WOW487 – P47 Thunderbolt ‘Bonnie’

Description

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II era fighter aircraft produced by the United States between 1941 and 1945. Its primary armament was eight .50-caliber machine guns and in the fighter-bomber ground-attack role it could carry five-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500 pounds (1,103 kg). When fully loaded the P-47 weighed up to eight tons making it one of the heaviest fighters of the war. The P-47 was designed around the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine which was also used by two U.S. Navy fighters, the Grumman F6F Hellcat and the Vought F4U Corsair. The Thunderbolt was effective as a short-to-medium range escort fighter in high-altitude air-to-air combat and ground attack in both the World War II European and Pacific theatres. The P-47 was one of the main United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighters of World War II, and served with Allied air forces including France, Britain, and Russia. Mexican and Brazilian squadrons fighting alongside the U.S. were equipped with the P-47. The armoured cockpit was relatively roomy and comfortable, offering good visibility. A modern-day U.S. ground-attack aircraft, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, takes its name from the P-47.

Our 1/30 scale P-47D was flown by; 16 victory Ace Major William ‘Bill’ Durham.

William “Bill” Dunham completed his “Advanced” flying school at Luke AAF Base in Arizona, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, on December 12, 1941, just 5 days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

He was then stationed at Dale Mabry Army Airfield in Tallahassee Florida, flying with the 53rd Fighter Group, for the next 9 months. Whilst with the 53rd, he also flew in the Panama Canal Zone, until he was assigned as a test pilot with the 1st Fighter Command in New York.

In November 1942, he was reassigned to the 342nd Fighter Squadron, which was deployed to Australia in February 1943, and then to New Guinea later that year. He served as Operations Officer and later Commander of the 342nd. July 1944 “Bill” Dunham became the Commander of the 460th Fighter Squadron , while in New Guinea. In December ’44, he became the Operations Officer of the 348th FG, after they had moved to the Philippines.

In January 1945, he was sent back to the US to attend “Gunnery School” believe it or not… He graduated the Gunnery School in May of 1945, where he promptly returned to the 348th and became the Deputy Commander, a position that he held until the end of the War.

“Bill” Dunham remained in the Army Air Force, (until it became the U.S. Air Force), eventually attaining the rank of Brigadier General during the Vietnam War. He retired after having a notable career in the Air Force, and received numerous Decorations for his combat service.

This is definitely a large fighter aircraft, hence the price, we do not think you will be disappointed. The price for this model is $750 plus $100 shipping.