P-38 Lightning (Classic WWII Aviation)

Hardcover 18x25 cm, 160 pages. The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt ran contrary to all the percepts of fighter aircraft design. It was the biggest and heaviest aircraft to be powered by a single piston engine and, at that time, it was also the most expensive. The official US view was, however, that an aircraft designed in this way would fly further and carry more weapons with the consequent result that it would be 'harder hitting'. This idea was shortly to be proved right and the P-47 became the most prolific of all US fighters. From a long evolutionary process the first of the new fighters, designated the XP-47B, flew on 6 May 1941, and the production model, the P-47B, in March 1942. By the summer of 1942 the 56th Fighter Group (later to be the leading USAAF group with the highest number of air combat victories during the Second World War) took delivery of the first batch prior to their moving to Europe. By early 1943 production was switched to the definitive P-47D which had a turbo charged engine, more armour and an increased weapon load. It also introduced the distinctive 'bubble' canopy. The total production figure for the P-47D alone was 12,600 and it served with the air forces of Australia, Brazil, France and the Soviet Union as well as with the RAF and the USAAF. 9780752420080 Tempus