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National Museum of the United States Air Force™
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Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
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Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
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Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
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The P-47 was one of the most famous U.S. Army Air Forces fighter planes in World War II.Although the P-47 was originally conceived as a lightweight interceptor, it became a heavy fighter-bomber -- the P-47's maximum weight was over 17,000 pounds, while the comparable P-51 Mustang's was about 12,000 pounds. The prototype made its firstflight in May 1941, and Republic delivered the first production P-47 in March 1942. InApril1943 over Western Europe,theThunderbolt flew its first combat mission. During WWII, the Thunderbolt served in almost every war theater and in the forces of several Allied nations. Used as a high-altitude escort fighter and a low-level fighter-bomber, the P-47 quickly gained a reputation for ruggedness. Its sturdy construction and air-cooled radial engine enabled the Thunderbolt to absorb severe battle damage and keep flying. By the end of WWII, more than 15,000 Thunderbolts had been built. The P-47D "Razorback" Thunderbolt on display is an early version of the "D," nicknamed for the ridge behind the co*ckpit (later P-47Ds had a bubble canopy). It is paintedto appear as the Thunderbolt Col. Neel Kearby flew on his last mission. Col. Kearby named all of his aircraft Fiery Ginger after his red-headed wife Virginia. Recovered from the crash site and obtained by the museum, the actual vertical fin of Fiery Ginger IV is also on display. This aircraft was donated by Republic Aviation Corp. in November 1964. TECHNICAL NOTES:
Armament: Eight .50-cal. machine guns and 10 5-in. rockets or 1,500 lbs. of bombs
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 of 2,430 hp
Maximum speed: 433 mph
Cruising speed: 260 mph
Range: 1,100 miles (with auxiliary fuel tanks)
Ceiling: 42,000 ft.
Span: 40 ft. 9 in.
Length: 36 ft. 1 in.
Height: 14 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 13,500 lbs. loaded
Serial number: 42-23278
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| Find Out More |
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| Related Fact Sheets |
| Col. Neel E. Kearby: Pacific Thunderbolt Ace |
| North American P-51D Mustang |
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| Lectures |
| Dr. Thomas D. Jones: "Hell Hawks!" (01:00:40) |
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