By 
Let’s Talk About the 56th Fighter Group P-47’s
by Ralph J. Ferrusi
Whether they liked it or not, during World War II in Europe the Eighth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolt and the P-51 Mustang were “joined at the hip”. They were two very different aircraft, and both had their strengths and, weaknesses. The “Jug” was BIG, heavy, with a big radial-engine. The Mustang was light, maneuverable, and, graceful. The Thunderbolt had eight 50-caliber machine guns, with a combined rate of fire of 100 rounds per second. The Mustang had—pretty much the standard at the time—six 50’s. The Mustang had RANGE: it could escort B-17’s all the way to Berlin, and back: longggg missions. On the debit side, the Thunderbolts had to turn back, at a certain point, and, the Germans knew this and took advantage of it…
