Republic P-47D-2-RE Thunderbolt
Unit: 340th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, New Guinea 1944
Pilot: Lt. Col Robert R Rowland - 348th FG commanding officer after Col. Neel Kirby was transferred to HQ
The U.S. Army Air Force’s P-47 Thunderbolt was a very effective fighter and fighter bomber. It was ruggedly built and heavily armed, famed for its ability to absorb damage, bringing its pilot home after inflicting punishment on the enemy. The P-47 was conceived and engineered to be a high-altitude interceptor. Its designed purpose was to act in a defensive role, destroying attacking hostile bombers. However, by the time the P-47 became operational, it had become clear to military planners that an air attack on the continental United States was highly unlikely. Newly classified as an escort fighter, the first P-47Cs were sent to England to escort bomber missions.
The P-47 D-2 Was a further refinement of the P-47C-5, adding more armor protection for the pilot, fuel and oxygen systems, improvements to the turbocharger ducting. It also added two additional cowl flaps on either side of the cowling to improve engine cooling.
As soon as the D-1 and D-2 production ramped up, enough P-47s became available for them to be deployed to other theaters. With that, the 348th Fighter Group, which was originally intended for England, was transferred to the SW Pacific instead where it compiled an outstanding operational record.
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, drop tank, VC, paint textures, panel, and .dp
Pilot figure: Shessi and Captain Kurt
flight files: Jay McDaniel (modified to match P-47D performance)
Prop blurred texture: Kelticheart
Gauges: Alicat, Morton, Microsoft and others unknown
Unit: 340th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, New Guinea 1944
Pilot: Lt. Col Robert R Rowland - 348th FG commanding officer after Col. Neel Kirby was transferred to HQ
The U.S. Army Air Force’s P-47 Thunderbolt was a very effective fighter and fighter bomber. It was ruggedly built and heavily armed, famed for its ability to absorb damage, bringing its pilot home after inflicting punishment on the enemy. The P-47 was conceived and engineered to be a high-altitude interceptor. Its designed purpose was to act in a defensive role, destroying attacking hostile bombers. However, by the time the P-47 became operational, it had become clear to military planners that an air attack on the continental United States was highly unlikely. Newly classified as an escort fighter, the first P-47Cs were sent to England to escort bomber missions.
The P-47 D-2 Was a further refinement of the P-47C-5, adding more armor protection for the pilot, fuel and oxygen systems, improvements to the turbocharger ducting. It also added two additional cowl flaps on either side of the cowling to improve engine cooling.
As soon as the D-1 and D-2 production ramped up, enough P-47s became available for them to be deployed to other theaters. With that, the 348th Fighter Group, which was originally intended for England, was transferred to the SW Pacific instead where it compiled an outstanding operational record.
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, drop tank, VC, paint textures, panel, and .dp
Pilot figure: Shessi and Captain Kurt
flight files: Jay McDaniel (modified to match P-47D performance)
Prop blurred texture: Kelticheart
Gauges: Alicat, Morton, Microsoft and others unknown
