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 USAAF Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighter that was piloted by Lt Henry Mohr and nicknamed "Dottie Mae", which was attached to the 511th Fighter Squadron, 405th Fighter Group, on May 8th, 1945 and represents the last Allied aircraft to be downed in the ETo during WWII. Pre-order! Ship Date: Summer 2024.

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

Release Date:?

Historical Account: "Last to be Lost" - When Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-29150 "Dottie Mae" took to the air following the end of a lengthy restoration project in June 2017, she was not only a fine example of this brute of a wartime fighter, but could also claim to be arguably the most historic airworthy former wartime aircraft found anywhere in the world. Recovered from Lake Traun in Austria some twelve years earlier, this aircraft had the distinction of being the last Allied fighter to be lost prior to the end of the war in Europe, one which wasn't lost to enemy action, but the exuberance of a pilot who just flew too low when undertaking a morale boosting aviation show of strength flight.

Assigned to fly over a recently liberated German labor camp in the town of Ebensee, Austria, a force of twenty Thunderbolts made their way at relatively low altitude from their base at Kitzingen, but with Mohr in "Dottie Mae" always appearing to be flying lower than the rest of the flight. After overflying the town, the Thunderbolts headed out over Lake Traun and broke formation, however almost immediately, the propeller of Mohr's P-47 struck the surface of the water and was dragged in. Pilot Lt. Mohr managed to escape unscathed, but his aircraft quickly sank to its watery resting place, along with the ignominy of being the last Allied fighter lost during the war in Europe.