P-47D Thunderbolt with the USAAF in the MTO, Asia and Pacific

by Tomasz Szlagor

Kagero Publishing

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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A recent addition to Kagero’s SMI Library series, “P-47 Thunderbolt with the USAAF in the MTO, Asia and Pacific” is a photo essay of P-47 operations in these theatres.  The photos are accompanied by explanatory text and captions – in English and Polish – and 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 decals for four of the featured aircraft.

The 16-page introduction provides a detailed summary of Thunderbolt use in the Mediterranean, China-Burma-India and Pacific.  P-47 operations are presented chronologically which is helpful in learning how use of the type evolved in each theatre, although you have to pay attention because the author moves briskly from unit to unit.  Mediterranean and Pacific operations receive the most coverage, with a shorter but still informative section on China-Burma-India.  The introduction sets the scene for the photos that follow, and is good primer for anyone wanting to conduct further research into the subject.

The language in the text and captions is a little awkward in places, but this doesn’t matter much because the subject matter is so interesting.  The only typographic error I found was on page 9, where 350th FG P-47s are described as “knocking out one forth of the ANR fighter force”.

The photos are generally very good – well chosen, reproduced, presented and captioned.  Most are of Thunderbolts undergoing maintenance or being prepared for missions, which is not suprising given these were the best opportunities to take photos.  The images clearly show the rough-and-ready nature of many of the P-47 bases, and the challenges of caring for aircraft in such conditions.  Diorama modellers should find plenty of inspiration – a good example is the photo of a 1,000 pound bomb being shackled to an underwing rack, with the bomb held in position by a 44 gallon drum modified to serve as a makeshift cradle.  There are also interesting photos of nose art, pilots and aircrew, and the aftermath of landing mishaps and aerial near misses.  The images of a forlorn looking Lt Edwin King looking at his flak-damaged and oil-drenched P-47D are particularly memorable.

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Most of the photos are in black and white, but there are several pages of colour photos at the end of the book that will be a useful reference for anyone painting and decaling a P-47 model.

On the subject of decals, Kagero has included a sheet of 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 decals of markings for four of the Thunderbolts featured in the photos.  Seven pages and the back cover are devoted to colour profiles and upper and lower surface views of these aircraft, which all feature colourful markings, unit insignia and nose art.  Details are as follows:

• P-47D-30-RE, “Schmaltzie”/“Mercedes”/44-20866, flown by Lt. Frank ‘Duffy’ Middleton of the 65th FS, 57th FG, based in Corsica, summer 1944.  Overall natural metal with an Olive Drab anti-glare strip running the length of the upper fuselage, this bubbletop P-47D carried yellow and black stripes running front-to-back on the upper and lower wing surfaces and the vertical stabiliser/rudder.  It also had alternate yellow and natural metal cowl flaps, red cowl ring and propeller boss, red and green ‘Fighting Cocks’ insignia on either side of the engine cowling, and blue and black identification numbers.  (“Schmaltzie”/“Mercedes” was one of the marking options included in Italeri’s recent reboxing of the 1/48 Academy P-47D bubbletop kit.)

• P-47N-1-RE, “Cheek Baby”/44-87966 flown by Lt. Durwood B. Williams of the 333rd FS, 318th FG, based at le Shima, June 1945.  “Cheek Baby” wore the standard P-47N finish of overall natural metal with a fuselage-length Olive Drab anti-glare strip.  The black-bordered yellow cowl ring and tail surface tips provided touches of colour.

• P-47D (production block and serial number unknown), “Topper”, flown by Lt. Warren F. Penny of the 317th FS, 325th FG, based in San Pancrazio, March 1944.  According to the text “the only natural metal finish P-47 to see service with the 325th FG” (which may explain the absence of an anti-glare panel).  “Topper” was a P-47D razorback with large black identification numbers on the fuselage sides, a red cowl ring and boss, and yellow-and-black checkers on all tail surfaces.

• P-47D-28-RA, “Passionate Patsy”/42-29091, flown by Lt. Ralph Barnes of the 310th FS, 58th FG; date and location not provided.  To me this is the pick of the aircraft covered on the decal sheet, featuring excellent nose art and an interesting variety of markings.  “Passionate Patsy’s” overall natural metal/Olive Drab finish was overlaid with two broad black bands around the rear fuselage and each wing; white horizontal and vertical stabilisers; a blue, white and red striped rudder; a red cowl flash/ring, and nose art applied to the port engine cowling on a yellow background.

The decals are by Cartograf and are of high quality.  Printing is very good, with crisp borders and no apparent registration problems.  Unit insignia are also well done, but the highlight for me is the “Passionate Patsy” nose art that is superbly rendered in all three scales.

However, it’s not all good news on the decal front.  No national markings are provided, which is acceptable because these can be readily sourced from kit or other aftermarket decal sheets.  More problematic is the absence of decals for markings on the featured aircraft that will be tricky to mask and paint.  These include the red, white and blue striped rudder and tulip-shaped red cowl ring on “Passionate Patsy”, the yellow-and-black checkerboard tail surfaces of “Topper”, and the black bordered identification markings of “Cheek Baby” and “Schmaltzie”/“Mercedes”.  Admittedly these are all larger markings that if included as decals would have increased the price of the book, but their absence may discourage some modellers from attempting the schemes on offer.

This book can be highly recommended to anyone interested in either P-47s or the application of Allied air power in the Mediterranean, CBI and Pacific theatres during the second half of World War 2.  The high quality photos are supported by informative and generally well-written text.  Decals are provided for four interesting aircraft, although the absence of some key markings is frustrating.  Overall, this is another excellent Kagero publication that addresses a somewhat overlooked part of the P-47’s wartime contribution.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Casemate UK for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2014 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 30 June, 2014
Last updated 30 June, 2014

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