Eric Hartmann called the P-47 a “20mm sponge”.
Great plane. If the Army Air Corps kept them they could have used them instead of A-1s in Vietnam.
I read a great book about Erich Hartmann. His Father, a Dr. was a medical missionary to China and his mother a blonde bombshell.
He was the all time ace of aces and deserves to be much more famous than he is. 352 confirmed kills and the Germans were the most unforgiving in crediting an air to air kill. They literally required proof before giving the pilot credit.