in 1944. It includes two wing-mounted bombs and an auxiliary fuel tank attached to the fuselage.
Manufacturer: Hasegawa Seisakusho Co. LTD., Japan
Scale: 1/48
Wingspan: 10.2 in.
Length: 9. in.
Height: 2.2 in.
Parts: 100
Decals: 76
Hours to build and paint: 25
Mistakes/problems:
1. The wing assembly did not fit tight with the fuselage.
2. I could not get the engine cowling paint to match the yellow decals.
3. The combination paint scheme/decal placement was very challenging.
4. I broke off one of the machine guns and manufactured a replacement using a
paperclip.
