The P-47 Thunderbolt excelled in both close ground support and in aerial combat. This multi-role fighter, known as the Jug, was the largest, heaviest, most destructive single-engine aircraft of World War II. Rarely in aeronautical history have "bulky," "heavy," and "large" been qualities attributed to successful fighter aircraft. From the legendary P-51 Mustang to the modem day F/A-22 Raptor, aircraft designers of single-seat fighters have strived for elegant lines, light weight, and comparatively speaking, small size. However, during the Second World War, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt bucked that notion to become one of the most successful fighters in history. The epitome of classic American engineering prowess and legendary American muscle, the P-47 was big, ultimately staking its claim as the largest single-engine, single-seat fighter of the War. It dwarfed its nimble Messerschmitt and Mitsubishi adversaries in size and weight, and stood in the shadow of the graceful P-51. Nevertheless, the power of its huge turbo-super-charged Pratt & Whitney engine more than compensated for its heft, giving the P-47 a top speed well over 400 miles per hour. In the hands of a skilled pilot, it became a deadly foe in air-to-air combat. As a result, the "Jug," as the portly aircraft was dubbed, was the mount of some of America's greatest wartime aces.
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