Aircraft P-47M Thunderbolt "Devastatin Deb", March 1945

Product description

The P-47M was designed to run down and destroy the German buzz-bombs and the Luftwaffe’s new jets and rocket powered aircraft. To accomplish this a Pratt and Whitney P&W R-2800-57 (C) engine was added as well as a new larger super-charger. The engine also had water injection and all this allowed the P-47M a war-emergency power of 2,800 hp @ 32,500 feet. Air
brakes were added to help the aircraft slow during a dive. No under-wing racks were attached because the P-47M was strictly meant to be a fighter. Because of delays the P-47M didn’t reach the ETO until December 1944.

During his time with the 63rd Fighter Squadron Capt. John C Fahringer flew two P-47s. Both aircraft wore UN-F and were named “Devastin’ Deb” The first aircraft was a P-47D while the second was a P-47M 44-21160. On March 25 1945 44-21160 was flown by Major George Bostwick, newly assigned to the 63rd FS, when he shot down an Me-262 and damaged another.
On April 5, 1945 Captain Fahringer, Operations Officer for the 63rd, scored his fourth and final aircraft when he downed an Me-262 while flying “Devastatin’ Deb”.

P-47M was based on the P-47D-30 model and given a 2,800 HP R-2800-57(C) engine and used to intercept V-1 rockets. There were 130 M variants produced

Republic Aviation P-47D specifications

Number Produced – 12,602 most numerous variant
Crew – 1

Dimensions
Length – 36 ft. 1 in.  (11 m)
Wingspan – 40 ft. 9 in.  (12.42 m)
Height – 14 ft. 8 in.  (4.47 m)

Performance
Engine – 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 twin-row radial, 2,535 hp  (1,890 kW)
Maximum Speed – 433 mph @ 30,000 ft  (697 km/h @ 9,145 m)
Service Ceiling – 43,000 ft.  (13,100 m)
Rate Of Climb – 3,120 ft/min  (15.9 m/s)
Range – 800 mi. combat, 1,800 mi. ferry  (1,290 km combat  /  2,900 km ferry)

Armament
8 x .50 in.  (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns w/ 3,400 rounds
Maximum 2,500 lbs  (1,134 kg) of bombs
10 x 5 in.  (127 mm) unguided rockets