The Russians had them and didn't use them?
They didn't like them. The Soviets received around 196 P-47D (of various D types, not a single type) and after evaluations, the Soviet pilots that flew them stated that at altitudes of 6,000 meters and lower the P-47 was more like flying a heavy target than a fighter and was more suited for high altitude escort duties.
One of the Soviet test pilots had this to say about the P-47. Apologies for some of the awkward tranlsations in some parts, not my doing.
" First minutes of flight I knew this is not a fighter! Steady, with comfortable spacious cockpit, convenient, but - not a fighter. "Thunderbolt" had not acceptable maneuverability in horizontal and it is especial in vertical . The plane slowly was dispersed - inertia of heavy aircraft had an effect. But "Thunderbolt" is wonderful for simple flight on a route without sharp maneuvers. It is not enough for a fighter ."
All of the Soviet P-47s served in air defense units and at least 50 were used by the Soviet Navy in North Fleet air defense units.
Here is another picture of a Soviet P-47.
I think the loop antenna was a Soviet addition, not sure though.
ack-ack
