Blood Red Skies: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Squadron

The P-47 Thunderbolt, a versatile American fighter aircraft produced during World War II, saw action in both the Mediterranean and Pacific theaters. This powerful aircraft, capable of carrying a significant load of bombs or rockets, was one of the heaviest fighters of the war. Its versatility allowed it to excel as both a short-to-medium range escort fighter and a ground attack aircraft.

The P-47 was praised by its pilots for its impressive roll rate, dive speed, and performance at high altitudes. However, it struggled at lower altitudes, where its climb rate and turning ability were less optimal. German pilots learned to climb rather than dive when confronted with a Thunderbolt from behind. Despite its size, the P-47 was remarkably rugged, able to withstand significant damage. Its spacious cockpit provided good visibility, further enhanced by the introduction of bubble canopies on later variants.

The Thunderbolt amassed over 3,700 aerial victories, deployed in all USAAF theaters except Alaska. It gradually became the primary fighter-bomber for the USAAF, with fuel improvements allowing it to reach targets as far away as Berlin. Thunderbolt pilots claimed an astonishing number of ground targets, including thousands of locomotives, armored vehicles, and trucks. They frequently employed low-level skip bombing tactics to hit difficult targets, such as rolling stock in tunnels.

Vital Statistics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 11m
• Wingspan: 12.42m
• Max Speed: 697kph
• Combat Range: 1290km
• Armament: 8 x .50 in (12.7mm) M2 Browning machine guns (3400 rounds); up to 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of bombs; 10 x 5 in (127 mm) unguided rockets

Contents

• 6 Warlord Resin aircraft with advantage bases and cards
• Models are supplied unassembled and unpainted