Changes

They formed the 348th Fighter Group, under the command of Lt. Col. [[Neel Kearby]].  The big fighter proved itself against the Japanese on October 11, when four Thunderbolts, including one flown by Col. Kearby, engaged a force of forty Japanese fighters over [[Wewak]], New Guinea, a major Japanese base.  The American pilots downed nine enemy fighters without suffering so much as a bullet hole.  Kearby himself shot down six to become the first P-47 [[Flying ace|ace]] of the Pacific War.  By the end of 1943, the 348th had downed over 150 enemy planes for the loss of only eight pilots.

They formed the 348th Fighter Group, under the command of Lt. Col. [[Neel Kearby]].  The big fighter proved itself against the Japanese on October 11, when four Thunderbolts, including one flown by Col. Kearby, engaged a force of forty Japanese fighters over [[Wewak]], New Guinea, a major Japanese base.  The American pilots downed nine enemy fighters without suffering so much as a bullet hole.  Kearby himself shot down six to become the first P-47 [[Flying ace|ace]] of the Pacific War.  By the end of 1943, the 348th had downed over 150 enemy planes for the loss of only eight pilots.

By this time, other units had converted to the P-47 as well, so that almost half of the Fifth Air Force’s fighter strength was Thunderbolts.  Like almost all other Allied planes, the Thunderbolt was less maneuverable than the Japanese fighters, but had the advantage in speed (especially diving speed), power, and toughness.  P-47 squadrons later saw heavy action in the [[Philippines]] campaign, and longer-range P-47Ns flew escort and fighter sweep missions over the Japanese mainland from bases in [[Okinawa]].<ref>''Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces of the Pacific and CBI'', by John Stanaway, Osprey Publishing, 1999</ref>

By this time, other units had converted to the P-47 as well, so that almost half of the Fifth Air Force's fighter strength was Thunderbolts.  Like almost all other Allied planes, the Thunderbolt was less maneuverable than the Japanese fighters, but had the advantage in speed (especially diving speed), power, and toughness.  P-47 squadrons later saw heavy action in the [[Philippines]] campaign, and longer-range P-47Ns flew escort and fighter sweep missions over the Japanese mainland from bases in [[Okinawa]].<ref>''Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces of the Pacific and CBI'', by John Stanaway, Osprey Publishing, 1999</ref>

[[RAF]] P-47s saw action in the [[Burma]] campaign, starting from late 1944.  They were used mainly in the ground attack role.<ref>''The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Air Warfare'', ed. by Chris Bishop, Aerospace Publishing, 2001</ref>

[[RAF]] P-47s saw action in the [[Burma]] campaign, starting from late 1944.  They were used mainly in the ground attack role.<ref>''The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Air Warfare'', ed. by Chris Bishop, Aerospace Publishing, 2001</ref>