9AF 365th Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt photo album

 42-75845 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4-J The Madman flown by Lt John H Fetzer 1944

Image description: P-47D-15-RE 42-75845 B4-J "The Madam". It was the assigned aircraft of Lieutenant John H. Fetzer, from Shreveport Louisiana, of the 387th FS/ 365th FG during D-Day. He was flying as wingman of Capt. Arlo Henry on 6 June 1944, D-Day, when they spotted a number of Tiger tanks trying to hide in a castle. Capt Henry blew up the castle with his bombs, while Lt Fetzer attacked a Tiger with his 1000 lb bombs. His first bomb exploded harmlessly in a field, but his second "my contribution to D-Day" exploded right behind the Tiger, flipping it over 3 times. As for 42-75845, she proved to be a very strong lady. It began its career with the initial start of operations of the 365h FG, with Lt. Fetzer as its original pilot. He named the aircraft after his future wife, Helen. It flew its 200th mission in March 1945, and continued right to the end of the war, as the only remaining original Thunderbolt of the 365th. She was shot up several times, had wings and engines replaced and countless holes patched, but its crew chief, Joe DiMaio remarked that as long as 'the Madam' came back, he would keep her flying, and he did.

Photo Source: AVSIM Library https://library.avsim.net/

 42-75845 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG386FS D5-T Stinker Too flown by Lt. Rhinert Tadych 1944

Image description: 43-25519 P-47D Thunderbolt D5-T "Stinker Too", the assigned aircraft of Lt. Rhinert Tadych of the 386th FS/ 365th FG. Lt. Tadych, of Manitowoe, Wisconsin was awarded the DFC for an attack on several tanks in the neighbourhood of Trier. Although his aircraft was severely damaged by flak early on in the attack, he held his position in the formation while bombing, strafing and destroying five tanks. The result was that his aircraft became a composite of three different aircraft. Lt Tadych flew 82 missions with the 365th till the end of the war.

Photo Source: AVSIM Library https://library.avsim.net/

 42-75325 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 368FG395FS C2-X Miss Second Front flown by Lt Louis Vieck

Image description: P-47-D-22 'Miss Second Front' of the 395th FS, 368th FG as flown by Lt. Louis Vieck. The aircraft was later transferred to the 396th FS

Photo Source: Il2Sturmovik.com https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/63557-siqhters-p-47-d22-razorback-skins/

 43-25519 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG386FS D5-T Stinker Too 01

 42-75320 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG386FS D5-X Mississippi Rebel 01

 44-20600 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG386FS D5x Jody 01

Photo Source: 365th Fighter Group's history https://www.hellhawks.org/386_gallery.html

 42-28840 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4-D Atsie 01

 42-27358 P-47D-Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4-B Naughty Dotty 1944 01

 42-75516 P-47D-Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4-K 01

 44-20558 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4-T 01

 44-20558 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4-T 01

 44-33223 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4x Wiz Witch France

 44-33114 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4x foreground France 01

 42-28299 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4-P Ol' Smokie France 01-02

Photo Source: 365th Fighter Group's history https://www.hellhawks.org/387_gallery.html

 42-26124 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4Z later lost 18th July 1944 01

 42-28276 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4x Cincy Sinner 1944 01

 42-28276 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4B Shawnee Kid III France 1944 01

 42-28932 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4T France late 1944 01

 44-33165 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4P 1944 01

 44-33206 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4S 1944 01

Photo Source: 365th Fighter Group's history https://www.hellhawks.org/388_gallery.html

 42-76076 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 405FG510FS 2Z-M Touch of Texas 1944 01

Image description: 'Touch of Texas' as flown by Capt. Charles Mohrle of 510 FS, 405 FG. After June 6th, 1944 the 405th flew missions in support of General George S. Patton's Third Army. Capt. Mohrle finished the war with 97 combat missions, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and an Air Medal with 16 oak clusters.

 42-26637 P-47D Thunderbolt 8AF 495FG551FS VM-P Kokomo MGEN William E Kepner at RAF Atcham England 1944 NA362

Photo description: Republic P-47D-15-RE Thunderbolt, 42-76127 'Turnip Termite' B4-U, 387th Fighter Squadron, 365th Fighter Group, 9th AF. 'Turnip Termite' made an emergency landing in a minefield in San Laurent sur Mer when it ran out of fuel. It was the assigned aircraft of Captain Arlo Henry [Dearborn, Michigan].

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-13157jpeg

 42-76275 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG386FS D5-Q Fran flown by Robert S Hagan (r) France 1944 01

Photo description: P-47D-15-RE #42-76275 "Fran" Code: D5-Q 365th FG - 386th FS - 9th AF Pilot: Robert S. Hagan (right) Hagan named his a/c after a girl he met (Francis Collete) while training in Louisiana. He would marry her in 1945 and they remained married until his death in 2016.

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46807jpeg

 42-28460 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4-R landed near Logbierme Belgium 13th Sept 1944

Photo description: P-47D-28-RA #42-28460 Code: C4-R 365FG - 388FS - 9AF shown after being crash landed near Logbierme, Belgium on 13 Sept 1944 by 1LT John R. Read.

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46807jpeg

 42-75458 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4F Clabber Girl France 1944 01

Photo description: P-47D-11-RE #42-75458 "Clabber Girl" Code: B4-F 365FG - 387FS - 9AF

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46802jpeg

 42-75516 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS B4-Q France 1944 01

Photo description: P-47D-11-RE #42-75516 Code: B4-Q 365th FG - 387th FS - 9th AF

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46804jpeg

 42-76217 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4-E 1Lt Robert A Siebel (R) France 1944 01

Photo description: 1LT Robert A. Siebel (R) and his crew chief SSGT Vernon E. Frost (L) with P-47D-15-RE #42-76217 Code: C4-E (the photo would not have been in January 1944 at Gosfield due to the invasion stripes on the aircraft)

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46805jpeg

 42-22747 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG385FS C4-A Marnie Beaulieu England May 1944 01

Photo description: P-47D-4-RA #42-22747 Marnie Code: C4-A 365th FG - 388th FS - 9th AF Beaulieu, England May 1944

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46806jpeg

 44-33467 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4-M Tulsa Redread 1944 01

Photo description: P-47D-30-RA #44-33467 "Tulsa Redread" Code: C4-M 365th FG - 388th FS - 9th AF

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46501jpeg

 44-19713 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG386FS D5-B Miss Pussy IV flown by Val Beaudrault 1944 01

Photo description: P-47D-28-RE #44-19713 "Miss Pussy IV" Code: D5-B 365th FG - 386th FS - 9th AF Pilot: Val Beaudrault

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46521jpeg

 Aircrew 9AF 365FG388FS Capt Norman V Beaman who EVD capture when shot down on 18th July 1944

Photo description: Captain Norman V. Beaman 9AF 365FG388FS seen here in Beauleiu England May 1944. He was shot down on 18 July 1944 but was able to evade capture and returned to duty.

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46763jpeg

 44-19858 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG386FS D5-O Sally Flat Foot 4th with Capt Ward 1944 01

Photo description: P-47D-28-RE #44-1858 "Sally Flat Foot 4th" Code: D5-O 365th FG - 386th FS - 9th AF (they have the wrong serial no here its 44-19858)

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46522jpeg

 42-26264 P 47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG386FS D5-W My Cherie pilot Captain Richard Charles Thoman 1944 01

Photo description: P-47D-22-RA #42-26264 "My Cherie!" Code: D5-W Captain Richard Charles Thoman - Pilot 365th Fighter Group - 386th Fighter Squadron - 9th AF

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46781jpeg

 42-27202 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG387FS C4-E Major James E Hill Azeville France 8th Aug 1944 01

Photo description: P-47D-27-RE #42-27202 Code: C4-E Major James E Hill, SSGT Manuel Oliver, TSGT Harold Gold, SGT William Hobbs 365th FG - 388th FS - 9th AF Azeville, France

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46787jpeg

 42-28981 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4-M Mike's Kite II Capt Edward Louis Baw Azeville France June 1944 01

Photo description: Captain Edward Louis Baw 365th Fighter Group - 388th Fighter Squadron - 9th AF

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46779jpeg

 Aircrew 9AF 365FG commanders (L-R) GR Brooking 386FS JW Motzenbecker 387FS R Stecker 365FG RM Fry 388FS

Photo description: Standing Left to right: George R. Brooking - 386th FS Commander John W. Motzenbecker - 387th FS Commander Ray Stecker - 365th FG Commander Robert M. Fry - 388th FS Commander

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-46780jpeg

 44-32983 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4-V Lovely Louise France 1944 01

Photo description: 44-32983 P-47D Thunderbolt 9AF 365FG388FS C4-V Lovely Louise France 1944

Photo Source: American Air Museum https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/44-32983

365th Fighter Group

386th Fighter Squadron code D5 387th Fighter Squadron code B4 388th Fighter Squadron code C4

Constituted as 365th Fighter Group on 27 Apr 1943. Activated on 15 May 1943. Trained with P-47's. Moved to England in Dec 1943. Began combat operations with Ninth AF in Feb 1944. Engaged in escort activities and flew dive-bombing missions to attack such targets as bridges, airdromes, rail facilities, gun positions, and V-weapon sites prior to the invasion of the Continent. Attacked rail targets and gun emplacements in France during the invasion on 6 Jun. Moved to the Continent late in Jun and continued to dive-bomb targets during the succeeding weeks of the battle for Normandy. Bombed targets near St Lo in Jul to assist Allied forces in breaking through German lines at that point, and supported the subsequent drive across northern France during Aug-Sep. In Sep, also flew patrols in cooperation with airborne operations in Holland. Cited by the Belgian government for assisting Allied armies in the period from the invasion of Normandy through the initial phases of the liberation of Belgium. During the fall of 1944, operated in connection with the seizure of Aachen and aided ground troops in the offensive toward the Rhine, receiving a DUC for destroying and damaging numerous enemy fighters over the Bonn-Dusseldorf area in Germany on 21 Oct. Received second Belgian award for actions during the Battle of the Bulge when the group struck such targets as vehicles, rolling stock, marshalling yards, gun positions, factories, and towns. Provided cover during airborne operations across the Rhine in Mar 1945 and supported the drive into Germany. Awarded second DUC for operations on 20 Apr 1945 when the group attacked airfields, motor transports, and ammunition dumps to aid the Allied advance through southern Germany. Ended combat in May and took part in the disarmament program until Jun 1945. Moved to the US in Sep. Inactivated on 22 Sep 1945.

Redesignated 132d Fighter Group. Allotted to ANG (Iowa) on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 23 Aug 1946. Ordered into active service on 1 Apr 1951. Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Redesignated 132d Fighter-Bomber Group in Jun 1951. Assigned to Tactical Air Command in Nov 1951. Equipped with F-51's but with one squadron using F-84's until late in 1951. Relieved from active service and returned, less personnel and equipment, to ANG (Iowa), on 1 Jan 1953.

Squadrons. 124th: 1951-1953. 173d: 1951-1953. 386th (later 174th): 1943-1945; 1951-1953. 387th: 1943-1945. 388th: 1943-1945.

Stations. Richmond AAB, Va, 15 May 1943; Langley Field, Va, 19 Jul 1943; Dover AAFld, Del, 11 Aug 1943; Richmond AAB, Va, 18 Nov-4 Dec 1943; Gosfield, England, 22 Dec 1943; Beaulieu, England, 5 Mar 1944; Azeville, France, 28 Jun 1944; Lignerolles, France, 15 Aug 1944; Bretigny, France, 3 Sep 1944; Juvincourt, France, 15 Sep 1944; Chievres, Belgium, 4 Oct 1944; Metz, France, 27 Dec 1944; Florennes/Juzaine, Belgium, 30 Jan 1945; Aachen, Germany, 16 Mar 1945; Fritzlar, Germany, 13 Apr 1945; Suippes, France, c. 29 Jul 1945; Antwerp, Belgium, c. 22 Aug-11 Sep 1945; Camp Myles Standish, Mass, 20-22 Sep 1945. Des Moines Mun Aprt, Iowa, 1 Apr 1951; Dow AFB, Maine, 15 Apr 1951; Alexandria AFB, La, 19 Jun 1952-1 Jan 1953.

Commanders. Col Lance Call, c. 15 May 1943; Col Ray J Stecker, 26 Jun 1944; Lt Col Robert C Richardson III, 26 Apr 1945-unkn. Col Charles G Teschner, c. 1 Apr 1951; Col Harold J Whiteman, 21 Jun 1952-c. 1 Jan 1953.

Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Germany, 21 Oct 1944; Germany, 20 Apr 1945. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944; 16 Dec 1944-25 Jan 1945. Belgian Fourragere.

Insigne Shield: Azure (sky blue), within a diminutive border or, a chevalier completely armed, in his dexter hand a tilting spear, with streamers; on his sinister arm an escutcheon charged with a tierce, in gyrons of two bendwise; the horse caparisoned and in full gallop, charging, all or, the horse's hind feet resting on a cloud proper, issuing from the base. (Approved 17 Oct 1952.)

The 365th Fighter Group in WWII

The 365th Fighter-Bomber Group, otherwise known as the Hell Hawks, was activated May 15, 1943 and assigned to fly P-47 Thunderbolts. They trained in Dover, Delaware and flew their gunnery training missions out of Millville, New Jersey. They departed Richmond Army Air Base in December 4, 1943 and sailed on the Queen Elizabeth along with 15,000 troops. They arrived at Gosfield, Essex on December 23, 1943. Their first combat air field training resumed for two months. On February 22, 1944, the Hell Hawks flew their first combat mission and over the next one to two months gradually converted from escorting 8th Air Force heavy bombers to their fighter-bomber mode that continued to the war's end.

They were instrumental in determining the maximum bomb loads for the P-47. Two one-thousand pound bombs and an external fuel tank on the belly rack. They were the first group to fly a dive-bombing mission with that bomb load. Their fire power was eight fifty caliber machine guns and their total arsenal included rockets and napalm. This armament was standard for all thirteen P-47 fighter-bomber groups shortly after the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944.

The 9th Tactical Air Command and the Hell Hawks flew in direct support of General Hodges First Army. Their mission was two-fold. Protect the ground forces from enemy air attack and destroy any and all obstacles on the ground that prevented our forces from advancing. On two occasions to support Patton's Third Army. The first was shortly after August 1, 1944. The second was during the last months of the Battle of the Bulge. The Hell Hawks were active against specific targets on D-Day before, during and following. This was the first company breakthrough in the Battle of the Bulge in taking Germany. The Hell Hawks were the first group to move into Germany on March 17, 1945 at Aachen and the first to fly a combat mission off a German soil ever! The remaining eighteen to twenty groups followed nine days to five weeks later.

The Hell Hawks flew combat from February 22, 1944 through May 4, 1945, totalling 14.5 months. They flew combat from eleven air fields or air strips moving more times than any other fighter-bomber group in the 9th Air Force.

Bases of the Hell Hawks

Richmond, VA, AAB, 11/4/43–12/18/43

Gossfield, Essex, England, 12/23/43 (P-47's operational 2/44)

Beaulieu, Hants, Englan, 3/5/44

Azeville, France (Fontanay-Sur-Mer)- Strip A7, 6/27/44

Balleroy, France- Strip A12, 8/15/44

Bretigny, France (Paris)- Strip A48, 9/3/44

Juvincourt, France (Reims)- Strip A68, 9/11/44

Chievres, Belgium (Mons)- Strip A84, 10/4/44

Metz, Alsace Lorraine, France- Strip Y34, 12/25/44

Florennes/Juzaine, Belgium, 1/20/45

Aachen, Germany, 3/17/45

Fritzlar, Germany, 4/12/45

Hell Hawk Unit Citations

A listing of the decorations and campaign ribbons that the members of the Hell Hawks may wear. The actual citations or each of the noted decorations and campaigns are included except for the three Belgium decorations. The Belgium Croix de Guere citation appeared in the New York Times in December 1946. The other two are noted in Combat Squadrons of the 9th Air Force, World War II, edited by Mauer Marer, Historical Research Division (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1969).

Distinguished Unit Citation, October 21, 1944

Distinguished Unit Citation, April 20, 1945

Order of the Day, Belgium Army, June 6-September 30, 1944

Belgium Four Ragere, December 16, 1944-June 25, 1945

Belgium Croix De Guere*, December 21, 1945

(*) Awarded to the 9th Air Tactical Air Command of the Ninth Air Force to commemorate events in December 1944 when the Ninth Air Force launched it's attack on the German armored colums that had broken through the Ardennes defences. All men in the Ninth Tactical Air Command on December 13, 1944 are entitled to wear the green and red decoration on their shoulder.

Redesignated 366th Fighter-Bomber Group. Activated in the US on 1 Jan 1953. Assigned to Tactical Air Command. Trained with F-51, F-84, and F-86 aircraft.

Squadrons. 389th: 1943-1946; 1953-. 390th: 1943-1946; 1953-. 391st: 1943-1946; 1953-.

Stations. Richmond AAB, Va, 1 Jun 1943; Bluethenthal Field, NC, 9 Aug 1943; Richmond AAB, Va, 3-17 Dec 1943; Membury, England, 10 Jan 1944; Thruxton, England, 1 Mar-12 Jun 1944; St Pierre du Mont, France, 17 Jun 1944; Dreux/Vermouillet, France, 24 Aug 1944; Laon/Couvron, France, 8 Sep 1944; Assche, Belgium, 19 Nov 1944; Munster/Handorf, Germany, 11 Apr 1945; Bayreuth/Bindlach, Germany, 25 Jun 1945; Fritzlar, Germany, 14 Sep 1945-20 Aug 1946. Alexandria AFB, La, 1 Jan 1953-.

Commanders. Maj Morris C Crossen, 1 Jun 1943; Col Dyke F Meyer, 11 Jul 1943; Lt Col James P Tipton, 19 Apr 1944; Lt Col Donald K Bennett, 30 Apr 1944; Col Harold N Holt, c. 22 May 1944; Lt Col Ansel J Wheeler, 28 Apr 1945; Col Clarence T Edwinson, May 1946-unkn. Col Harold J Whiteman, 1953; Lt Col Carroll B McElroy, 9 Jul 1953; Col Timothy F O'Keefe, 8 Aug 1953; Col Gerald J Dix, i Sep 1954; Col Clyde B Slocumb Jr, 16 Feb 1955-.

Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Normandy, 11 Jul 1944. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944; 1 Oct 1944-; 18 Dec 1944-15 Jan 1945. Belgian Fourragere.

Insigne Shield: Vert, a tiger's face proper, armed and embrued gules. Motto: Audentes Fortuna Juvat - Fortune Favors the Bold. (Approved 6 Oct 1954.)

Operational history

Operational history

US service

By the end of 1942, P-47Cs were sent to England for combat operations. The initial Thunderbolt flyers, 56th Fighter Group, was sent overseas to join the 8th Air Force. As the P-47 Thunderbolt worked up to operational status, it gained a nickname: the "Jug" (because its profile was similar to that of a common milk jug of the time).[Note 4] Two Fighter Groups already stationed in England began introducing the Jugs in January 1943: the Spitfire-flying 4th Fighter Group, a unit built around a core of experienced American pilots who had flown in the RAF Eagle Squadrons prior to the US entry in the war; and the 78th Fighter Group, formerly flying P-38 Lightnings.

Beginning in January 1943, Thunderbolt fighters were sent to the joint Army Air Forces - civilian Millville Airport in Millville, New Jersey in order to train civilian and military pilots.

The first P-47 combat mission took place 10 March 1943 when the 4th FG took their aircraft on a fighter sweep over France. The mission was a failure due to radio malfunctions. All P-47s were refitted with British radios, and missions resumed 8 April. The first P-47 air combat took place 15 April with Major Don Blakeslee of the 4th FG scoring the Thunderbolt's first air victory (against a Focke-Wulf Fw 190).

By mid-1943, the Jug was also in service with the 12th Air Force in Italy[13] and against the Japanese in the Pacific, with the 348th Fighter Group flying missions out of Port Moresby, New Guinea. By 1944, the Thunderbolt was in combat with the USAAF in all its operational theaters except Alaska.

Luftwaffe ace Heinz Bär said that the P-47 "could absorb an astounding amount of lead [from shooting at it] and had to be handled very carefully".[14]

Although the North American P-51 Mustang replaced the P-47 in the long-range escort role in Europe, the Thunderbolt still ended the war with 3,752 air-to-air kills claimed in over 746,000 sorties of all types, at the cost of 3,499 P-47s to all causes in combat.[15] By the end of the war, the 56th FG was the only 8th Air Force unit still flying the P-47, by preference, instead of the P-51. The unit claimed 677.5 air victories and 311 ground kills, at the cost of 128 aircraft.[16] Lieutenant Colonel Francis S. Gabreski scored 28 victories,[17] Captain Robert S. Johnson scored 27 (with one unconfirmed probable kill leading to some giving his tally as 28),[18] and 56th FG Commanding Officer Colonel Hubert Zemke scored 17.75 kills.[Note 5] Despite being the sole remaining P-47 group in the 8th Air Force, the 56th FG remained its top-scoring group in aerial victories throughout the war.

With increases in fuel capacity as the type was refined, the range of escort missions over Europe steadily increased until the P-47 was able to accompany bombers in raids all the way into Germany. On the way back from the raids, pilots shot up ground targets of opportunity, and also used belly shackles to carry bombs on short-range missions, which led to the realization that the P-47 could perform a dual-function on escort missions as a fighter-bomber. Even with its complicated turbosupercharger system, its sturdy airframe and tough radial engine could absorb a lot of damage and still return home.

The P-47 gradually became the USAAF's primary fighter-bomber, by late 1943, early versions of the P-47D carrying 500 lb (230 kg) bombs underneath their bellies, mid production versions of the P-47D could carry 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs and M8 4.5 in (115 mm) rockets under their wings or from the last version of the P-47D in 1944, 5 in (130 mm) High velocity aircraft rockets (HVARs, also known as "Holy Moses"). From D-Day until VE day, Thunderbolt pilots claimed to have destroyed 86,000 railroad cars, 9,000 locomotives, 6,000 armored fighting vehicles, and 68,000 trucks.[20] During Operation Cobra, in the vicinity of Roncey, P-47 Thunderbolts of the 405th Fighter group destroyed a German column of 122 tanks, 259 other vehicles, and 11 artillery pieces.[21]

Specifications (P-47D-40 Thunderbolt)

Data from [61]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 36 ft 1.75 in (11.0173 m)
Wingspan: 40 ft 9+5⁄16 in (12.429 m)
Height: 14 ft 8+1⁄16 in (4.472 m)
Airfoil: Seversky S-3[62]
Empty weight: 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 17,500 lb (7,938 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 2,000 hp (1,500 kW)
Propellers: 4-bladed Curtiss Electric C542S constant-speed propeller, 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m) diameter

Performance

Maximum speed: 426 mph (686 km/h, 370 kn) at 30,000 ft (9,100 m)
Range: 1,030 mi (1,660 km, 900 nmi)
Service ceiling: 42,000 ft (13,000 m)

Armament

Guns:
Eight .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns (3400 rounds)
Up to 2,500 lb (1,100 kg) of bombs
Ten 5 in (130 mm) unguided rockets

 Flight Simulators
 

   IL-2 Sturmovik 'Cliff's of Dover' Blitz - has no 3D model

   IL-2 Great Battles Series IL-2 - has a 3D model

   DCS World - has a 3D model

 

 

 Azeville France Map

 

    Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Notes

  1. Fairchild Republic was the most recent incarnation of the original Republic aerospace company, now considered defunct.[2]
  2. The P-47 can trace its lineage back to earlier Seversky designs: P-35, XP-41, P-43 and the unbuilt P-44.[3]
  3. After a change in the board of directors, Alexander P. de Seversky was removed from the newly reorganized Republic Aviation company, with former Managing Director Wallace Kellett taking over as CEO.[5]
  4. Historians argue that the nickname 'Jug' was short for 'Juggernaut' when aviators began using the longer word as an alternate nickname.[11] Another nickname that was used for the Thunderbolt was "T-bolt".[12]
  5. Zemke flew a P-38 for three of his kills.[19]
  6. Quentin C. Aanenson documented his experiences flying the Thunderbolt on D-Day and subsequently in the European Theater in his documentary, A Fighter Pilot's Story (also released as Dogfight.).

    Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Citations

  1. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. aviation-history.
  2. Rummerman, Judy. Fairchild Republic. Archived 2011-10-14 at the Wayback Machine Centennial of Flight Commission, 2003.
  3. Dorr and Donald 1990, pp. 84-85, 88.
  4. Dwyer, Larry. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Aviation History Online Museum, 11 November 2010.
  5. Alexander de Seversky, Russian Ace of World War One, Aircraft Designer & Founder of Republic Aviation. acepilots.com, 2003.
  6. Republic XP-47B Thunderbolt. www.joebaugher.com.
  7. The Turbosupercharger and the Airplane Power Plant. General Electric, January, 1943.
  8. P-47 Thunderbolt. TopFighters.com.
  9. Masefield, Peter. First Analysis of the Thunderbolt. Flying, August 1943, p. 190.
  10. Green 1961, p. 173.
  11. Graff 2007, p. 53.
  12. Air Force Association 1998, p. 110.
  13. Bernstein, Jonathan (2012). 1. P-47 Thunderbolt Units of the Twelfth Air Force. Botley, Oxfordshire: Osprey Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 9781849086721.
  14. Rymaszewski, Michael (July 1994). Playing Your Aces. Computer Gaming World. pp. 101-105.
  15. Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. Archived 2007-03-24 at the Wayback Machine Museum of Flight.
  16. 8th Air Force 56th FG. Archived 2006-06-12 at the Wayback Machine U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, 18 June 2004.
  17. Francis S. 'Gabby' Gabreski. USAF Air University, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, 17 April 2006.
  18. Rose, Scott. Robert S. Johnson. Warbirds Resource Group, 11 June 2006.
  19. Col. Hubert 'Hub' Zemke. Acepilots.com, 29 July 2003.
  20. Republic P-47D-30-RA Thunderbolt (Long Description). Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
  21. Zaloga p.65
  22. Berliner 2011, p. 20.
  23. Air Power History. goliath.ecnext.com.
  24. RAF Thunderbolts, Flight: 600 (photo caption), 7 December 1944
  25. Republic P-47D Thunderbolt II, RAF Museum
  26. Dias de Cunha, Rudnei. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. www.rudnei.cunha.nom.br.
  27. Sinopse e Créditos. 10 December 2004. Archived from the original on 10 December 2004.
  28. Velasco, E. Alfonso, Jr. Aztec Eagle - P-47D of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force. IPMS Stockholm, 9 January 2006.
  29. Sgarlato 2005.
  30. Hardesty 1991, p. 253.
  31. Gordon 2008, p. 449.
  32. http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal13/12201-12300/gal12272-P-47-Heeps/00.shtm
  33. Merriam, Ray (2017). World War 2 in Review: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. New York: Merriam Press. ISBN 9781365884856.
  34. Bergerud 2000, pp. 269-70.
  35. Spick 1983, p. 96.
  36. Caldwell 2007, p. 89.
  37. Sims, Edward H. American Aces of World War II, London: Macdonald, 1958.
  38. Sims 1980, pp. 160-61.
  39. Jordan, C. C. Pushing The Envelope With Test Pilot Herb Fisher. Planes and Pilots of WW2, 2000.
  40. Sims 1980, pp. 134-35.
  41. Colonel Neel Earnest Kearby. Archived 2004-10-17 at the Wayback Machine Air Force History, Air Force Historical Studies Office, 20 January 2004.
  42. Hallion, Richard (August 15, 2014). D-Day 1944 - Air Power Over The Normandy Beaches And Beyond. Pickle Partners Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78289887-0.
  43. Barnes 1989, p. 432.
  44. Achtung! Jabos! The Story of the IX TAC. Stars & Stripes, U.S. Army, 1944.
  45. Page 4 illustration of M10 triple-tube launcher, iBiblio.
  46. Dunn, Carle E. (LTC). Army Aviation and Firepower. Archived 2008-12-23 at the Wayback Machine Army, May 2000.
  47. Hagedorn 1991, p. 37.
  48. P-47 Thunderbolt/42-19663. Warbirds Resource Group.
  49. P-47 Thunderbolt/42-26450. Warbirds Resource Group.
  50. P-47 Thunderbolt/42-26757. Warbirds Resource Group.
  51. P-47 Thunderbolt/42-26762. Warbirds Resource Group.
  52. P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49151. Warbirds Resource Group.
  53. P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49219. Warbirds Resource Group.
  54. P-47 Thunderbolt/45-49509. Warbirds Resource Group.
  55. Lake 2002, p. 162.
  56. Lake 2002, p. 163.
  57. Lake 2002, p. 164.
  58. Klemen, L. 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron. The Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942.
  59. Lake 2002, p. 165.
  60. Republic F-47D-40-RE Thunderbolt. Aeronautical Museum-Belgrade.
  61. Davis, Larry (1984). P-47 Thunderbolt in Action. Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-89747-161-X.
  62. Lednicer, David. The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage. m-selig.ae.illinois.edu.
  63. Hayward, James. USAAF at War (1942-45): Audiobook CD on CD41 label. ltmrecordings.com.
  64. Rarey, George (June 1996). Laughter and Tears: A Combat Pilot's Sketchbook of World War II Squadron Life. ISBN 1-56550-057-1.
  65. Unbreakable World War II aircraft that were shot to hell—and came back. By Cory Graff Air & Space Magazine
  66. Thunderbolt (1947). imdb.com.
  67. Fighter Squadron (1948). imdb.com.
  68. P-47 Thunderbolt Named Official State Aircraft of Indiana. WFIE-TV. June 24, 2015.

    Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Bibliography:

  • Air Force Fifty. Nashville, Tennessee: Turner Publishing (Air Force Association), 1998 (limited edition). ISBN 1-56311-409-7.
  • Barnes, Frank C. Cartridges of the World. Fairfield, Ohio: DBI Books, 1989. ISBN 978-0-87349-605-6.
  • Berliner, Don. Surviving Fighter Aircraft of World War Two: Fighters. London: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2011. ISBN 978-1-8488-4265-6.
  • Bergerud, Eric M. Fire in the Sky. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 2000. ISBN 0-8133-3869-7.
  • Bodie, Warren M. Republic's P-47 Thunderbolt: From Seversky to Victory. Hiawassee, Georgia: Widewing Publications, 1994. ISBN 0-9629359-1-3.
  • Bull, Steven. Encyclopedia of Military Technology and Innovation. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood, 2004. ISBN 978-1-57356-557-8.
  • Cain, Charles W. and Mike Gerram.Fighters of World War II. London: Profile Publications, 1979.
  • Caldwell, Donald L.; Muller, Richard R. (2007). The Luftwaffe over Germany: Defense of the Reich. London, UK: Greenhill Books. ISBN 978-1-85367-712-0.
  • Davis, Larry. P-47 Thunderbolt in Action, Squadron/Signal Publications (#67). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1984. ISBN 0-89747-161-X.
  • Donald, David, ed. American Warplanes of the Second World War. London: Airtime Publications, 1995. ISBN 1-84013-392-9.
  • Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple, 1990. ISBN 0-600-55094-X.
  • Freeman, Roger A. 56th Fighter Group. Oxford, UK: Osprey, 2000. ISBN 1-84176-047-1.
  • Freeman, Roger A. Camouflage and Markings 15: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt U.S.A.A.F., E.T.O. And M.T.O. 1942-1945 (Ducimus Classic). London: Ducimus Books, 1971.
  • Freeman, Roger A. Thunderbolt: A Documentary History of the Republic P-47. London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1978. ISBN 0-354-01166-9.
  • "Goebel, Greg. ""The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt."" Air Vectors, April 2009."
  • Gordon, Yefim. Soviet Air Power in World War 2. Hinkley, UK: Midland/Ian Allan Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1-85780-304-4.
  • Graff, Cory. P-47 Thunderbolt at War (The At War Series). St. Paul, Minnesota: Zenith Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-7603-2948-1.
  • Green, William. Fighters Vol. 2 (Warplanes of the Second World War). New York: Doubleday and Company Inc., 1961.
  • Guillemin, Sébastien. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (Les Materiels de l'Armée de L'Air 4) (in French). Paris: Histoire et Collections, 2007. ISBN 978-2-915239-90-4.
  • Gunston, Bill. Aircraft of World War 2. London: Octopus Books Limited, 1980. ISBN 0-7064-1287-7.
  • Hagedorn, Dan. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt: The Final Chapter: Latin American Air Forces Service. St. Paul, Minnesota: Phalanx Publishing Co. Ltd., 1991. ISBN 0-9625860-1-3.
  • Hardesty, Von. Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power 1941-1945. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1991 (first edition 1982). ISBN 0-87474-510-1.
  • Hess, William N. P-47 Thunderbolt (Warbird History). St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International Publishers, 1994. ISBN 0-87938-899-4.
  • "Lake, Jon. ""P-47 Thunderbolt Part 1: Early development and combat in the ETO"". International Air Power Review, Volume 1, Summer 2001. Westport, Connecticut: AIRtime Publishing. pp. 138-69. ISSN 1473-9917."
  • "Lake, Jon. ""P-47 Thunderbolt Part 2: Final developments and combat in the Mediterranean, Far East and Pacific"". International Air Power Review, Volume 7, Winter 2002. Westport, Connecticut: AIRtime Publishing. pp. 128-65. ISSN 1473-9917. ISBN 1-880588-48-X."
  • Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II. London: Chartwell Books, 1994. ISBN 0-7858-0147-2.
  • O'Leary, Michael. USAAF fighters of World War Two in action. London: Blandford Press, 1986. ISBN 0-7137-1839-0.
  • Ryan, Cornelius. A Bridge Too Far. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1974. ISBN 978-0-445-08373-8.
  • Scutts, Jerry. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (Combat Legend). Ramsbury, Wiltshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84037-402-0.
  • Sims, Edward H. Fighter Tactics and Strategy 1914-1970. Fallbroock, California: Aero publisher, 1980. ISBN 0-8168-8795-0.
  • "Sgarlato, Nico and Giorgio Gibertini. ""P-47"" (in Italian). I Grandi Aerei Storici n.14, January 2005. Parma, Italy: Delta Editrice. ISSN 1720-0636."
  • Spick, Mike. Fighter Pilot Tactics. The Techniques of Daylight Air Combat. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens, 1983. ISBN 0-85059-617-3.
  • Panzer IV vs Sherman: France 1944 by Steven Zaloga
  • Stoff, Joshua. The Thunder Factory: An Illustrated History of the Republic Aviation Corporation. London: Arms & Armour Press, 1990. ISBN 1-85409-040-2.

    Magazine References: +

  • Airfix Magazines (English) - http://www.airfix.com/
  • Avions (French) - http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobiblio/rubrique10.html
  • FlyPast (English) - http://www.flypast.com/
  • Flugzeug Publikations GmbH (German) - http://vdmedien.com/flugzeug-publikations-gmbh-hersteller_verlag-vdm-heinz-nickel-33.html
  • Flugzeug Classic (German) - http://www.flugzeugclassic.de/
  • Klassiker (German) - http://shop.flugrevue.de/abo/klassiker-der-luftfahrt
  • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://boutique.editions-lariviere.fr/site/abonnement-le-fana-de-l-aviation-626-4-6.html
  • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://www.pdfmagazines.org/tags/Le+Fana+De+L+Aviation/
  • Osprey (English) - http://www.ospreypublishing.com/
  • Revi Magazines (Czech) - http://www.revi.cz/

    Web References: +

  • History of RAF Organisation: http://www.rafweb.org
  • Imperial War Museums - https://www.iwm.org.uk
  • American Air Museum - https://www.americanairmuseum.com/
  • Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt
  • Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/

USAAF Military History Section

USAAF Chronology and War Diaries 1941-1942 1943 1944 1945

United States Army Air Force - USAAF units

USAAF Combat Units

 

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This webpage was updated 14th April 2024