"The first P-47 combat missions were flown in April 1943; and Thunderbolt pilots found they could out-dive anything in the skies, thus breaking off combat at will. This is a definite advantage, as any fighter pilot will tell you.

"On October 13, 1941, the improved P-47D was ordered. In appearance, the first P-47D's were similar to the "B" and "C" versions with the cockpit blending into the tail via a razorback spine. This spine, although aerodynamically efficient, created a 20 degree blind spot behind the tail which could drastically reduce a pilot's life expectancy in combat. To eliminate this blind area, one P-47 was fitted with a bubble canopy from a British Typhoon. Designated XP-47K, it proved the value of the increased visibility, and bubble canopies were introduced on the production line with the P-47D-25. The cut-down fuselage created some yaw problems which were corrected by the addition of a dorsal fin on later "D's" and subsequent models. At total of 12,602 P-47D's were built..

"....".
--From U.S. Fighters by Lloyd S. Jones, 1975
Captain Walker "Bud" Mahurin, from the 56th Fighter Group, and his Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, "Spirit of Atlantic City, N.J." escorted Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 1st Bombardment Division, 8th Air Force during March 1944. Captain Mahurin became a top-scoring American Fighter ace in the European Theater of Operations with 21 victories.

Seeking Specific Aircraft Information

I have lots of historical photos from the Burma Banshees that belonged to my father. Is there an historical organization that would benefit from them? My father retired from the Air Force and was a pilot. He was in the Tenth Air Force in Burma (during WWII). Mary Fisher 799 Shipwatch Drive Jacksonville, FL

09:17 2/27/2004

In my late father's memorabilia, he has a picture of a P-47D with tail S/N 228508. Painted just forward of the canopy is the name "Jerry" and at this time, I can't make out the writing just below the canopy. Do you have any data on this particular aircraft or the pilot? Sincerely, Lenny Lindgren Aurora, MN

"Odds 'n Ends"         If I had anything to do with designing an airplane, it would bear a model number which included "47." Four seven, in that order, is a winning combination. There was the Boeing 247D, the first all-metal, low-wing, multi-engine airliner; it lopped seven hours off coast-to-coast airline schedules and outran the Army's hottest fighters. And North American's O-47, the most widely used prewar observation aircraft. The Boeing B-47, Douglas C-47, Republic P-47, and Boeing 747 are pure gold, of course, not to forget the Bell 47 helicopter, some 5,000 of which were built during 27 years of continuous production. I cannot think of a single flying lemon that bore the number, "47." --"View From The Cockpit" by Len Morgan, Copyright © 1985.

The Ol'Kunnel comments: Me, two! (grin)

Thumbnail List

1. Republic P-47D Thunderbolt.
2. P-47D. Aft supercharger;characteristic razor-back spine.
3. XP-47J. First piston-powered aircraft to exceed 500 mph in level flight.
4. XP-47H. With Chrysler 16 cylinder liquid cooled engine.
5. P-47D-30. KIKI-V with 526th FS, 86th FG in Pisa, Italy.
6. Republic P-47D-20, schematic.
7. The "Burma Yank" with the 'Burma Banshees'.
8. A flight of blistered Jugs.