USA Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Bob Hart September 4, 2006

This article is part of a continuing series by Bob Hart on the Best Fighter Aircraft of WWII. Feedback and discussion is welcome.

Total Built:	6,290
Max Speed	430 mph
Climb rate	2,780 ft per minute
Ceiling	40,000 ft
Range	1,800 miles with drop tank
Loaded weight	13,500 lbs
Armament	8 x .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns, 500 lb bombload
Top Aces	Francis "Gabby" Gabreski Robert S. Johnson David C. Schilling Fred J. Christensen.
** All stats for D model **

Affectionately named the Jug because of the rotund fuselage and stubby wings the P-47 was powered by the massive 2,535HP Pratt and Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp 18 cylinder radial engine the P-47, which gave the aircraft an impressive climb performance. This reserve of power was also put to good use in negating the favourite form of escape by Luftwaffe pilots by diving away.

Armed with eight .50 cal machine guns, which was considered too light by British pilots, the P-47 in fact could deliver a massive punch. What the .50 cal lacked in individual hitting power was compensated by rapid fire and eight of these weapons could easily tear large pieces of structure off German fighters.

Perhaps the greatest quality of the P-47 was it's toughness and many a pilot owes his life to this, Robert S. Johnson among them. He returned from one mission with twenty one 20mm cannon hits, plus over one hundred lighter calibre hits and having survived this experience he would go on to be the second highest scoring ace in the type.

Certainly pilots fully appreciated and loved the P-47 and this underrated aircraft can lay claim as the best fighter of the war.

Discuss the P-47 Thunderbolt

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