P-47 Thunderbolt
Books and Pictures, WW2 Fighter Aircraft.
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The P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Aircraft WW2 Warbird.
The books listed here are new books but you can also buy used books, out
of print books and rare books through many of these links. This page
also covers book reviews for P47 Thunderbolts.
The P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft was used in the fighter groups of nine U.S.
Air Forces spread across the globe during WWII. It was also used
by numerous foreign air forces. The P-47 ‘Jug’ was legendary for its
power and ruggedness as it conducted fighter sweep, bomber escort, and
ground attack missions in every theater of the war.
The 350th Fighter Group in the Mediterranean Campaign 2 November, 1942
to 2 May 1945. The group comprised the 345th, 346th, and 347th Fighter
Squadrons, flying against the Luftwaffe during the Moroccan, Tunisian,
Sicilian and Italian campaigns in P-39s and P-47s. Although initially
thought to be burdened with a craft too large, heavy, and un-maneuverable,
the P-47 pilots eventually acquired the skills they needed to counter the
nimble Luftwaffe fighters. And the introduction of P-47Cs in mid-1943,
with their added external tanks, improved the pilot's combat radius.
Although it recorded 3,916 kills as a fighter, the P-47 was later used
primarily as a ground-attack aircraft, destroying thousands of tanks, locomotives,
rail cars, and trucks. Production P-47 Thunderbolts were in the air
in early 1943, excelling in bomber escort and ground-attack bombing. P-47s
were flown by the air forces of Australia, Brazil, France, the Soviet Union,
and Great Britain--more than 12,000 planes in all, more than any
other U.S. fighter before or since. Other P-47's flew in the 413
Fighter Group which was composed of the 1st, 21st and 34th
Fighter Squadrons and they also flew in the 318th
Fighter Squadron These WW2 books are listed by Amazon books and
Historic Aviation book store companies.
Hell Hawks! is the story of the band of young American fighter pilots,
and their gritty, close-quarters fight against Hitler's vaunted military. The
"Hell Hawks" were the men and machines of the 365th Fighter Group. Beginning
just prior to D-Day, June 6, 1944, the groups young pilots (most were barely
twenty years old and fresh from flight training in the United States) flew in
close support of Eisenhower's ground forces as they advanced across France and
into Germany. They flew the rugged, heavily armed P-47 Thunderbolt, aka the Jug.
Living in tents amid the cold mud of their front-line airfields, the 365ths
daily routine had much in common with that of the G.I.s they supported. Their
war only stopped with the Nazi surrender on May 8, 1945. During their year in
combat, the Hell Hawks paid a heavy price to win the victory. Sixty-nine pilots
and airmen died in the fight across the continent. The Groups 1,241 combat
missions -- the daily confrontation of sudden, violent death -- forged bonds
between these men that remain strong sixty years later. This book will tell
their story, the story of the Hell Hawks.
ISBN-10: 0760329184
$16.47
A personal message from the Author.
Jeff,
I'm astonished to find that the best book ever written about a
P-47 Thunderbolt fighter group in combat does not appear on this page:
"Hell Hawks!" is our Stephen Ambrose-style history of a "band of brothers with
planes." It's a recounting in their words of the untold war fought by Americans
of the
365th Fighter Group. They represent tens of thousands who served in
similar groups.
The book is a general interest look at our recent history, It's not technical or
specialized: It's a story that can interest anyone.
Our guys went ashore at Normandy and fought across
Europe, through the
Battle of the Bulge and on to victory.
Co-author Thomas D. Jones (Tom) and I spent five years researching and
interviewing 171 of these ordinary men who became heroes. Tom is an
Air Force Academy distinguished graduate, a former B-52 pilot, and a
former astronaut who flew four shuttle missions. I'm an Air Force veteran, a
retired U. S. diplomat, and an author. Tom and I worked together to tell this
story for the first time.
The P-47 Thunderbolt was built in greater numbers than any other American
fighter, but rarely receives recognition. The men who supported, maintained and
flew the P-47 while slogging it out on the European continent waged a grim,
gritty, mostly air-to-ground war in which the enemy was personal, the fighting
point-blank. The human spirit triumphed with a little help from the P-47.
"Hell Hawks" uses never before published photos and first-hand personal
accounts.
Best wishes
Bob
Victory Roll!
Hardbound Airplane Book. The American Fighter Pilot and Aircraft in World
War II. William Wolf. This is the story of America's "best and brightest,"
from the early-war young men who were hastily trained and flying inferior
aircraft such as the P-39, F2A and F4F, to the well-trained, late-war pilots
in their F4Us, F6Fs, P-47s, P-38s and finally, P-51s. You'll learn the key
role this generation of young Americans played before they took their place
in American society and industry. 456 pgs., 670+ B&W photos, 8½"x 11", hdbd.
#0005817
Price: $59.95
Vantage
Points : A Novel of Men and Women in World War II
by Kenneth Libbey, Ken Libbey
In this carefully researched novel, you'll meet numerous historical
figures, including Claire Chennault of the Flying Tigers, Nancy Love, leader
of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, Generals Douglas MacArthur
and Dwight Eisenhower, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Russian Premier
Josef Stalin. A thoroughly enjoyable way to absorb history!
Ken
Libbey's home page
The 348th was the most successful P-47 unit in the Pacific.
Ranging over the Japanese homeland, first in P-47s and later in P-51s,
the 348th completed their impressive record with honor under the
leadership of Colonel Neel Kearby. 224 pgs., 350 photos, 8½"x 11",
hdbd.
#0002589 Price: $44.95
The 350th Fighter Group in the Mediterranean Campaign 2 November,
1942 to 2 May 1945. The group comprised the 345th, 346th, and 347th Fighter
Squadrons, flying against the Luftwaffe during the Moroccan, Tunisian,
Sicilian and Italian campaigns in P-39s and P-47s. 80 pgs., 90 photos,
9"x 12", sfbd.
#0001379 Price: $19.95
Angels
Zero P-47 Close Air Support in Europe
Brulle.
Close air support of infantry and tanks was key to Allied success
in WWII. Flying rugged P-47 Thunderbolts nearly at ground level -
or "Angels Zero" - over northwestern Europe, the pilots of the 9th Air
Force strafed and dive-bombed bridges, rail yards, supply depots,
troops and tanks. This was the most dangerous of air operations,
exacting heavy casualties. Here is a recounting of support missions
with the 366th Fighter Group, linking daily
experiences in the cockpit with events in the wider European theater.
A wonderful combination of both personal and historical detail vividly
recreates this lesser-known aspect of the air war in Europe. 208
pgs., 24 B&W photos, 6"x 9", hdbd.
#0005283
Price: $29.95
The 8th Fighter Group in WWII. The 8th took the first P-39s into
combat against the Imperial Japanese Navy. They added victories in P-40s
and P-47s, and finally took the air
war to the enemy with P-38s over Rabaul Hollandia. 500 photos, 320 pgs.,
8½"x 11", hdbd.
#0001677 Price: $44.95
P-47 Pilots Glenn Subtitled: The Fighter-Bomber Boys. Join the
Fighter-Bomber Boys as they terrorize the crack German ground troops and
battle-wise panzer divisions. Live with a squadron of these glory hungry air
warriors who dive into battle at 5mph with their bombs, and fight at treetop
level with their machine guns. Glenn vividly conveys what it was like to fly
the magnificent Thunderbolt into combat, and tells how WWIIs maniacal P-47
pilots lived life in the fast lane, on and off duty.
ISBN-10: 076030548X
$38.95
Flying to the Limit
Hardbound Aircraft Book Testing World War II Single-Engined Fighter
Aircraft.
Caygill. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of seventeen different World War
II fighter aircraft from the U.K., the USA and Germany in this book that
examines test results and pilots' own firsthand accounts. Covered aircraft
include the Hurricane, Spitfire, Bf 109, Fw 190, Buffalo, Tomahawk
(Warhawk), Airacobra, Mustang, Martlet (Wildcat), Thunderbolt and Corsair -
all legendary types that saw a great deal of wartime action. 224 pages, 80
B&W photographs, 6"x 9", hardcover.
#0036018
Price: $39.95
Clash
of Wings : World War II in the Air by Walter J. Boyne
Boyne, novelist ( The Wild Blue ) and aviation historian ( Silver Wings ), here
offers a stimulating overview of air power in WW II. While intended primarily
for general readers, the account will attract specialists as well. Boyne argues
that air power succeeded only when applied on a large scale, and that quality
was as important as quantity.
The Allies' air forces eventually numbered in the tens
of thousands, with aircraft better than almost anything in the Axis arsenals. By
1944, air superiority became the necessary condition for victory in Europe and,
by 1945, the decisive element in the Pacific. The author provides some
surprising conclusions, among them that the Germans almost won the Battle of
Britain. Photos not seen by PW.
ISBN-10: 0684839156
$6.00
Among the first American-built fighters to be operated by the USAAF
in Europe, the P-47's initial encounters with German fighters were not
encouraging. However, new variants and new tactics meant that by
mid-1943, the Thunderbolt was very much able to hold its own. Read
here about the P-47's evolution from "lackluster" to "favored mount."
96 pgs., 100 photos and 13 pages of color profiles. 7¼"x 9¾",
sfbd.
#0001860
Price: $20.95
While much is written of the Thunderbolt over Europe, here is the
harder-to-find story of its action over North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Covers the airplane, its markings and the brave men who flew it.
96 pgs. incl. 14 pgs. of color profiles, 90 photos, 7¼"x 9¾",
sfbd.
#0002857 Price: $20.95
Product Description
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and Lockheed P-38 Lightning were vastly different
designs, but both these aircraft served with distinction in the fighter escort
and fighter-bomber role across Europe and the Pacific. The mighty Thunderbolt
was easily the heaviest single-engined fighter to see operational service in
World War II, attracting the nickname ‘Juggernaut’ (soon abbreviated to ‘Jug’)
by its pilots. The P-38 offered twin-engine security and packed a devastating
punch with its closely grouped combination of cannon and machine guns. Michael
O’Leary’s magnificent air-to-air studies of the surviving airworthy aircraft.
ISBN-10: 1855325195
$11.87
Thunderbolt
and Lightning by Michael O'Leary
Product Description
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and Lockheed P-38 Lightning were vastly different
designs, but both these aircraft served with distinction in the fighter escort
and fighter-bomber role across Europe and the Pacific. The mighty Thunderbolt
was easily the heaviest single-engined fighter to see operational service in
World War II, attracting the nickname ‘Juggernaut’ (soon abbreviated to ‘Jug’)
by its pilots. The P-38 offered twin-engine security and packed a devastating
punch with its closely grouped combination of cannon and machine guns. Michael
O’Leary’s magnificent air-to-air studies of the surviving airworthy aircraft.
ISBN-10: 1855325195
$22.76
Not as glamorous as the P-51 Mustang, the P-47 nonetheless earned
a reputation for accomplishment and durability. In the hands of skilled
pilots, the Thunderbolt was a remarkable fighter. This coverage includes
technical drawings, 100+ photos, 3-views and tech manual excerpts. 100
pgs., 8½"x 11", sfbd
Book Description
A huge World War II fighter and the acknowledged champion as a late
war ground attack aircraft, the T-Bolt embodied many interesting
technical innovations that are detailed in this new volume. Includes technical
looks at razor back models, high speed versions, ground attack armaments,
troubles with aerodynamic compressibility, and more.
ISBN-10: 1580070183
Thunderbolt
: Republic P-47 (Living History , Vol 7)
Dan Patterson(Photographer), Paul Perkins
Paperback
Published 1999
Book Description
Production P-47 Thunderbolts were in the air in early 1943, excelling
in bomber escort and ground-attack bombing. P-47s were flown by the air
forces of Australia, Brazil, France, the Soviet Union, and Great
Britain--more than 12,000 planes in all, more than any other U.S. fighter
before or since. The seventh volume in the "Living History" series.
58 color and 47 b&w photos.
ISBN-10: 1574270532
$20.00
Debden, Kingscliffe, Alconbury– names that evoke images of
P-51s, P-47s, B-17s. This book features comparative photos taken 35
years apart, with details and anecdotes about each of the major U.S. bases
in England. Some fields are still in use today by USAFE, others are
abandoned and weed-covered, but each is a piece of history. 240 pgs., 8½"x
12", hdbd
#0001530
Price: $59.95
Witness a most amazing change of scenery. Here is a look at the WWII
B-26, P-47, and Glider bases in England, with superb documentation of
their original layout, construction and history, contrasted to their current
use as farms, housing tracts, private airfields and even race tracks.
256 pgs., 510 photos, 8½"x 12", hdbd.
#0001527
Price: $55.95
Thunderbolt The Republic P-47 in the Pacific Theater
McDowell.
The P-47 Thunderbolt was used in the fighter groups of nine
U.S. Air Forces spread across the globe during WWII. It was also
used by numerous foreign air forces. The P-47 ‘Jug’ was legendary for its
power and ruggedness as it conducted fighter sweep, bomber escort, and
ground attack missions in every theater of the war. Extensive
photographic coverage, numerous full color paintings, 64 pgs., 8½"x
11", sfbd.
#0001834
Price: $14.95
A photo essay of the P-47 Thunderbolt covering all production versions.
No less than ten existing Thunderbolts were photographed to show
every detail from the propeller hub to the position light on the
rudder. Includes excerpts from the original operations manual and period
photos of the P-47 in action. 225 photos, 3-view drawings and line art.
80 pgs. with 16 in color, 8½"x 11", sfbd.
#0001729
Price: $14.95
Aces
at War (American Aces Speak/Eric Hammel, Vol 4)
by Eric M. Hammel
Hardcover - 300 pages
(October 1997)
Although far better known for their exploits over the war-torn skies
of Germany and Italy, the USAAF's premier fighters, the P-47 and
P-51, also made significant contributions to the victory against Japan
from 1943 onwards. They saw action from Rangoon, India, to the jungles
of New Guinea in 1943, and escorted B-29s on long-range bombing sorties
against the Home Islands in 1944/45. Interviews with several leading aces.
ISBN-10: 1855327805
$59.95
Book Description
With names like Zemke, Schilling, Gabreski, Mahurin and Johnson,
the 56th Fighter Group was, and still is, one of the legendary fighter
units of World War II. BEWARE THE THUNDERBOLT ( the apt official motto
of the 56th) is the story of the 56th Fighter Group in a chronological
narrative of their combat missions. Composed of heroic pilots that
aggressively took the air war into the enemy heartland in 1943, the "Wolfpack's"
P-47 Thunderbolt contrails crossed high in the upper stratosphere as they
escorted heavy bomber missions, or fell upon the enemy on the ground
as their pilots destroyed over 1000 Luftwaffe aircraft. The story is also
coupled with their post-war history of innovative Mustang missions
to Alaska, and the first trans-Atlantic jet fighter missions in the
P-80 Shooting Star. The foreword is by Hub Zemke, former commander of the
56th Fighter Group. David McLaren is also the author of Lockheed
F-94 Starfire (with Marty Isham), available from Schiffer Publishing.,
over 250 color and b/w photographs, 8 1/2" x 11", index, appendices
ISBN-10: 0887406602 $29.16
A collection of 15 true hair-raising combat stories from the logs
of a Mustang ace who shot down five Fw 190s in fifteen minutes, a B-24
pilot after the Ploesti raid, a P-47 pilot who blasts a Nazi armored column,
and more. Illustrated, 179 pgs., 6"x 9", sfbd
#0001544 Price: $15.95
Gr. 6^-9. Harris recounts the story of African American
aviators who fought against prejudice in the U.S. in order to become fighter
pilots during World War II. She discusses early black fliers and their
difficulties recruiting others, which eventually led to the formation of the
all-black Ninety-ninth Fighter Squadron. The group trained near Tuskegee
Institute in Alabama and eventually flew many successful missions in and around
the Mediterranean. Harris emphasizes how racial intolerances prevalent at the
time (as well as governmental insistence on separate facilities for blacks and
whites) sometimes hindered the team's operation. She also describes the
successful postwar efforts to fully integrate the military and includes excerpts
from several first-person accounts of the squadron's activities. Illustrated
with numerous black-and-white photographs and appended with a bibliography of
sources, this will make an excellent introduction to a frequently neglected
chapter in American history. Kay Weisman
ISBN-10: 0382392159
$26.95
Red-Tail
Angels : The Story of the
Tuskegee Airmen of World War II by
Pat McKissack, Patricia C. McKissack, Patricia A. McKissack, Fredrick L.
McKissack (Contributor)
The McKissacks (Christmas in the Big House, Christmas
in the Quarters) add to their distinguished explorations of African American
history with a well-researched, informative look at the only all-black flying
unit to serve in WWII. Established in 1941, the pilot-training program at
Tuskegee, Ala., had been designed as an "experiment," without full military
support to ensure its success and with many officers predicting utter failure.
Despite segregated facilities at the base, hostile reactions from the locals and
other demoralizing conditions, the aviators trained at Tuskegee went on to fly
hundreds of missions over North Africa and Europe.
They were known as Red Tails for the designs on their
planes; they earned the nickname Red-Tail Angels with their reputation for
staying with the bomber planes they escorted. The pilots of the 332nd division,
the McKissacks point out, never lost a bomber-a record unmatched by any other
group in the Army Air Force. As the McKissacks outline the history of the
squadron, they also tell the larger story of racial tension and bigotry in the
U.S. Numerous photos, from both military archives and individual fliers, depict
the pilots and their deeds. Ages 8-12.
ISBN-10: 0802782930
$7.12
Product Description
This illustrated history of a classic World War II fighter plane charts the
conception, creation, testing and deployment of the aircraft and its heroic
exploits in the European and Far Eastern theatres of war.
ISBN-10: 0684163314
$9.97
The story of a man, a plane and a fighter group in the deadly air
war over Europe in WWII. When Robert Johnson returned from the European
Theater in 1944, he was the highest-scoring American ace of the war.
The plane he flew was the Republic P-47C Thunderbolt, a rugged 2,000
horsepower fighter that weighed seven tons. British pilots said that
the "Jug" wouldn't stand a chance against the more maneuverable Luftwaffe
fighters. But in the hands of aces like Johnson and Gabreski, the Thunderbolt
proved itself the most deadly fighter plane of the war. 308 pgs.,
5¼"x 8¼", sfbd.
#0001995 Price: $19.95
Covers in detail the eleven fighter types produced during
WWII. P-40, P-39, P-38, P-47, P-51,
Corsair, Hellcat, Wildcat and others. Includes development, production,
combat records, comparative records with a chronology of combat,
and more. 608 pgs., 1000 photos, 8½"x 11", hdbd.
#0001389
Price: $59.95
Republic
P-47 Thunderbolt :
The Final Chapter Latin American Air Forces Service
Dan Hagedorn, Bob Boyd (Illustrator)
Paperback
Published 1991
***** 5 Star Rating
ISBN-10: 0962586013
Republic
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Operational Record
Scutts.
Although it recorded 3,916 kills as a fighter, the P-47 was later
used primarily as a ground-attack aircraft, destroying thousands of tanks,
locomotives, rail cars, and trucks. A generously illustrated tribute to
the "Jug". 100 B&W illustrations and 8 color pgs., 160 pgs., 7"x 9½",
hdbd.
No Longer Available.
Republic
P-47 Thunderbolt
Aero Detail Vol. 14
A detailed photo essay on the P-47, including both period photos
and 220 color photos taken from four modern restorations. Engineering drawings,
cutaways, 3-view drawings - they're all here. The ultimate technical reference.
81 pgs., 10"x 10", sfbd.
Not Currently Available
Close
Calls
Two Tours with the 353rd Fighter Group
Bill Price.
A personal narrative of the wartime experiences of a combat pilot
with the 8th AF's 353rd Fighter Group, 350th Fighter Squadron. Bill flew
both P-47s and P-51s and augments his interesting story with over
60 photos and stills from his own gun camera film. 128 pgs., 8½"x
11", sfbd.
Not Currently Available
P-47
Thunderbolt Walk Around
Drendel.
The P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the most versatile fighters of the
Second World War, seeing service as an escort fighter and fighter-bomber
in every combat theater. This volume gives a pilot’s eye view of
the Thunderbolt, covering details seldom seen in other publications.
80 pgs., 40 in color, over 200 photographs, 11"x 8¼", sfbd
Not Currently Available
WWII
Fighter Bomber Pilot
Colgan.
An exciting first-hand account of flying P-40s and P-47s on ground
support missions in North Africa and Italy. Few fighter bomber pilots
became aces, but they had the gratitude of the foot soldiers as they strafed
and bombed enemy tanks, guns, trains and troop columns. Photos. 209 pgs.,
5"x 8¼", sfbd.
No Longer Available.
Classic
Aircraft in Aviation Art
Markman.
Beautiful paintings of six of the most renowned aircraft of WWII:
the Spitfire, Lancaster, B-17 Flying Fortress, Messerschmitt 109,
P-51 Mustang, and P-47 Thunderbolt. Includes art by Robert Taylor,
Frank Wooton, Charles Thompson, and Craig Kodera, along with more than
20 other artists. 70 color paintings, 20 pencil sketches, 96 pgs.,
12½"x 11½", hdbd.
Not Currently Available.
P-47
Thunderbolt in Action
Davis.
The "Jug" is presented in photos, line drawings and 10 color profiles.
Good selection is evident in the 90+ B&W photos, from first proto-types
to front line action, showing major aircraft variants and a variety of
markings. 3-view drawings of the razorback P-47D and many scratch drawings
of details. 49 pgs., 11"x 8¼", sfbd.
Not Currently Available.
Thunderbolt
and Lightning
The Jug and the Fork-Tailed Devil
Michael O'Leary.
Not Available at this time.
On
Wings to War
Churchill.
Biography of woman pilot, Teresa James. Lady barnstormer, James became
a WASP and delivered fighters and bombers to air bases across the country,
including "Ten Grand", the 10,000th P-47. Married to a bomber pilot, whose
fate she didn't learn for 40 years, her story is both dramatic and touching.
98 photos, 184 pgs., 6"x 9", sfbd.
Not Currently Available
Thunderbolt
- Out of the Blue
Memoirs of a WWII Fighter Pilot.
Steele & Steele.
These are the memoirs of a P-47 fighter pilot whose incredible
experiences fighting against the Luftwaffe in WWII include being
shot down over the English Channel and spending 21 months as a POW of the
Germans. It's a story of commitment to country that was so typical of those
wartime years. 136 pgs., 50 B&W photos, 6"x 9", sfbd.
Not Currently Available
P-47
Thunderbolt
Classic WWII Aviation, Vol. 4
Edward Shacklady.
The P-47 Thunderbolt ran contrary to all precepts of fighter
design. It was the biggest and heaviest aircraft to be powered by a single
piston engine and, at that time, it was also the most expensive.
However, calling the P-47 successful would be an understatement:
it became the most prolific of all U.S. fighters, with 12,600 of
the "D" variant alone being built. What was this plane's secret to
success? The answer is here! 160 pgs., 7"x 10", hdbd.
During WWII, Pratt and Whitney's R-2800 18-cylinder radial, the
"Double Wasp," was used exclusively for fighters and medium bombers such
as the P-47, the F6F Hellcat, the F4U Corsair, and the B-26 and
A-26 twin-engine mediums. Post-war, its reliability commended its use
for long-range patrol planes and for the DC-6, Martin 404, and Convair
transports.
