[txzman]

Great thread. Reminds me of the story told by one 8th AF pilot who didn't like the P47 at first, having flown other planes, inlcuding the Mustang. That all changed one day when a 20mm shell hit right into his cowling - lodging there - killing 2 cylinders but the darn engine kept on flying. He made it back to his base in France. From that day forward the "Jug" was his only plane.

[SAMWolf]

The P-47 was one of America's leading fighter airplanes of WW II. It made its initial flight on May 6, 1941, but the first production article was not delivered to the AAF until March 18, 1942, more than three months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. On April 8, 1943, the P-47 flew its first combat mission, taking off from England for a sweep over western Europe. During the next several months, AAF pilots learned that the Thunderbolt could out-dive any Luftwaffe airplane encountered. An auxilary fuel tank was suspended under the fuselage beginning in 1943, permitting the P-47 to escort AAF heavy bombers much farther into German territory.

In addition to establishing an impressive record as a high-altitude escort fighter, the P-47 gained recognition as a low-level fighter-bomber because of its ability to absorb battle damage and keep flying. By the end of the war, the Thunderbolt had been used in every active war theater with the exception of Alaska. In addition to serving with the AAF, some were flown in action by the British, Free French, Russians, Mexicans, and Brazilians.