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.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a P-47D-5 Thunderbolt fighter flown by legendary ace, Gerald Johnson, when he was assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, based at Gusap, New Guinea, during 1944. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: May 2007

Historical Account: "A Tony and a Zeke" - The 9th FS reluctantly gave up its P-38s for P-47s following the attritional Rabaul campaign of late 1943. Although Lightnings were in short supply in the Pacific theater, there were plenty of heavyweight Thunderbolts available, so the unit converted to the Republic fighter in November 1943. The 9th FS was the only unit within the 49th FG to re-equip with the P-47, and its pilots were not impressed with the big fighter. As if to prove their point, only three aces claimed kills with the fighter, including the squadron's CO, Major Gerald Johnson. He claimed a "Tony" and a "Zeke" with this very aircraft, which bore his command stripes, in December 1943 and January 1944.