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Post by planecrazy on Apr 25, 2019 9:39:37 GMT 12
Always been impressed by the mighty P47 Thunderbolt just a brute of a machine and performed way beyond her bulbous looks, was recently sent a couple of pic's by a chap who's father flew Thunderbolts in Italy towards the end of the war, had to share how they came to be.   This machine flew 150 miles to it's home base without a top cylinder which had been removed by an 88mm flak gun! Some more of the mighty Thunderbolt.   Hendon SEAC marked bubble top.  Duxford.  My 2 cell powered 410mm span foamy.  |
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Apr 25, 2019 12:45:17 GMT 12
Until fairly recently the P-47 was a WWII aircraft that didn't hold much appeal for me, however it has grown into one of my favourites over the last few years. I have a small piece of wreckage which my grandfather 'salvaged' from a US fighter that crashed at an airbase in northern Italy when he was stationed there in WWII. Although he wasn't able to remember exactly what type of aircraft it was when I investigated which US aircraft operated from that particular base during the time he was there it would appear most likely to have been a P-47.
Also, how's this for a coincidence, the aircraft you have posted in the first two photos (which are amazing by the way!) is the VERY P-47 I am making a scale model of at the moment, I've just been putting the finishing touches on it this morning. I'll have to put up a photo of it!
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Post by planecrazy on Apr 25, 2019 13:54:53 GMT 12
So we are talking the one covered with oil I am guessing, would love to see a pic of her
please, I know a chap via an rc forum, who's dad flew with this Sqn, 345th Devilhawks.
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Post by Mustang51 on Apr 25, 2019 16:13:29 GMT 12
My fav....."2 Big and Too Heavy". The model on my desk
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Post by davidd on Apr 25, 2019 20:41:08 GMT 12
I wonder if the pilot's face of that first P-47 was as black as the canopy and windscreen, and pretty well the entire fuselage, when he arrived back at his base! You would have to wonder why the engine had not run out of oil before he landed, that looks like a LOT of oil (and an awful lot must have blown off into the slipstream too).
Dave D
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 25, 2019 21:23:43 GMT 12
Coincidentally a (the?) big Brazilian aviation museum conducted a ground run of their example in the last week or so, unfortunately I can't find a link or video. I did find this photo that looks familiar:  Brazilian Fighter Aviation by Johnson Barros, on Flickr April 22 is Brazil's Aviation Day so that may have been when it happened. |
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Apr 26, 2019 9:12:03 GMT 12
Here you go, looking at it now the code appears to be different, but the nose art is the same - was that nose art on multiple aircraft in that squadron perhaps? Still, it's certainly similar.  These are out-of-the-box markings with the Italeri 1/48 P-47D "Italian Theatre" special edition kit, the box art and primary markings are for one marked Mercedes on one side and Schmaltz on the other, and there are three alternate sets which are this one, an RAF example and a Brazilian aircraft. |
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Post by planecrazy on Apr 26, 2019 13:55:42 GMT 12
A few more pic's of Thunderbolts that were damaged and still made it home. To low prop struck the ground and flew home.  No starboard tailplane.  Most of the Starboard main plane.  This is the best of the lot, large calibre maybe an 88, amazing the prop held together, still made it home!  |
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Post by Mustang51 on Apr 26, 2019 17:31:06 GMT 12
Thinking that "A6" shot is a Brazilian machine
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Apr 27, 2019 12:24:12 GMT 12
The bent prop blades after striking the ground is amazing. I've heard of a few cases of P-47s colliding with trees during low ground attack runs and it was often the tree that came off second best.
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Post by pilotpotters on Apr 27, 2019 18:29:15 GMT 12
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Post by nuuumannn on Jul 30, 2019 14:55:45 GMT 12
I like the P-47.  P-47 |
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Post by planecrazy on Aug 11, 2019 14:57:04 GMT 12
Found this interesting artwork, almost looks like an old New Zealand rail symbol on the nose and NAC is appropriate letting for an aeroplane flown by a New Zealander, be interested to hear if anyone tell us more about FO Wilson and his exploits?  |
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Post by davidd on Aug 12, 2019 14:16:54 GMT 12
That would be Edgar Neil Wilson (seniority as F/O dated 1/3/44), transferred to Reserve, Section I, Class B 30th April 1945. Might be able to locate a little bit more about him soon. He embarked NZ for Canada 18/6/41.
David D
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Post by Calum on Aug 12, 2019 14:28:03 GMT 12
I have a decal sheet for that aircraft. To be built one day. The RAF SEAC Scheme is my favorite P-47 paint scheme
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Post by planecrazy on Feb 7, 2021 8:26:32 GMT 12
Here's a cool clip, two V8s, the ultimate Thunderbolt!?
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