Nicknamed the "Jug" for its bulky shape, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was considered a monster of a machine. Despite its size, the Thunderbolt proved to be a fast and maneuverable warbird able to hold its own in combat. In fact, when Allied pilots climbed aboard a P-47, they knew the were in control of a fighting machine with enormous power. More importantly, they knew that if their aircraft was hit but gunfire, they had an excellent chance of making it home.

Refinements to the Thunderbolt continued throughout its career, leading to the P-47D, which was the most produced version with 12,558 built. The "D" model actually consisted of a series of evolving production blocks, the last of which were visibly different from the first.

The first P-47Ds were actually the same as P-47Cs. Republic could not produce Thunderbolts fast enough at its Farmingdale plant on Long Island, so a new plant was built at Evansville, Indiana. The Evansville plant first built a total of 110 P-47D-1-RAs, which were completely identical to P-47C-2s. Farmingdale aircraft were identified by the -RE suffix after the block number, while Evansville aircraft were given the -RA suffix.

The P-47D-1 through P-47D-6, the P-47D-10, and the P-47D-11 successively incorporated changes such as the addition of more engine cooling flaps around the back of the cowl to reduce the engine overheating problems that had been seen in the field. Engines and engine subsystems saw refinement, (the P-47D-10 introduced the R-2800-63, replacing the R-2800-21 seen in previous P-47s) as did the fuel, oil and hydraulic systems. Additional armor protection was also added for the pilot.

The P-47D-15 was produced in response to requests by combat units for increased range. "Wet" (equipped with fuel plumbing) underwing pylons were introduced to allow a bomb or drop tank pressurized by vented exhaust air to be carried under each wing, in addition to the belly tank.

This particular 1:72 scale replica of a P-47D Thunderbolt, nicknamed "Harriet", was attached to the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron, 65th Fighter Wing, then deployed to Boxted, England, during May 1944. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-3/4-inches
Length: 6-inches

Release Date: May 2007

Historical Account: "Ditching at Sea" - Whenever a bomber mission was launched, two P47's of the ASR would take off from Boxted, Engand. The aircraft would track the bombers over the channel listening for any distress calls. When a call for help came one P47 would keep circling over the spot where the incident occurred, the aircraft would drop flares or a small dinghy, then return to base to refuel and be replaced by another P47. The other original thunderbolt would keep listening in case there were any further incidents. So all the time bomber formations were over the channel, there were two P47's in the air keeping watch. When a pilot or crewman came down in the sea motor launches would be alerted to pick them up.