Republic P-47D Thunderbolt – Bonnie, 460th FS, 348th FG, USAAF. Bill Dunham, Philippines 1944

Corgi Aviation Archive 1/72 scale AA33805: Republic P-47D Thunderbolt “Bonnie” flown by Major William D. Dunham of the USAAF 460th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group based at Leyte in December 1944. Mint and boxed limited edition of only 2,900. Superb model.

6 inches Wingspan 6.75 inches

Dinghy’ Dunham scored his first seven victories in a P-47D-2 called ‘Bonnie’ but by late 1944 had moved onto a P-47D-25 also called ‘Bonnie’ and now extravagantly showing a host of kill markings. As the 348th FG’s second most successful ace, Dunham almost certainly scored his final four P-47 kills in this particular fighter. He left his beloved 460th FS in mid-December 1944 to become assistant group operations officer, prior to returning home in January 1945 to attend a gunnery course. He re-joined the group in May 1945 to find the P-47’s replaced by Mustangs and it was in one such P-51K called ‘Mrs Bonnie’ that he scored his sixteenth and final victory on 1st August.

Designed by Alexander Kartveli meeting a USAAC requirement for a heavy fighter, the P-47 was first flown on May 6th, 1941. Later models featured a “bubble-top” canopy rather than the sharply peaked “razorback” fuselage which resulted in poor visibility for the aircraft’s pilot. The P-47, a deadly pursuit aircraft, featured 8 x 12.7mm machine guns; all mounted in the wings. Even with the complicated turbosupercharger system, the sturdy airframe and tough radial engine, the P-47 (“Jug” or “Juggernaut” as it was nicknamed) could absorb damage and still return home. Built in greater quantities than any other US fighter, the P-47 was the heaviest single-engine WWII fighter and the first piston-powered fighter to exceed 500 mph.