Check Six: Dangers of Flying – 70 years ago

Posted on Jan 28, 2020 in 1940's, 1950's, Check Six

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II era fighter aircraft produced by the United States from 1941 through 1945. Its primary armament was eight .50-caliber machine guns and in the fighter-bomber ground-attack role it could carry five-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500 pounds.

The 199th Fighter Squadron flew P-47 “Jugs” from 1947 to 1954. While reviewing old photographs of the early Hawaii Air National Guard aircraft, we came across this one. On the back of the original photograph was written, “The result of lying in trail of (flight) leader firing .50 caliber and ejecting shells.”

The damaged area is highlighted by the arrow (added).

More about the P-47 Thunderbolt