Republic P47 Thunderbolt

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The Thunderbolt was one of the three most important American fighters produced during the war and saw extensive service with the United States Army Air Force before its comparatively late introduction into RAF operational service in 1944.

This big and strongly built fighter bomber, with its good low level performance and long range made an ideal replacement for the RAF's Hurricane fighter bombers operating over Burma. The RAF only used the Thunderbolt against the Japanese in South East Asia Command.

By 1944 air/ground co-operation had been successfully developed into a powerful tactical tool and RAF Thunderbolts in Burma quickly adopted 'cab rank' patrols available to attack any enemy ground target holding up the Allied advance. Directed by ground visual control posts, the Thunderbolts, with their heavy gun armament and 500lb bombs, created havoc amongst Japanese troop concentrations and their supply lines.

During the air battles leading to the re-capture of Rangoon, RAF Thunderbolts flew fighter escort missions with RAF Liberator bombers.

By the end of 1945 RAF Thunderbolt squadrons were re equipping with Hawker Tempest Iis but some units were sent to Batavia in an attempt to re-introduce Dutch colonial rule. Whilst there they undertook a number of bombing missions against Indonesian guerrillas and rebel airfields.

Channel: Autos & Vehicles
Uploaded: May 15, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Author: auldm

Length: 00:06:35
Rating: 4.55
Views: 17408

Tags: Republic P47 Thunderbolt Jug WW2 Warbird Aviation Aircraft USAAF

Video Comments:
nagmashdriver (April 11, 2008 at 4:21 pm)
Superb meshing of archive video plus museum footage with great music, well done! For a fantastic read, go and get "Thunderbolt" by Robert S. Johnson. The part about "Gracie Allen" will stick in your memory and make you chuckle just thinking about it!
guitarjesus9 (January 5, 2008 at 5:31 pm)
oops did i say 4 or 6 .50 machine guns i mean 6 or 8 .50 machine guns...... my bad
guitarjesus9 (January 5, 2008 at 5:30 pm)
ah the p-47 powered by a 1716kw (2300)hp pratt and whitney r-2800-59 radial engine witch could do about 428mph and a service ceiling of 42,000 and 4 or 6 .50 machine guns.... the jug was one of the best fighter/bombers of WWII
mitsudave (January 1, 2008 at 6:22 pm)
The P-47 is, of course.
ElectraGSX (December 23, 2007 at 1:55 am)
The P-47 was perhaps the first true modern American fighter. All metal, even tail surfaces, telescopic landing gear, comfort foot rests, electric canopy, turbo-supercharged, water injected, 2,800 cubic inched, paddle bladed, war machine. 8 big guns, 8 tons, Gerry did not have much hope against the mighty Thunderbolt.
prttimeninja (December 22, 2007 at 11:39 pm)
i love the p-47.
the flying tank.
gots to be my most fav. war bird of all time
BoNidle3863 (September 13, 2007 at 10:21 pm)
Nice video. The two museum P-47's are from Duxford and RAF Cosford museums although the latter has now been moved to Hendon RAF Museum.The P-47's in the wartime footage are from the 362ndFG and the 52ndFG the latter having the yellow fin/wing stripes.
P51ride (August 30, 2007 at 11:02 pm)
Excellent fighter and fantastic music. I believe St Louis Blues. By the way if you want more music go to rewind dot com slash airmenofnote. The free music there is great but if you contribute $20.00 you will get a username and password to download high quality MP3 files. There is currently about 4 gigabytes of music there. More details at the website
SagaraGunso (August 21, 2007 at 2:32 pm)
Massive engine,6 50cal.,room zise cockpit.armor everywhere.This was not a plane..it was a flying bunker
mitsudave (January 1, 2008 at 6:18 pm)
That's 8 .50 cal....