Changes

Thunderbolt groups claimed the destruction of 6,000 tanks and armored fighting vehicles, 9,000 locomotives, 86,000 items of rolling stock, 68,000 trucks, and huge numbers of enemy troops killed or wounded. According to air power historian W. A. Jacobs, "All authorities agreed that the P-47 was the best fighter-bomber."<ref>  W. A. Jacobs, "The Battle for France, 1944," in B. Franklin Cooling, ''Case Studies in the Development of Close Air Support'' (1990), p. 250.</ref>

Thunderbolt groups claimed the destruction of 6,000 tanks and armored fighting vehicles, 9,000 locomotives, 86,000 items of rolling stock, 68,000 trucks, and huge numbers of enemy troops killed or wounded. According to air power historian W. A. Jacobs, "All authorities agreed that the P-47 was the best fighter-bomber."<ref>  W. A. Jacobs, "The Battle for France, 1944," in B. Franklin Cooling, ''Case Studies in the Development of Close Air Support'' (1990), p. 250.</ref>

==The Pacific War==

==The Pacific War==

Although most well-known for the war in Europe, the P-47 had an excellent service record in the Pacific theater as well.  The first Thunderbolts to fight the Japanese arrived in June 1943 in [[Port Moresby]], [[New Guinea]].  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 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.

Although most well-known for the war in Europe, the P-47 had an excellent service record in the Pacific theater as well.  The first Thunderbolts to fight the Japanese arrived in June 1943 in [[Port Moresby]], [[New Guinea]].  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>

==Post-war Service==

==Post-war Service==

The P-47 served in the Air National Guard after the war, and in several foreign air forces besides.  The Republic of [[Taiwan]] flew Thunderbolts, and two of them were lost to Chinese [[MiG-15]]s on March 18, 1954.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_170.shtml PRC/Chinese Air-to-Air Victories]</ref>  Four days later, two Taiwanese P-47s avenged their comrades by teaming up to down a MiG-15.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_171.shtml Taiwanese Air-to-Air Victories]</ref>

The P-47 served in the Air National Guard after the war, and in several foreign air forces besides.  The Republic of [[Taiwan]] flew Thunderbolts, and two of them were lost to Chinese [[MiG-15]]s on March 18, 1954.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_170.shtml PRC/Chinese Air-to-Air Victories]</ref>  Four days later, two Taiwanese P-47s avenged their comrades by teaming up to down a MiG-15.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_171.shtml Taiwanese Air-to-Air Victories]</ref>