P-47 Thunderbolt

From several sources, including Warren Bodie's book, it appears that the Curtiss production staff simply didn't have the ability to build a combat-capable Thunderbolt in a reasonable amount of time. Republic built a factory in Evansville, staffed it with farm workers that they trained, and turned out over 115 C-model T-bolts while Curtiss, with their established base of technical support and trained staff could only turn out 40 G-models in the first production run. (roughly the equivalent of the early Republic early "C"'s). The Government cancelled the contract and used the G-models that were already built as test beds for other projects, like the proposed TP47G -15-CU two seat trainer. Most, if not all, the P-47 G's were relegated to stateside training. The lack of Curtiss-built T-bolts is primarily due to poor production output and not necessarily poor quality.

Mike:

You have jogged my memory a little bit. I think I remember seeing some photos of early Curtiss P-47G's - they looked to be duplicates of the P-47C. This was at the time that the Republic plant was already cranking out P-47D's. So perhaps besides the fact that Curtiss was way behind Republic in regards to production rates, they were also slow to implement the changes that Republic was continually making to increase the Jug's capabilities. It must have smarted a little - to have failed miserably to come up with a decent replacement for the P-40 and to then be asked to produces someone else's design !

Jim

Hey JGUIGNARD,
Ya know I am not for sure though. I have to ask Blackwolf but for some reason that sticks out.
Yea know what also comes to mind is a wing load/carrying problem. I just remember hearing that the Curtiss a/c could not be used in combat for a certain flaw. What that flaw is I'm not sure.
Well its off to do some researching
Flaps up, Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by Butz If I'm not mistaken and if my memory serves me correctly they had wing/structural problems. I could be mistaken though. Forgot where I had read this.

Mike:

If this is true, it kinda worries me - the razorback that is operated by the Planes of Fame museum is a P-47G ! [:0]

Jim

JGUINARD is right about the unit's association with the 12trh Air Force in Italy. The link that gar26 provided is the most detailed site about the Brazilian contribution in WWII, and covers their use of the Thunderbolt in good detail. Another good resource is on out of print book entitled [u]Republic P-47 Thunderbolt; The Final Chapter: Latin American Air Forces Service by Dan Hagedorn. It has a wartime color photo of one of the Brazilian T-Bolts on the front cover, with the first ten pages devoted to the Brazilian use in WWII, followed by the Mexican Air Force's use in the Pacific.Lots of color photos and profiles. Hope this helps. - Ed

Hey Herr,
Here are a few pix that may interest you.





http://www.arcair3.com/Fea1/001-100/Fea057_10grupo_Borges/images/Image48.jpg

http://www.arcair3.com/Fea1/001-100/Fea057_10grupo_Borges/images/Image51.jpg

http://www.arcair3.com/Fea1/001-100/Fea057_10grupo_Borges/images/Image52.jpg

http://www.arcair3.com/Fea1/001-100/Fea057_10grupo_Borges/images/Image49.jpg

Flaps up, Mike

Hey gar26,
Reading through your site that you found and I saw this...
The first versions - P-47B, C, D-1 to D-23 and G (variant C built by Curtiss) - had the "razorback" fuselage and a rear-sliding, heavily framed canopy, which made it difficult to look rearwards.
The "C" variant was never produced by Curtiss, infact it was the "G"model that Curtiss produced.
"December 1942: First Curtiss contract-built P-47G delivered; Curtiss P-47G production ended after 354 G-models were delivered by march 1944. This particular reference came from WARBIRD TECH, P-47 vol 23 pg100.
These ships really never saw combat and were mainly used state side for training units.
If I'm not mistaken and if my memory serves me correctly they had wing/structural problems. I could be mistaken though. Forgot where I had read this.
I just thought that this was interesting.
Flaps up, Mike

Hey Herr,
I'll do some researching for ya and I believe JGUIGNARD may be correct.

Hey gar26,
The 357th never had any Brazilian in their unit. By the way cool site my friend.
Flaps up, Mike

The Brazilian unit was 1Grupo de Caca, and they were attached to the 350th Fighter Group of the 12th AF in Italy.

Jim

Try this web page I think it might help
http://www.rudnei.cunha.nom.br/FAB/eng/p-47.html
I also have a couple of pictures if you would like them e-mailed to you let me know

I don't believe the Brazilians had there own unit they were assigned to the 8th Army Air Corps 357th fighter group in Italy flying the P-47 I have a book in my reference library on the P-47 when I find it I will look and just double check.