A comprehensive photographic history of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft, from its development and deployment in WWII through its service in Europe and the Pacific, showcasing its evolution as a formidable ground-attack aircraft. Characteristics ISBN-13 9780853689270 ISBN-10 0-85368-927-X Book cover finish(es) Perfect paperback Condition Good Author(s) William N. Hess Publisher Arms and Armour Press Number of pages 48 Published date 1989 Language(s) English Collection / Series Warbirds Fotofax Size 19 x 24,5 x 0,5 cm Categorie(s) • AVIATION MILITAIRE• APPAREILS - CONSTRUCTEURS• SECONDE GUERRE MONDIALE Description About The Fotofax series A range of pictorial studies of military subjects for the modeler, historian and enthusiast. Each title features a carefully-selected set of photographs plus a data section of facts and figures on the topic covered. With line drawings and detailed captioning, every volume represents a succinct and valuable study of the subject. Originally the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, but only lightly armed with Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engines, had been miserably obsolete before the Second World War. Alexander Kartveli, the brilliant designer, redesigned the aircraft and produced a fighter for the Second World War. The new XP-47B was a huge aircraft powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine which developed 2,000 hp, making it a high-altitude performer and the lightly armed fighter now carried eight .50-caliber guns in each wing.The heavy fighter was not an instant success in air-to-air combat. The American ex-Eagle Squadron pilots and the 56th Fighter Group pilots who initially flew the P-47 found that air combat remained a problem until they learned that high-altitude combat was a different story.Its short range was a distinct handicap that had to be resolved, but when it came to strafing and ground attack following D-Day in France, the Thunderbolt proved ideal for close support until the end of the war.A late arrival in the Far East and the Pacific, the P-47 filled a vital support role in Burma and China. In the Pacific it did not arrive in numbers until late in the war, but its ruggedness and performance marked by the great destructive capability, however, the P-47 was soon phased out of service as early as 1950 following its ground-support performance in Korea.Today very few Thunderbolts survive in flying condition. The 'Jug', whatever you care to call it, left remarkable contributions to victory and to the many 'dog faces' down below who appreciated its firepower.
