P-47-D25-29 Fillet

[Ack-Ack]

The D-30 was the first production model to roll out with the dorsal fin.  Whether or not some of the D-25s were retrofitted on the field to have them still doesn't change the fact that rolled out of the factory, the D-25 did not have the dorsal fin.

Another example, some P-51B/Cs incorporated some of the improvements of the P-51D model, namely the repositioning of the machine guns in the wing to fix the jamming issues with the B/C models.  These changes were done on the field and not rolled out of the factory this way.  Same with the dorsal fin on the D-25 Jug.


ack-ack

[lyric1]

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself with this stuff

Did any of you hear something?? Never mind guess it was not relevant.




















Sorry about that had to go there.

[Wmaker]

Longitudinal stability.

Directional stability, actually.

[FLS]

Yaw stability if you want to get picky. 

[Wmaker]

Yaw stability if you want to get picky. 

Same difference.

[Megalodon]

The D-30 was the first production model to roll out with the dorsal fin.  Whether or not some of the D-25s were retrofitted on the field to have them still doesn't change the fact that rolled out of the factory, the D-25 did not have the dorsal fin.

Another example, some P-51B/Cs incorporated some of the improvements of the P-51D model, namely the repositioning of the machine guns in the wing to fix the jamming issues with the B/C models.  These changes were done on the field and not rolled out of the factory this way.  Same with the dorsal fin on the D-25 Jug.


ack-ack

Like I said previous the D-40 was the first to come out with the fin from the factory. The D-30 had it incorporated/added to ..later.

[Guppy35]

Like I said previous the D-40 was the first to come out with the fin from the factory. The D-30 had it incorporated/added to ..later.

I wonder if that's completely accurate.  Bodie's P47 'Bible" states that the D-40 was the first production run to all have the fin fillet added during production.   He also comments that 'if dorsal fins were introduced during this series, it had to be very late in the production run".  This was in reference to the D-28 Jug.  Clearly not all D-30s had the fillet, but I think it's closer to the truth that the dorsal fillet was introduced during the D-30 production run and was standardized by the D-40 run

I'm hard pressed not to go with Bodie.  Wonder where Widewing is for this one?

[Ack-Ack]

I wonder if that's completely accurate.  Bodie's P47 'Bible" states that the D-40 was the first production run to all have the fin fillet added during production.   He also comments that 'if dorsal fins were introduced during this series, it had to be very late in the production run".  This was in reference to the D-28 Jug.  Clearly not all D-30s had the fillet, but I think it's closer to the truth that the dorsal fillet was introduced during the D-30 production run and was standardized by the D-40 run

I'm hard pressed not to go with Bodie.  Wonder where Widewing is for this one?

I've been wondering the same thing, he hasn't been posting very often lately.  Maybe it's time we break out the Widewing signal.


ack-ack

[Widewing]

I've been wondering the same thing, he hasn't been posting very often lately.  Maybe it's time we break out the Widewing signal.


ack-ack

I've been insanely busy of late... I did find this thread tho..

The first version delivered from the factory with the dorsal fin was the D-40. However, most D-30s were retrofitted either before being shipped overseas, or after arriving during reassembly. You can find D-28s with the fin as well. I think that you'll find very few D-25s, D-26s and only slightly more D-27s so retrofitted. Largely due the time frame when retro kits were being distributed. Retrofits made in the field were usually carried out during major inspections or when tired fighters were sent for overhaul.


My regards,

Widewing

[Megalodon]

 

[bj229r]

Can't be any more clear then this.  Gabby's bird, bellied in the day he went down.  NO FILLET!

(Image removed from quote.)

Wonder whether he was treated as a celeb or not by the Germans when they got him?

[Seadog36]

Wonder whether he was treated as a celeb or not by the Germans when they got him?

In his biography he said that they were expecting him, as he was joining many other 56th officers like Hub Zemke and Jerry Johnson, in the POW camp(Stalag Luft I in Barth, Germany on the Baltic). He was supposed to go home the day of his last mission and bent his props strafing parked HE 111s. The camp  was abandoned by the guards (who tended to be old not fit for combat types) because of fear of the advancing Russians. Compared to German aces Gabby w his 34.5 confirmed was a pretty modest scorer but I'm sure they were glad to have him!