P-47 T'Bolt's in the RAF

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Just how many P47 T'Bolt's in the RAF were to see action in the Defensive or Offensive Roll from the UK ?

If they did , when was this and who were their Pilots ??

Many thanks

Alex

[gian paolo]

Originally Posted by Alex Smart

Hi,

Just how many P47 T'Bolt's in the RAF were to see action in the Defensive or Offensive Roll from the UK ?

If they did , when was this and who were their Pilots ??

Many thanks

Alex

Hi Alex




RAF Thunderbolts never flew missions in the ETO.



They were all assigned to SEAC in 1944/1945 as reequipment for


former HURRICANES squadrons in the theatre



Cheers



gian paolo

[Graham Boak]

One qualification. Lots of them ended up in an OTU in the Middle East, where pilots were trained for SEAC. Operationally, yes, only India/Burma/indonesia.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Gian Paolo,

Not all were, hence the question about those few that didn't go to SEAC.

Alex

[robert_schulte]

Hello Alex,
according to my books "some" Thunderbolts went to the UK for evaluation tests, however no numbers or further data are given.
Best wishes
Robert

[Graham Boak]

These UK-based aircraft can be identified, either in the Hikoki book on Boscombe Down or by working through the Thunderbolt listings in the Air Britain serials. But there's never been any suggestion that they went on operational sorties.

[Alex Smart]

Thank you ALL for your replies.

I just wondered if perhaps someone knew that they did take part in a defensive op or even an offensive op. Perhaps Air cover over their respective Base during an air attack if they were there.
So far Graham I have seen eight serial numbers(US) but only six given RAF numbers.

Thanks again

Alex

[Graham Boak]

I did look in the Hikoki book on Boscombe Down last night, it quoted at least two US P-47s used for trials and gave serials for four RAF ones: two razorbacks used for various weapon trials, a bubble and a fin-fillet.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Graham,

Fin Fillet, Ah - large or small type - did it show it in a photo ?

Later types had a larger fuller fillet while earlier ones had a smaller one.

I have not seen AFAIR an RAF T'Bolt that had a fin fillet though i have read that later deliveries did. But that begs the question of what type ?

Have you any details on tha matter please.

Thanks
Alex

[Graham Boak]

Photos and profiles of RAF 'bolts with fillets are in Geoff Thomas's RAF Thunderbolts book from Air Research Publications. Two have the large fillet. One is the only D-40 received by the RAF, KL887: Thomas associates the large fillet with this sub-type. The other is a D-30, KL856 KW.D.

Other D-30s with small fillets include KL882 MU.H, KL431 MU.C, KL339 FL.O. KL883 KW.V, KL841 EG.U, KL859 MU.T, KL849 FJ.G, KL339 GQ.B. All are natural metal.

Boscombe Down's KJ298 had the fillet, presumably as the test example for the modification.