Originally shared by John Lackey

Happy Birthday, P-47 Thunderbolt. The first P-47 took to the air on May 6, 1941. The Jug ended World War II with more air-to-air victories than the P-51 Mustang that replaced it in the long-range escort role. The P-47 was the mount in which Francis “Gabby” Gabreski, the highest scoring ace in the European Theater, scored all 28 of his WWII victories with.

P-47D Thunderbolt, Wicked Wabbit on a morning flight. Photographed at the Joint Services Open House 2007, Andrews AFB, Maryland. http://bit.ly/1iZUqTS

#thunderbolt   #usaf   #usaaf   #aviation   #aviationphotography   #canon