[Boosher]

Well, just playing through devil's advocate here, in Russia it wasn't. The lend-lease tests and operational sorties that the Soviets did with the P-47 very quickly proved in their minds that the plane could not be used as a fighter in their war. It was a different kind of air war that the P-47 was wholly unsuited for. Instead, it was used as a light bomber with the 255 IAP in an anti-shipping role for a few months, then rotated out of service. So looking back on history with a Russian perspective, Oleg is right. We also have to remember that the P-47's we sent as part of lend-lease were not the quality P-47's that we used on the Western front. Most of the lend-lease thunderbolts had de-rated engines, and were much earlier versions. The first one sent over, a D-10 by the name of "Knight of Pythias" which was donated by a group of US Senators, was a dog.

While I agree injustice has been done to the Jug, we still saw people fighting with it quite successfully a soon as it became available. I only just got the hang of the heavy bird and I love it, although skinning for it is a tad annoying. I am very enthusiastic about the cockpit re-paint and can't wait until it's done!