P47 M Bomb load ?

[Randy1]

Greebo posted about a new skin for a P-47M "Lil Snokey".

I looked up the Pilot and found this photo.

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=355&Style=searchItem&Item=119&searchString=robert%20s.%20johnson

Is that a bomb loaded on the plane or a long, slender drop tank?

[Karnak]

That is a drop tank.

[Randy1]

That is a drop tank.

Thanks for the answer.  I did notice P47's using a split shell drop tank like in AH nearly dragged the ground.

I would not have been surprised to see an M with a bomb load out.

[earl1937]

Greebo posted about a new skin for a P-47M "Lil Snokey".

I looked up the Pilot and found this photo.

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=355&Style=searchItem&Item=119&searchString=robert%20s.%20johnson

Is that a bomb loaded on the plane or a long, slender drop tank?

I am not 100% sure, but I think that was refered to as a "dam" buster, 2,000 lb bomb, used in Italy for bridge destruction. If you will look up operations of 57th fighter group, they talk about this bomb and how they were used on bridges. Italy had more bridges per square mile than any other theater of operations for U.S. forces. I would guess that Russia has the most!

[bozon]

I am not 100% sure, but I think that was refered to as a "dam" buster, 2,000 lb bomb, used in Italy for bridge destruction. If you will look up operations of 57th fighter group, they talk about this bomb and how they were used on bridges. Italy had more bridges per square mile than any other theater of operations for U.S. forces. I would guess that Russia has the most!

P47M were used exclusively by the 8th airforce, 56th FG. Not very likely that they carried bombs.

[MiloMorai]

The tank mounted under the wing looks like a 200gal one that is usually seen under the belly.

ww.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-47/42-75291/p47-ford-drop-tank-rothman.html#axzz36mEIJGos

[Randy1]

This interesting article covers drop tanks really well.

http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/38801.html

[MiloMorai]

Nice Randy.

Notice the P-38 was the longest ranged and a P-51 with no tanks (and I presume no fuselage tank) wasn't much longer ranged than a Spitfire.

[Guppy35]

108 gallon  tank on the centerline and 150 gallon tanks under each wing.  P47M was a real gas guzzler.

[DaveBB]

Nice Randy.

Notice the P-38 was the longest ranged and a P-51 with no tanks (and I presume no fuselage tank) wasn't much longer ranged than a Spitfire.

The chart I saw only displayed the P38 with drop tanks.  Though it showed the P-51 with and without drop tanks.  Which chart are you referring to?

[MiloMorai]

The graphic just over 25% down the article.

Plate-No.-XII-MAXIMUM-PENETRATION-AS-TARGET-SUPORT-MAXIMUM-PENETRATION-AS-SUPORT-OF-BOMBERS-Source-History-of-the-8th-Fighter-Command-31-Oct-1944.jpg

[DaveBB]

The guy that runs that website really seems to hate the P-51.