7. Big, Tough, and Fast
The P-47’s increased weight reduced its rate of climb. However, that only mattered for an interceptor which had to scramble at a moment’s notice when word arrived of an incoming raid, to swiftly climb to the enemy bombers’ altitude. By 1943 when Thunderbolts first saw combat, there was no longer a significant enemy bomber threat that urgently required a fighter with interceptor characteristics. Additionally, the extra weight had its own benefits, increasing the P-47’s durability, and making it faster in the dive. The latter was a great asset that enabled Thunderbolts to overtake fleeing enemy fighters, or to break off contact and flee themselves if necessary.
Deployed to Europe in 1942 and seeing their first combat in 1943, Thunderbolts were utilized primarily in bomber escort duties. They soon gained a reputation for ruggedness because their robust airframe and air-cooled radial engine allowed them to absorb significant combat damage, and still bring planes and pilots back home.
