Republic P-47 Scrapbook

Story and photos by Ken Kula

Republic Aviation built over 15,000 examples of the P-47 Thunderbolt, in several versions. The first flight of a prototype aircraft was on May 6, 1941, or seven months prior to the Pearl Harbor attack and the eventual United States entry into World War II.

The aircraft was originally designed as a high altitude fighter, and later found favor while performing ground attack duties. Powered by a mighty Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine, the rugged aircraft could handle a considerable amount of damage (compared to other designs pf the period) to both airframe and engine, and still return to base.

The aircraft made its U.S. Army Air Force combat debut in the European Theatre in late 1942 and early 1943. The type was used in the Mediterranean and Pacific Theatres too. Allied forces utilized the Thunderbolt too… Britain’s Royal Air Force, Italian and Free French forces, Mexico and several Latin American air wings were equipped with the P-47, and Russia received some 200 or so airframes.

After World War II, conflicts in China saw the Chinese Nationalist Air Force operate over 100 Thunderbolts. While they could have been useful in the Korean War, the P-51 Mustang was more readily available and the P-47 was relegated to Air National Guard units during that conflict. The final P-47s in worldwide service seem to be operated by Peru, retired in 1966.

Several models of the P-47 were built, the -A, -B, -C, and -G versions, and some -D aircraft were equipped with a “razorback” canopy, while later -D, -M and -N variants had bubble canopies. The main gun armament consisted of eight 50 caliber machine guns, while bombs and rockets could be carried under the wings.

Here is a series of photos of post-war warbird restorations I’ve come across between the 1980s and today,enjoy!