P-47s over Normandy

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hey Everyone,

I am trying to find information on what P-47 Flight Squadrons were involved in the invasion of Normandy. I have done some internet searching with not much success. I am in the beginning stages of a 1/48th Academy P-47 and I would like to put invasion stripes on an all metal aircraft and I haven’t seen too many historical pictures showing this.

If anyone has seen photos or have a place to look I would certainly appreciated the leads.

Thanks

2

Paintchips you didn’t say whether you were doing a Razorback or a Bubbletop. Most of the Razorback P-47s that I have seen with full invasion stripes are OD over grey.

If you are doing a Bubbletop these decals from Squadron might help.

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=AN48789

Cheers

3

Hey PC,

At the moment I do not have the exact units that took part in the Normandy invasions… However, D-Day and the after days almost all your fighter a/c carried the D-Day markings initailly as a wrap around, meaning the fuselage and wings. After a period of time, orders came out to have the upper stripes removed while the undersides remained… Again all Squadrons acted on this differently.

This is what I found with a quick search… Hope this helps you out and if you need anything else, please do not hesitate to ask. The last two pix are of the “Bubble Top” version in Natural Metal have such markings.

56th FG

405thFG

353rdFG

366thFG

As for decals, you have SuperScale, Aero Master & Eagle Strike… Any of these you can find Jugs w/ Invasion stripes…!!

Thunderbolts in the ETo by Squadron/Signal, P-47 T-Bolt by Detail & Scale (this gives you the measurements of the D-Day stripes),

http://wing.chez-alice.fr/USAAF/405th_FG/405th_FG.html

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/place/gdg18/secondworldwarb.htm

http://www.winkton.net/pages/p47swinkton.htm

http://www.netherhall47.freeserve.co.uk/Raydon%20Airfield.html

Flaps up,

Mike

4

I only know of one P-47 razorback with a NMF and full invasion stripes

Fearless Dick/ Wild Bette of the 368thFG/395thFS

-Fred

5

I am doing the P-47D bubble top.

Thanks for information guys, everytime i post something on FSM i can’t believe the amount of information that people are willing to share. Its much apprectiated.

Thanks everyone,

PC

6

My only advice would be to pay close attention to what rev P-47D that a particular aircraft would represent. A D-25,-28, or a -30 will have different features such as props, compressibility flaps, underwing lighting configurations etc. Cockpit layouts are slightly different as well between versions

I’m currently building the 1/32nd Hasegawa, and it has parts for a -25 (Gabreski) and a -30 (Eagleston) in the kit.

Steve

7

8

Zombie now makes two.

P-47D-25-RE Old Smoothy. 84th FS, 78th FG. 2/LT Herbert Boyle.

P47-D-22-RE Zombie. Served with all three squadrons of 78th FG. Here bears codes of 83 FS HL-V.

P-47D-25-RE of 362nd FG

9

The 56th FG used razorbacks over Normandy, some of the early D marks. Gabby in his book mentions that they all had the paddle blade props retrofited which helped them bite the sky.

Many removed the Invasion stipes as soon as possible, as they were uesed by German AA as a recognization mark.

Mike T.

10

Excellent information everyone, its greatly appreciated. I can’t wait to start painting. PC

11

Looking forward to the W.I.P pix my friend!! Have you decided on a unit by chance?? I am glad that I was part of the help and you are welcome…!!

Flaps up,

Mike

12

Oh boy, in process pictures, i guess that’s what i get for asking for info.

No i haven’t decided on the unit yet. My modeling time is pretty limited, so i haven’t had a ton of time to decide on which unit. Well really i need to do some additional research. I airbrushed the interior today and have started to put some of the sub assemblies together. My plan is to do an in flight P-47 similar to what was done in one of the recent fine scale modelers. I have all the supplies and paints, now its just a matter of putting the time in. After the cockpit is together and detailed the rest should go quickly since it will be in flight. I have a ‘last of the big beautiful jugs 48253” decal sheets that I might try and use, but I need to review the units and where they were. That or I am just going to do what I want and throw invasion stripes on there. It will be a good time either way and thats what its about.

Thanks,

Nate