2. The P-47 Thunderbolt
The P-47 Thunderbolt had the distinction of being a big and very powerful high-altitude fighter to see service in World War Two – it is remembered to be the fastest US fighter in World War Two service. Because the USAAF had misgivings about fitting all its fighters with the Allison V-1710, the P-47 Thunderbolt was designed with a powerful R-2800 engine as well as a turbocharger and became not only powerful but also a fighter that was equal or superior to its adversaries. Even though its powerful R-2800 was costly to operate, it made the plane stand out during its fly escort missions deep into Germany, doing much to defeat the Luftwaffe.
P-47 Thunderbolt was designed by the Georgian immigrant Alexander Kartveli and on May 6, 1941, it made its first flight. Intended to replace the Seversky P-35, the P-47 Thunderbolt was originally conceived as a lightweight interceptor but became a heavy fighter after its first flight. Its first production model was delivered to the AAF in March 1942, and in the following year, it flew its first combat mission – a sweep over Western Europe. P-47 Thunderbolt continually gained a reputation for its ruggedness (sturdy construction and air-cooled radial engine) which kept it flying even after receiving severe battle damages.
P-47 served in almost every active war and gained a reputation for being reliable and extremely tough (its ability to take incredible amounts of damage and still return its pilots home safely). The P-47 Thunderbolt are said to have logged almost two million flight hours during the war and were responsible for the destruction of over 7,000 enemy aircraft in the air and on the ground in the European Theater alone.
While P-47 Thunderbolt was an excellent plane, several modifications had to be made as its production continued so as to improve it power, maneuverability, and range. As the war progressed, it became excellent in ground attacks roles, strafing and bombing their way across the battlefields of Europe. While the P-51 Mustang later replaced it, P-47 still ended the war with 3,752 kills claimed in over 746,000 missions of all types. It was later named the ‘Jug’.