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Steve Pisanos
| Colonel Steve Pisanos (deceased) Born Nov. 10, 1919, in the Athens suburb of Kolonos, Spiros Nicholas 'Steve' Pisanos, the son of a subway motorman, arrived in America in April 1938 as a crew member on a Greek merchant tramp steamer. Arriving in Baltimore speaking no English, he worked in a bakery and hotels to earn money for flying lessons at Floyd Bennett Field. In August 1940, he settled in Plainfield, New Jersey, and continued flying lessons at Westfield Airport. He earned a private pilot's license and, though still a Greek national, in October 1941 he joined the British Royal Air Force sponsored by the Clayton Knight Committee in New York City. Pisanos began his military flight training at Polaris Flight Academy in Glendale. Upon graduation, Pilot Officer Pisanos was transferred to England where he completed RAF Officers Training School at Cosford, England, and OTU (Operational Training Unit) at Old Sarum Aerodrome in Salisbury. Pisanos was posted to the 268 Fighter Squadron at Snailwell Aerodrome in Newmarket flying P-51A's. He later transferred to the 71 Eagle Squadron, one of three Eagle squadrons in the RAF, comprised of just 244 American volunteers flying Spitfires at Debden RAF Aerodrome. When the USAAF 4th Fighter Group absorbed the American members of the Eagle Squadrons in September and October 1942, Pisanos was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Flying his first mission in his P-47 'Miss Plainfield' out of Debden Aerodrome with the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, Lt. Pisanos, 'The Flying Greek,' scored his first shootdown on May 21, 1943, when he targeted a German FW-190 over Ghent, Belgium. By Jan. 1, 1944, he had become an ace with five confirmed downings. On March 5, 1944, he obtained his 10th shootdown and while returning from that B-17 escort mission to Limoges and Bordeaux, France, Pisanos experienced engine failure in his P-51B and crash-landed south of Le Havre. For six months he evaded the Germans and fought with the French Resistance and the American OSS, sabotaging the German war machine in occupied France. Lt. Pisanos returned to England on Sept. 2, 1944, following the liberation of Paris. Because of his exposure and knowledge of the French Resistance operations, Pisanos was prohibited from flying additional combat missions because the Air Force could not risk him being captured. Upon returning to the United States, Capt. Pisanos was assigned to the Flight Test Division at Wright Field, Ohio. He attended the USAF Test Pilot School and served as a test pilot at Wright Field and Muroc Lake, California, testing the YP-80 jet aircraft, America's first operational jet. During his Air Force career, Pisanos graduated from the University of Maryland, attended the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. Pisanos also served tours of duty in Vietnam (1967-68) and with NORAD before retiring from the USAF with the rank of colonel in in December 1973. Colonel Steve Pisanos died on 6th June 2016. |
Items Signed by Colonel Steve Pisanos (deceased) |
| Devastating Thunder by Brian Bateman. (P) Price : £480.00 | P-47D Thunderbolts, affectionately called 'Razorbacks' flown by Col Steve 'Spiro' Pisanos and his wingman of 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, wreaking havoc on a German BR52 supply train over northern France in early 1944. ...... | |
| Greek 'Fire by Brian Bateman. (P) Price : £450.00 | Spiros 'Steve the Greek' Pisanos in his Mk.Vb Spitfire EN783 XR-K during his time with No.71 Sqn RAF, one of three American Eagle squadrons within the Royal Air Force. ...... | |
| Victory for White Two by Brian Bateman. Price : £80.00 | May 21,1943. Steve Pisanos flying P-47 QP-D in White Section, on an escort mission to Ghent, shoots down an FW-190 near Belgium. Flying wing to Captain Andrews, Pisanos took over once Andrews temporarily spun out of control pursuing the 190, wh...... | |
| Victory for White Two by Brian Bateman. (AP) Price : £85.00 | May 21,1943. Steve Pisanos flying P-47 QP-D in White Section, on an escort mission to Ghent, shoots down an FW-190 near Belgium. Flying wing to Captain Andrews, Pisanos took over once Andrews temporarily spun out of control pursuing the 190, wh...... | |
| Victory for White Two by Brian Bateman. (P) Price : £250.00 | May 21,1943. Steve Pisanos flying P-47 QP-D in White Section, on an escort mission to Ghent, shoots down an FW-190 near Belgium. Flying wing to Captain Andrews, Pisanos took over once Andrews temporarily spun out of control pursuing the 190, wh...... |
| Greek Victory by Brian Bateman. Price : £100.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D, is depicted pulling away swiftly after a victory over an FW-190 in late December 1944 over northern Germany. This was Steve's fourth victory, one victory short on an ace, which would come later in the P-51. ...... | |
| Greek Victory by Brian Bateman. (AP) Price : £125.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D, is depicted pulling away swiftly after a victory over an FW-190 in late December 1944 over northern Germany. This was Steve's fourth victory, one victory short on an ace, which would come later in the P-51. ...... | |
| Greek Victory by Brian Bateman. (P) Price : £460.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D, is depicted pulling away swiftly after a victory over an FW-190 in late December 1944 over northern Germany. This was Steve's fourth victory, one victory short on an ace, which would come later in the P-51. ...... | |
| Victory for Red Section by Brian Bateman. Price : £100.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D in Red Section, shoots down a German Me-109 near Sittard, Gemany. Here we see the 109 trailing smoke and banking down as Steve has hits near the engine and cockpit of the enemy combatant. Claim one Me-109. ...... | |
| Victory for Red Section by Brian Bateman. (AP) Price : £125.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D in Red Section, shoots down a German Me-109 near Sittard, Gemany. Here we see the 109 trailing smoke and banking down as Steve has hits near the engine and cockpit of the enemy combatant. Claim one Me-109. ...... |
| Victory for Red Section by Brian Bateman. (P) Price : £480.00 | Steve Pisanos, flying P-47 QP-D in Red Section, shoots down a German Me-109 near Sittard, Gemany. Here we see the 109 trailing smoke and banking down as Steve has hits near the engine and cockpit of the enemy combatant. Claim one Me-109. ...... | |
| Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Price : £210.00 | In the dark days of 1940 following Dunkirk, a seemingly defenceless Britain stood starkly alone in Europe, facing the might of an all-conquering Nazi Germany. Protected only by the narrow waters of the English Channel, it was left to a tiny band of...... | |
| Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (AP) SOLD OUT | In the dark days of 1940 following Dunkirk, a seemingly defenceless Britain stood starkly alone in Europe, facing the might of an all-conquering Nazi Germany. Protected only by the narrow waters of the English Channel, it was left to a tiny band of...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (B) Price : £285.00 | In the dark days of 1940 following Dunkirk, a seemingly defenceless Britain stood starkly alone in Europe, facing the might of an all-conquering Nazi Germany. Protected only by the narrow waters of the English Channel, it was left to a tiny band of...... | |
| Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (C) SOLD OUT | In the dark days of 1940 following Dunkirk, a seemingly defenceless Britain stood starkly alone in Europe, facing the might of an all-conquering Nazi Germany. Protected only by the narrow waters of the English Channel, it was left to a tiny band of...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Opening Sky by Robert Taylor. (AP) Price : £450.00 | With the morning sun glinting on their fuselages, P-51 Mustangs of the 78th Fighter Group cross the Dutch coastline far below, as they head back towards their base at Duxford, England at the end of a long sweep east of the Rhine crossing, Spring 194...... | |
| Opening Sky by Robert Taylor. (B) SOLD OUT | With the morning sun glinting on their fuselages, P-51 Mustangs of the 78th Fighter Group cross the Dutch coastline far below, as they head back towards their base at Duxford, England at the end of a long sweep east of the Rhine crossing, Spring 194...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
Air Combat Paintings Volume VI by Robert Taylor. Price : £145.00 | Over seventy images of aviation art paintings by artist Robert Taylor. This 128 page book includes over 27,000 words of text and a foreword by lifelong aviation enthusiast Peter Jackson. ...... | ||
Air Combat Paintings Volume VI by Robert Taylor. (AP) Price : £245.00 | Over seventy images of aviation art paintings by artist Robert Taylor. This 128 page book includes over 27,000 words of text and a foreword by lifelong aviation enthusiast Peter Jackson. ...... | ||
| Mustang Mayhem by Nicolas Trudgian. Price : £210.00 | As Red Dog Norleys P-51D screams across the field at hangar height with his squadrons Mustangs fanned out behind him, the 4th Fighter Group pilots jink through the intense groundfire wreaking havoc on the ground. In this, its final major mission of ...... |
| Mustang Mayhem by Nicolas Trudgian (AP) Price : £240.00 | As Red Dog Norleys P-51D screams across the field at hangar height with his squadrons Mustangs fanned out behind him, the 4th Fighter Group pilots jink through the intense groundfire wreaking havoc on the ground. In this, its final major mission of ...... | |
| Bringing the Peacemaker Home by Robert Taylor. Price : £4300.00 | Badly marked by Focke-Wulf 190's the B-17 The Peacemaker of the 91st Bomb Group limps towards the sanctuary of the English coast escorted by P-51B Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group. To keep her flying the crew are jettisoning everything that t...... | |
| Bringing the Peacemaker Home by Robert Taylor (AP) SOLD OUT | Badly marked by Focke-Wulf 190's the B-17 The Peacemaker of the 91st Bomb Group limps towards the sanctuary of the English coast escorted by P-51B Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group. To keep her flying the crew are jettisoning everything that t...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
Days of Thunder by Richard Taylor. (AP) Price : £150.00 | Duxford became home to the 78th Fighter Group when they arrived in England with their P-47B Thunderbolts in 1943. The objective of the American fighter units was to gain air superiority over the Luftwaffe in support of their daylight bombing campaig...... | ||
Days of Thunder by Richard Taylor. (B) Price : £120.00 | Duxford became home to the 78th Fighter Group when they arrived in England with their P-47B Thunderbolts in 1943. The objective of the American fighter units was to gain air superiority over the Luftwaffe in support of their daylight bombing campaig...... |
Days of Thunder by Richard Taylor. (C) Price : £395.00 | Duxford became home to the 78th Fighter Group when they arrived in England with their P-47B Thunderbolts in 1943. The objective of the American fighter units was to gain air superiority over the Luftwaffe in support of their daylight bombing campaig...... | ||
Wounded Warrior by Richard Taylor. (AP) Price : £155.00 | Like many other missions they had undertaken in the summer of 1944, this one had been particularly cold, tough and dangerous for pilot Harry Seip and the crew of B17G Silver Meteor. The First Lieutenant and his men had set out on that mornin...... | ||
Wounded Warrior by Richard Taylor. (B) Price : £130.00 | Like many other missions they had undertaken in the summer of 1944, this one had been particularly cold, tough and dangerous for pilot Harry Seip and the crew of B17G Silver Meteor. The First Lieutenant and his men had set out on that mornin...... | ||
Wounded Warrior by Richard Taylor. (C) Price : £1065.00 | Like many other missions they had undertaken in the summer of 1944, this one had been particularly cold, tough and dangerous for pilot Harry Seip and the crew of B17G Silver Meteor. The First Lieutenant and his men had set out on that mornin...... | ||
| Devastating Thunder by Brian Bateman. Price : £50.00 | Colonel Steve Pisanos and his wingman in their P-47 Thunderbolts take an opportunity to attack a German train in France, 1944. ...... |
| Devastating Thunder by Brian Bateman. (P) Price : £2000.00 | P-47D Thunderbolts, affectionately called 'Razorbacks' flown by Col Steve 'Spiro' Pisanos and his wingman of 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, wreaking havoc on a German BR52 supply train over northern France in early 1944. ...... | |
| Devastating Thunder by Brian Bateman. (Y) Price : £60.00 | Colonel Steve Pisanos and his wingman in their P-47 Thunderbolts take an opportunity to attack a German train in France, 1944. This print has some light handling damage to outer edge of border. If we sold framed prints, we would frame t...... | |
| Eagles on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. Price : £210.00 | Dominating the skies over Germany, P-51s of the 4th Fighter Group - The Eagles - sweep across the cloud tops, their pilots scanning the distant horizon for any signs of the Luftwaffe. They are ready for trouble should the enemy decide to chance the...... | |
| Eagles on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. (AP) Price : £375.00 | Dominating the skies over Germany, P-51s of the 4th Fighter Group - The Eagles - sweep across the cloud tops, their pilots scanning the distant horizon for any signs of the Luftwaffe. They are ready for trouble should the enemy decide to chance the...... | |
Eagles on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. (B) SOLD OUT | Dominating the skies over Germany, P-51s of the 4th Fighter Group - The Eagles - sweep across the cloud tops, their pilots scanning the distant horizon for any signs of the Luftwaffe. They are ready for trouble should the enemy decide to chance the...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
Eagles on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. (C) SOLD OUT | Dominating the skies over Germany, P-51s of the 4th Fighter Group - The Eagles - sweep across the cloud tops, their pilots scanning the distant horizon for any signs of the Luftwaffe. They are ready for trouble should the enemy decide to chance the...... | NOT AVAILABLE | |
Eagles on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. (RM) SOLD OUT | Dominating the skies over Germany, P-51s of the 4th Fighter Group - The Eagles - sweep across the cloud tops, their pilots scanning the distant horizon for any signs of the Luftwaffe. They are ready for trouble should the enemy decide to chance the...... | NOT AVAILABLE | |
Eagles on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. (RMB) SOLD OUT | Dominating the skies over Germany, P-51s of the 4th Fighter Group - The Eagles - sweep across the cloud tops, their pilots scanning the distant horizon for any signs of the Luftwaffe. They are ready for trouble should the enemy decide to chance the...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Colonel Steve Pisanos (deceased) |
| Nicolas Trudgian P-51 Mustang Print Pack. Pack Price : £570.00 Saving : £405 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Mustang Mayhem by Nicolas Trudgian. Mustangs Over the Mediterranean by Nicolas Trudgian. Checkertail Clan by Nicolas Trudgian Last Man Home by Nicolas Trudgian. Guardian Angel by Anthony Saunders. The Yoxford Boys by Gerald Coulson. | |
| Massive Discount Mustang Aviation Print Pack. Pack Price : £520.00 Saving : £400 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Mustang Mayhem by Nicolas Trudgian. Mustangs Over the Mediterranean by Nicolas Trudgian. Last Man Home by Nicolas Trudgian. Checkertail Clan by Nicolas Trudgian Guardian Angel by Anthony Saunders. | |
| Mustang Aviation Art Prints. Pack Price : £295.00 Saving : £215 | Aviation print pack - includes free Anthony Saunders prints. ...... Titles in this pack : Opening Sky by Robert Taylor. Eagles on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. Guardian Angel by Anthony Saunders. | |
| Mustang Aviation Art Print Pack. Pack Price : £300.00 Saving : £170 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Ace of Diamonds by Nicolas Trudgian. Eagles on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. Guardian Angel by Anthony Saunders. | |
| Pack 717. Pack of two Spitfire prints by Robert Taylor and Nicolas Trudgian. Pack Price : £585.00 Saving : £344 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (B) September Victory by Nicolas Trudgian. (B) Where Thoroughbreds Play by Ivan Berryman. |
| P-51 Mustang Prints by Nicolas Trudgian. Pack Price : £290.00 Saving : £230 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Mustang Mayhem by Nicolas Trudgian. Mustangs Over the Mediterranean by Nicolas Trudgian. Guardian Angel by Anthony Saunders. | |
| Aviation Art of Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £260.00 Saving : £140 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Billy Drake - First of Many by Ivan Berryman. Hurricane Mk.IIC by Ivan Berryman. (F) | |
Pack 715. Pack of two WW2 Spitfire aviation prints by Robert Taylor and Nicolas Trudgian. Pack Price : £350.00 Saving : £75 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (B) First Flap of the Day by Nicolas Trudgian. (B) | ||
Pack 716. Pack of two special edition Spitfire prints by Nicolas Trudgian and Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £380.00 Saving : £135 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (B) First Flap of the Day by Nicolas Trudgian. (C) | ||
Pack 718. Pack of two WW2 Spitfire prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £225.00 Saving : £85 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. The Thoroughbred by Ivan Berryman. |
Pack 719. Pack of two No.71 Squadron Spitfire prints by Robert Taylor and John Young. Pack Price : £255.00 Saving : £120 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Spitfire Over Buckingham Palace by John Young. (AP) | ||
Battle of Britain Spitfire Print Pack by Ivan Berryman and Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £265.00 Saving : £165 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : In the Playground of the Gods by Ivan Berryman. (D) Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. | ||
Battle of Britain Signature Spitfire Prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack : SOLD OUT | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : In the Playground of the Gods by Ivan Berryman. (D) First Combat by Robert Taylor | NOT AVAILABLE | |
RAF Spitfire and Hurricane Prints by Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £280.00 Saving : £100 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Fastest Victory by Robert Taylor | ||
Spitfire Aviation Art Prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £280.00 Saving : £70 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Land, Sea and Air by Ivan Berryman. (C) |
Pilot Signed Spitfire Prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £285.00 Saving : £65 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Land, Sea and Air by Ivan Berryman. (APD) | ||
RAF Eagle Squadron Spitfire Aviation Prints by Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £295.00 Saving : £135 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Eagle Squadron Scramble by Robert Taylor | ||
78th Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt Prints by Richard Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £245.00 Saving : £45 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Days of Thunder by Richard Taylor. (AP) Duxford Pair by Ivan Berryman (AP) | ||
P-47 Thunderbolt Artist Proof Edition Prints by Richard Taylor and Nicolas Trudgian. Pack Price : £300.00 Saving : £110 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Days of Thunder by Richard Taylor. (AP) Thunderbolts and Lightnings by Nicolas Trudgian. (B) | ||
Pilot Signed P-47 Thunderbolt Prints by Richard Taylor and Stan Stokes. Pack Price : £250.00 Saving : £54 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Days of Thunder by Richard Taylor. (AP) Bridge Busting Jugs by Stan Stokes. (B) |
Squadrons for : Colonel Steve Pisanos (deceased) | ||
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Colonel Steve Pisanos (deceased). A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
Squadron | Info | |
Country : US 334th Fighter Squadron | 334th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US The Eagles. Stationed at Debden. 4th Fighter Group | 4th Fighter Group The Eagles. Stationed at Debden. | |
Country : UK Founded : August 1918 Fate : Disbanded 31st March 1946 Adjidaumo - Tail in the air | No.268 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 27th March 1917 Fate : Disbanded 31st May 1957 Eagle First from the eyries | No.71 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. |
Aircraft for : Colonel Steve Pisanos (deceased) | |||
A list of all aircraft associated with Colonel Steve Pisanos (deceased). A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | |||
Squadron | Info | ||
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Manufacturer : North American | Mustang The ubiquitous North American P-51 Mustang, which many consider to be the best all-around fighter of WW II, owes its origins to the British Air Ministry. Following Britains entry into WW II in 1939, the RAF was interested in purchasing additional fighter aircraft from American sources, particularly the Curtiss P-40. Curtiss, which was busy, was unable to guarantee timely delivery so the British approached North American Aviation as a possible second source for the P-40. North American chose to propose its own fighter design which would use the same Allison engine as the P-40. Utilizing new laminar flow wings, the North American fighter was expected to have performance better than the P-40. Developed in record time the new aircraft was designated as a Mustang I by the Brits, whereas the USAAF ordered two for evaluation which were designated XP-51 Apaches. Intrigued with the possibility of using this aircraft also as a dive bomber, North American proposed this to the USAAF which decided to order 500 of the P-51 aircraft to be modified for dive bombing use. Designated as the A-36 Invader, this version of the Mustang utilized dive flaps, and bomb racks under each wing. Some reinforcing of the structural members was also required because of the G-forces to be encountered in dive bombing. A-36s entered combat service with the USAAF prior to any P-51s. In early 1943 the 86th and 27th Fighter Bomber Groups of the 12th Air Force began flying A-36s out of Northern Africa. Despite some early problems with instability caused by the dive flaps, the A-36 was effective in light bombing and strafing roles. It was not, however, capable of dog fighting with German fighters, especially at higher altitudes. Despite these drawbacks one USAAF pilot, Captain Michael T. Russo, who served with the 16th Bomb Squadron of the 27th Fighter Bomber Group, was credited with five confirmed aerial victories in the A-36, thereby becoming the first mustang ace. | ||
(1)
Manufacturer : Supermarine Production Began : 1936 Retired : 1948 Number Built : 20351 | Spitfire Royal Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph up to The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I 34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575 miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine guns, for MKs V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936. and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19 squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named Seafires. By the end of production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408 Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires in front line use until April 1954. | ||
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Production Began : 1943 Number Built : 15683 | Thunderbolt Alexander Kartveli was a engineer with Seversky Aircraft who designed the P-35, which first flew in 1937. With Republic Aviation Kartveli supervised the development of the P-43 Lancer. Neither of these aircraft were produced in large numbers, and neither was quite successful. However, the Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt, also nicknamed the Jug, was quite a different story. The Jug was the jewel in Kartvelis design crown, and went on to become one of the most produced fighter aircraft of all time with 15,683 being manufactured. The P-47 was the largest and heaviest single seat fighter of WW II. The P-47 immediately demonstrated its excellent combat qualities, including speed, rate of climb, maneuverability, heavy fire power, and the ability to take a lot of punishment. With a wingspan of more than 40 feet and a weight of 19,400 pounds, this large aircraft was designed around the powerful 2000 HP Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine. The first P-47 prototype flew in May of 1941, and the primary variant the P-47D went into service in 1943 with units of the U.S. Armys Eighth Air Force. The Jug had a maximum speed in excess of 400 MPH, a service ceiling in excess of 42,000 feet, and was heavily armed with either six or eight heavy caliber machine guns. With its ability to carry up to a 2,500 pound bomb load, the Jug saw lots of use in ground attack roles. Until the introduction of the N model, the P-47 lacked the long range required for fighter escort missions which were most often relegated to P-51 Mustangs or P-38 Lightnings. In his outstanding painting entitled Bridge Busting Jugs, noted aviation artist Stan Stokes depicts Eighth Air Force Jugs in a ground attack mission in the Alps in June of 1944. The top P-47 ace was Francis Gabreski who had flown with the 56th Fighter Group, the first unit to be equipped with the P-47. In August of 1943 Gabreski attained his first aerial combat victory (over an Fw-190) and by years end he had reached ace status with 8 confirmed victories. As Commander of the 61st Squadron, Gabreski continued to chalk up victory after victory, and on seven different occasions he achieved two victories during the same mission. However, in July of 1944 Gabreski damaged the prop on his Jug during a low level attack on an airfield near Coblenz. Forced to make a crash landing, he was captured and remained a prisoner of war until Wars end in 1945. Following the War Gabreski returned to military service with the Air Forces 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing in Korea. Flying the F-86 Sabre Jet, Gabreski attained 6.5 more aerial victories in 1951 and 1952 becoming an ace in two different wars |
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