20.06.2008, 01:50
Ahhh, I think I'm on to something here...
The P-47N training manual has an illustration for the P-47N's throttle quadrant and it shows it having the long, rounded grip. The illustration's key reads:
"2. Throttle. The twist grip is used for ranging with the K-14 gunsight. The button turns on the radio microphone."
For the P-47D models, the K-14 was only factory installed in the P-47D-40 but some previous models were upgraded with K-14 field kits. The P-47M on my opening post has a K-14 gunsight and that explains why it has the rounded grip; the P-47D-30 has a Mk. VIII gunsight so it has a square throttle grip. (The P-47G's throttle remains a mystery to me.)
The P-47N training manual has an illustration for the P-47N's throttle quadrant and it shows it having the long, rounded grip. The illustration's key reads:
"2. Throttle. The twist grip is used for ranging with the K-14 gunsight. The button turns on the radio microphone."
For the P-47D models, the K-14 was only factory installed in the P-47D-40 but some previous models were upgraded with K-14 field kits. The P-47M on my opening post has a K-14 gunsight and that explains why it has the rounded grip; the P-47D-30 has a Mk. VIII gunsight so it has a square throttle grip. (The P-47G's throttle remains a mystery to me.)