[SES1066]

Grandad & the namesake ...

Republic Aircraft P-47 "Thunderbolt"

Built in greater quantities than any other US fighter, the P-47 was the heaviest single-engine WWII fighter to go into production and the first piston-powered fighter to exceed 500 mph. The Thunderbolt performed 546,000 combat sorties between March of 1943 and August 1945 and is considered the real forerunner of today's multirole fighters.
[Well regarded for its ground attack ability and protection of its pilot, especially in the ETO.]

The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (aka "Warthog")

Note the nose stinger, the noisy but effective 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon, when the need is to reach out and touch the bad guys! Does a GREAT job of pilot protection as well and still flies with lots of damage!

[myerson]

The P-47 was nicknamed “The Jug”.

[hoagy62]

The P-47 had a reputation for being one tough fighter aircraft. There’s a story out of World War II where a pilot had done a ground strafing run but he was little too low and before he knew it he was headed straight for a brick wall. The fighter crashed through the brick wall and kept on flying. Matter of fact, he made it all the way back to base with no problem. Like I said, the P-47 was one tough aircraft.