Republic P47 Thunderbolt (late models from D-25)
Type: US fighter-bomber and long-range escort fighter.
History: Production of the P47 Thunderbolt really hit its stride with the P-47D, the most numerous variant. The P-47D's engine gave more power at high altitude, and this version could carry a heavier bomb load. These Thunderbolts were built in several production batches and with a host of sub-designations. Beginning with the P-47D-25, they incorporated a modification which had been introduced by the P-51 Mustang: a transparent teardrop canopy that gave the pilot 360° visibility.
The value of the P47 Thunderbolt was dramatically increased when they began to carry drop tanks and fly all the way to the target. The same capability turned the big and formidable fighter into a muchfeared bomber and, with devastating firepower, vast numbers of P-47Ds strafed and bombed throughout the European and Pacific theatres until the end of WW2.
Republic's output of D models (12,602) is the largest total of one sub-type of any fighter in history, total production of the "Jug" amounting to 15,660.
The 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron assembles in front of a P47 Thunderbolt on Porac strip, Clark Field, Luzon.
The P-47D was the first to go to the Pacific with USAAF units, and was the first Thunderbolt to be supplied to the Soviet Union, Great Britain, Brazil, Mexico and Free French units.
The lightweight M was too late for its role of chasing flying bombs but scored successes against the Me 262 and Ar 234 jets.
The ultimate P47 Thunderbolt was the P-47N, designed for the Pacific theatre. The need here was extreme range, and the fuselage and 2,800 hp engine of the dot-rod P-47M, designed to catch flying bombs, was married to a new long-spang wing which raised total fuel capacity to 954 gallons, and carried zero-length launchers.
The final version, which came too late for extensive employment in the war, was the P-47N. It was designed expressly for the war in the Pacific, and just over 1,800 were built. It had more powerful armament, uprated engine and greater range.
The last P-47s were delivered in December 1945. After WW2 the "Jug" was popular with many air forces until well into the 1950s.
|
Republic P-47 D-25 Thunderbolt |
| Type |
Fighter-bomber |
| Power plant |
One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp 18-cylinder two-row radial engine with 2,300 hp
|
| Accommodation |
1 |
| Wing span |
40 ft 9.5 in |
| Length overall |
36 ft 2 in |
| Height overall |
14 ft 2 in |
| Weight empty |
10,700 lb |
| Weight loaded |
19,400 lb |
| Maximum speed |
428 mph |
| Initial climb |
2,800 ft/min. |
| Service ceiling |
42,000 ft |
| Range |
475 miles
(with drop tanks 1,900 miles) |
| Armament |
Eight 0.50in Colt-Browning M2 machine guns [800 rpm; velocity 2,810 f/s] each with 267, 350 or 425 rounds in the wings
|
three to five racks for external load of tanks, bombs or rockets to maximum of 2,500 lb. |
| XP47-K prototype with transparent teardrop canopy |
July 1943 |
| Service delivery P-47D-25 |
spring/summer 1944 |
| Final delivery P-47N |
December 1945 |
| Production figures |
12,602 P-47D, 1,800 P-47N
Total: 15,683
(from these 195 to Russia)
|
| No. of Sorties in Europe 43-45 (for all P-47) |
423,435
(record) |
| Bomb Tonnage in Europe 43-45 |
113,963
(record for fighter-bombers) |
| US Lost in Combat in Europe 43-45 |
3,077
|
| Enemies claimed Destroyed in air, Europe 43-45 |
3,082 |
| Enemies claimed Destroyed on ground, Europe 43-45 |
3,202 |
3d model P-47 Thunderbolt, late model with transparent teardrop canopy.
|
