wilkes

In the European Theater, P-47 pilots were responsible for destroying more than 7,000 enemy aircraft-more than half in air-to-air combat. Though at least twice as heavy as the Supermarine Spitfire, the Thunderbolt was surprisingly agile and fast. It was well-regarded for its exceptional diving ability-considered crucial by ace pilots-and how it transformed that energy into climbing power to get back into the fight.

"As an escort plane for bombers, it more than held its own against the best the Luftwaffe had despite its range limitations," Kinney says. "With eight .50-caliber machine guns and the capability of carrying rockets and bombs, the P-47 was a formidable aircraft against ground targets."

No... I never jumped out of one of those