The largest and heaviest single-engine fighter used by the United States during World War II.
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was an American fighter aircraft designed by Alexander Kartveli. Initially intended as a high-altitude escort fighter, the P-47 became famous for its ruggedness, heavy armament, and effectiveness as a fighter-bomber.
Powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine and equipped with a turbo-supercharger, the P-47 excelled at high altitude and could sustain significant battle damage.
The P-47 originated from Republic Aviation’s earlier designs, growing rapidly in size as requirements for greater speed, firepower, and altitude performance increased. The resulting aircraft was far heavier than most contemporary fighters but compensated with exceptional strength and power.
Early criticisms focused on its climb rate and range, but later variants addressed these issues through aerodynamic refinements and external fuel tanks.
The P-47 served extensively in the European and Pacific theaters. While it initially flew escort missions, it became legendary as a ground-attack aircraft, destroying enemy vehicles, trains, and infrastructure.
By the end of World War II, Thunderbolts had flown hundreds of thousands of sorties and earned a reputation for bringing pilots home even after sustaining severe damage.