Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Republic P-47 Thunderbolt — America’s Flying Tank” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/republic-p-47-thunderbolt/.
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt — America’s Flying Tank
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
powerboatr
Professional
tough bird for sure
it was a brute
it was a brute
last2brake
Elite
Poor unglamorous bird will never get enough credit she deserves for what she did for US in the Pacific.
Pilots loved that big old engine in front of them
Pilots loved that big old engine in front of them
USMC6094
Custom
You're thinking of the Douglas masterpiece, the A1 Skyraider..........
Now she was a Queen of Battle.
Jfal
Professional
Yep...you are correct. Saw it in a bad movie, either Rescue Dawn or Flight of the Intruder....can't remember which movie...think it was Flight...great book though.
USMC6094
Custom
There's a wealth of Thunderbolt pictures online, even some gun camera footage, but the Jugs never gotten its real due. And the real slap in the face was the fact they were outright scrapped post-war, and the P51 was given the go ahead for use, I won't get into the minutiae, but we sold ourselves short sticking with P/F51 post war.
last2brake
Elite
My dad jumped out of his
CCJ
Operator
I love that plane. Like the F8F Bearcat it came at a time when the jet engines were taking over. They were the pinnacles of the prop-driven aircraft.
Icepick Mike
Operator
I think you are remembering an A1E Skyraider, the Spad. Look similar to the Jug. But I could be wrong. Maybe the French had them and some RVN pilots flew them when the US started in that theater.
Icepick Mike
Operator
Great article. My dad was a gunner on a B24 and I am sure if he was still on the planet he could tell me some more stories of his adventure. He did earn 4 Air Medals and I never knew that until he passed and I was going through his military records. RIP Warrior!
Cliff Lancaste
Alpha
Hey Doc:
Thanx again for a great article. If you haven't already read the book "Gabby, A Fighter Pilot's Life" may I be so bold to recommend you read it. It is recommended by Chuck Yeager and Jimmy Doolittle. I met Gabby at Oshkosh in 1992. He was one hell of a man and a P47 driver. I think you would thoroughly enjoy the read.
Thanx for all you do,
Thanx again for a great article. If you haven't already read the book "Gabby, A Fighter Pilot's Life" may I be so bold to recommend you read it. It is recommended by Chuck Yeager and Jimmy Doolittle. I met Gabby at Oshkosh in 1992. He was one hell of a man and a P47 driver. I think you would thoroughly enjoy the read.
Thanx for all you do,
Talyn
SAINT
The P-51 was cheaper to operate & easier to fly than the P-47 and P-38 so other than a few hanger-ons with the ANG units the P-51 was chosen for Korea.
The P-47 was never used in VN since it was retired well before the US started mucking around there. The A-1 Skyraider carried the ball there.
BTW - The F8F, F4U and P-47 all used versions of the R-2800.
The P-47 was never used in VN since it was retired well before the US started mucking around there. The A-1 Skyraider carried the ball there.
BTW - The F8F, F4U and P-47 all used versions of the R-2800.
Winchester67
Elite
Like Massad Ayoob, anything Will Dabbs writes I will read! Always get something out of both of those authors.
Phubar
Alpha
My uncle flew the P-47, on the rare occasion he spoke of his service time and when he talked about the P-47 he would invariably get a silly grin on his face, he lived a quite life in west virginia. when I was a kid he did take me to an air show and when I 1st watched a wasp radial start and fly I instantly knew what he meant. And he would get that goofy grin,