.50-Caliber Bullets in a P-47
The wing of a P-47 loaded with .50-caliber bullets.
The P-47 had 4 .50-caliber machine guns on each wing. Each gun could fire at a rate of around 500 rounds per minute, meaning a lot of firepower was needed in each wing. These guns were in addition to the bombs that could be attached under each wing.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1940s
.50-Caliber Machine Guns on a P-47
The 8 machine guns of a P-47
The 8 .50-caliber machine guns on a P-47 could fire at a rate of up to 500 rounds per minutes. Even without the use of bombs, this made the P-47 a very deadly weapon in the hands of a capable pilot.
Republic Aviation Corporation
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1940s
"Ready in Pairs" - Bombs Ready for Action on P-47 Thunderbolts of the 362nd Fighter Group
A pilot leans on some 1,000-lb bombs on the airfield near Reims
A pilot from the 362nd Fighter Group poses for a picture with his foot on a bomb. With the caption "Ready in Pairs" on the back, it is also noted that the air strip used to be in No Man's Land during World War I.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
Late October 1944
<a title="Studying Colonel Joseph Laughlin" href="https://josephlaughlinfivebyfive.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Blog</a>
The blog associated with this project
This blog was a way for the administrator to document her journey and process through this project. The topics vary from her grandfather, the late Colonel Joseph Laughlin, to what she learned not to do in her search for information. She hopes it will help others as they set out on projects of their own.
Jamie Laughlin
Wordpress.com
Wordpress.com
January 2016-present
Jamie Laughlin
All rights reserved over content by Jamie Laughlin
1,000-lb Bomb for the P-47
The largest bomb for use by the P-47
P-47s were durable, easy to maneuver, and versatile. Its' versatility was in both the types of missions it could fly and the armament it could carry. For the bombing missions that involved large targets, like storage depots and ships, the 1,000-lb bomb proved most effective.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1940s
362nd Destroys Multiple German Planes and Trains in One Day
The effective destruction that the 362nd could impose on the Germans
This article describes the destructiveness of the 362nd by describing the amount of German planes and trains that they destroyed in one Saturday.
Omaha World-Herald
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
October 30, 1944
500-lb Bombs on a P-47
Two 500-lb bombs are affixed under each wing on a P-47
In addition to the .50-caliber machine guns, the P-47 was able to hold multiple kinds of bombs. This P-47 decorated as the one flown by Colonel Joseph Laughlin has 500-lb bombs attached under each wing. The planes were also capable of holding 1,000-lb general purpose bombs, 250-lb fragmentary bombs, 100-lb white phosphorous bombs, napalm, and air-to-ground-rockets.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1940s
A B-24 Liberator
P-47 Thunderbolts flew bomber escort missions for heavy bombers like this one over France and Germany
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator flew in every Theater of Operation during the war. They were excellent bombers but were unable to protect themselves from enemy fighters. Thunderbolt P-47s flew escort missions for bombers like this one until their limited range was outmatched by the lighter P-51.
Consolidated Aircraft
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
Early 1940s
A B-26 Marauder
This medium bomber was the most accurate bomber in the Ninth Air Force, but it still required escort from P-47 Thunderbolts
The Martin B-26 Marauder was flown in every Theater of Operations during the war. Although very accurate in bombing, they were vulnerable to enemy aircraft, requiring bomber escorts from P-47s and P-51s. Also, Colonel Joseph Laughlin managed to pester General Otto Weyland to the point that he offered up a B-26 for the 362nd Fighter Group's use; if they could get it running. The grounds crew did and the 362nd F.G. became the envy of every fighter group in the Ninth Air Force as they used the Marauder to get supplies and R & R for the men.
Glenn L. Martin Company
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
Early 1940s
A Commemorative History of the USAAF Ninth Air Force
A book of illustrations that depict life for the men of the Ninth Air Force
This book tells the history of the Ninth Air Force through illustrations of the various goings-on by men in the Ninth Air Force. From Bomber and Fighter Groups to Intelligence Units, the illustrations tell the story of the men who fought in the Ninth Air Force from conception to V-J Day.
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945-1946