Air Force Museum
Republic P-47D (Razorback Version)
The P-47 was one of the most famous U.S. Army Air Forces fighter planes in World War II. Although the P-47 was originally conceived as a lightweight interceptor, it became a heavy fighter-bomber -- the P-47's maximum weight was over 17,000 pounds, while the comparable P-51 Mustang's was about 12,000 pounds. The prototype made its first flight in May 1941, and Republic delivered the first production P-47 in March 1942.
In depth
History & service
The P-47 was one of the most famous U.S. Army Air Forces fighter planes in World War II. Although the P-47 was originally conceived as a lightweight interceptor, it became a heavy fighter-bomber -- the P-47's maximum weight was over 17,000 pounds, while the comparable P-51 Mustang's was about 12,000 pounds. The prototype made its first flight in May 1941, and Republic delivered the first production P-47 in March 1942. In April 1943 over Western Europe, the Thunderbolt flew its first combat mission.
During WWII, the Thunderbolt served in almost every war theater and in the forces of several Allied nations. Used as a high-altitude escort fighter and a low-level fighter-bomber, the P-47 quickly gained a reputation for ruggedness. Its sturdy construction and air-cooled radial engine enabled the Thunderbolt to absorb severe battle damage and keep flying. By the end of WWII, more than 15,000 Thunderbolts had been built.
The P-47D "Razorback" Thunderbolt on display is an early version of the "D," nicknamed for the ridge behind the cockpit (later P-47Ds had a bubble canopy). It is painted to appear as the Thunderbolt Col. Neel Kearby flew on his last mission. Col. Kearby named all of his aircraft Fiery Ginger after his red-headed wife Virginia. Recovered from the crash site and obtained by the museum, the actual vertical fin of Fiery Ginger IV is also on display.
The aircraft in figures
Armament: Eight .50-cal. machine guns and 10 5-in. rockets or 1,500 lbs. of bombs · Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 of 2,430 hp · Maximum speed: 433 mph · Cruising speed: 260 mph · Range: 1,100 miles (with auxiliary fuel tanks) · Ceiling: 42,000 ft. · Span: 40 ft. 9 in. · Length: 36 ft. 1 in. · Height: 14 ft. 2 in. · Weight: 13,500 lbs. loaded
Performance was only part of the contest
A fighter's speed, climb, range, visibility, and armament shaped what it could do, but those qualities did not act alone. Training, tactics, warning systems, maintenance, fuel, and the condition of the airfield influenced every encounter. The aircraft that looks best in a table might be at a disadvantage at the wrong altitude, carrying the wrong load, or arriving with too little fuel to remain in the fight.
Escort missions demonstrate the importance of purpose. A fighter defending bombers had responsibilities beyond pursuing an opponent. It needed sufficient range, a useful position, and the discipline to remain with the force it protected. Ground attack imposed different demands, including visibility, endurance near the target, and the ability to survive damage from below.
Comparing aircraft across museums is most rewarding when the mission remains in view. An early pursuit biplane, a wartime piston fighter, and a Cold War jet represent different technologies, but all were part of a larger operational system. Personal accounts reveal how pilots worked within those limits. They also show why claims of individual success need context: weather, surprise, teamwork, and opportunities created by others shaped the outcome. The aircraft provides the physical evidence; the surrounding stories explain how people used it and what that use cost.
