Colonel Laughlin in the Cockpit of his Final P-47
Colonel Laughlin prepares for takeoff in his P-47, Five by Five
This rare color photo of Colonel Laughlin was taken by a special group of the Army Air Corps. Tasked with getting color photos and footage of P-47 pilots in the Ninth Air Force, they made sure to get shots of the Group Commander. Here, Colonel Laughlin untangles his helmet and goggles, cigar in mouth. You can see the three Nazi flags and battleship insignia displayed prominently on his aircraft.
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945
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