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 P-47D-25 Thunderbolt fighter flown by 1st Lt. Kenneth Chetwood and nicknamed "Maggie", of the 350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, then based at Suffolk, during June 1944. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: February 2007

Historical Account: "Choo-Choo" - One of the first "bubbletop" P-47s received by the 353rd FG, this aircraft was delivered to the group's Raydon base on the eve of D-Day. It was assigned to 1st Lt. Kenneth Chetwood, who was universally known as "Choo-Choo" to his squadronmates because of his penchant for shooting German trains. This was the last of five P-47s assigned to Chetwood. The fighter remained with the 350th FS until its conversion to Mustangs in October 1944. It was salvaged the following month.