The old “Jug”.....weighed 7-8 tons on take off fully loaded with 6 airborne version M-2s, 50 Cal..
Also had a damned good speed, faster than a P-51 under some circumstances and an upgraded propeller.
Shown in the picture, Col. Gabreski, flew one and was on a mission, it had so many holes in it when he landed, they pretty much had to junk the plane. A virtual flying tank. He was actually once a base commander at Kadena AFB where I was stationed once.
Thanks for the correction. That was the one I was thinking of. The P-47
Several yrs. ago I was in the waiting room of a medical lab waiting my turn.
An old couple walked in. The man wearing a ‘P-51’ emblazoned ball cap.
I went over sat down next to him, thanked him for his service and started talking about the plane.
He told me he loved flying the P-51 but his real love was with the Thunderbolt.
His turn for blood work came up and I talked to his wife for a few minutes.
She told me her husband had told her that if he could have he would have married that P-47.