USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt

Nicknamed ‘The Jug’ by its pilots, the US Army Air Force P-47 Thunderbolt played a major role after the USA joined World War II, particularly in Europe where it was also flown by the RAF and the French Air Force. Manufactured by Republic Aviation, the P-47 took its first flight in May 1941 and continued in production for fighter-bomber purposes until 1945. Over 15,600 were built and it remained in operation with particular overseas airlines right until the mid 1960s.

Here we see it as flown by Capt Daniel Boone 333^rd FS3. 18FG, whose namesake was the legendary 18^th Century pioneer and American folk hero Daniel Boone, born in 1734. The nose-art features the original Dan’l Boone character, complete with ‘Wild Frontier’ Davy Crockett racoon fur hat.  The aircraft is predominantly silver with yellow nose cone, black underside with yellow banding round the fuselage and black and yellow tail fin/rudder, which also features the serial number in a yellow band – 325857.The propellers are also black and yellow while the engine casing is particularly well detailed with silver crank case and satin black cylinders and intake. The blue on silver US Star on the fuselage rounds off the authentic detail.

Captain Daniel Boone survived the War and rose to the rank of Colonel before retirement. Along with a fellow WWII veteran, he even had an audience with President J F Kennedy in the Oval Office!