Aircraft · United States · 1942-1945
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
fighter-bomber
Nicknamed the 'Jug' for its barrel-like fuselage, the Thunderbolt was the heaviest single-engine fighter of the war, built around a huge turbocharged radial engine that let it dive on German fighters from high altitude and survive punishing battle damage. By 1944 it had shifted from bomber escort to low-level fighter-bomber work, shooting up trains, trucks and armor across France and the Ardennes. More than 15,000 were built, more than any other American fighter.
| crew | 1 |
|---|---|
| top speed | 697 km/h |
| armament | 8x .50cal MG, up to 2,500lb bombs/rockets |
| produced | 15,636 |
Western Europe, Mediterranean and North Africa, Pacific