Us Official Photographs

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in combat

"Our Pride and Joy" is the appropriate name given this Republic P-47 Thunderbolt by members of the 12th AF Fighter Group. Prophetically christened that when she went into combat 5 April 1944, the Fighter-Bomber has stormed through a year of service and 678 combat hours -- all without an engine change! "Our Pride and Joy" stands proudly -- fully loaded with bombs and ammunition -- awaiting another crack at the axis, as S/Sgt. Russel W. Plumbtree, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Plumbtree, Gotebo, Okla., the crew chief who named and maintained her, (Kneeling at left), talks to S/Sgt. Frank Sentamaria, of 2437 25th St., Astoria, L.I., the squadron inspector. The Thunderbolt has been "shot up" four times, and she has been on many notable attacks, including two missions over southern France on D-Day, 15 Aug. 1944.