Originally posted by Killjoy2
I was looking up my Father-in-laws P-47 squadron. He was a mechanic in the 396th FG at Strabben, Germany. The 'Thunder Bums" That sounds like my new squad name.
I was struck by how many tanks they killed with P-47s.
499 Tanks
700 Locomotives
A/C Lost 110
50 cal rounds fired: 4,570,892
I wonder who tallied up the 50 cals. think of all that copper over Germany.
Here's the link:
http://www.368thfightergroup.com/368-stats.html
Rudel alone, nailed more tanks than all the Jugs of USAF.
SHOT DOWN 32 TIMES !!! he survieved the war!
"Rudel logged 2,530 combat missions, .
Rudel's personal victories as a ground-attack pilot were achieved exclusively against the Soviets, and despite the most primitive conditions imaginable, including operations solely from dirt, mud, and snow covered airfields, his confirmed victories (those witnessed by two or more fellow pilots) include:
518+ Tanks
700 Trucks
150+ Flak and Artillery positions
9 Fighter/Ground Attack Aircraft
Hundreds of bridges, railway lines, bunkers, etc.
Battleship October Revolution, Cruiser Marat, and 70 landing craft
Through direct action, he saved tens of thousands of German infantrymen from certain encirclement and annihilation during the long retreat which began in July 43 and lasted until the war's end, almost two years later.
http://members.aol.com/ab763/rudel.htm
