Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8406 P-47M Thunderbolt 44-21160 “Devastatin Deb”, Capt. John C Fahringer 63rd Fighting Squadron, March 1945

1/48 scale pre-finished Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic. Professionally painted. All markings pad applied for superb results. Cockpit slides open. Comes with a pilot that can be removed. Comes with display stand. Can be displayed with landing gear up or down.

The P-47M was designed to run down and destroy the German buzz-bombs and the Luftwaffe’s new jets and rocket powered aircraft. To accomplish this a Pratt and Whitney P&W R-2800-57 (C) engine was added as well as a new larger super-charger. The engine also had water injection and all this allowed the P-47M a war-emergency power of 2,800 hp @ 32,500 feet. Air brakes were added to help the aircraft slow during a dive. No under-wing racks were attached because the P-47M was strictly meant to be a fighter. Because of delays the P-47M didn’t reach the ETO until December 1944.

During his time with the 63rd Fighter Squadron Capt. John C Fahringer flew two P-47s. Both aircraft wore UN-F and were named “Devastin’ Deb” The first aircraft was a P-47D while the second was a P-47M 44-21160. On March 25 1945 44-21160 was flown by Major George Bostwick, newly assigned to the 63rd FS, when he shot down an Me-262 and damaged another. On April 5, 1945 Captain Fahringer, Operations Officer for the 63rd, scored his fourth and final aircraft when he downed an Me-262 while flying “Devastatin’ Deb”.

P-47M was based on the P-47D-30 model and given a 2,800 HP R-2800-57(C) engine and used to intercept V-1 rockets. There were 130 M variants produced Republic Aviation P-47D specifications Number Produced - 12,602 most numerous variant Crew - 1 Dimensions Length - 36 ft. 1 in. (11 m) Wingspan - 40 ft. 9 in. (12.42 m) Height - 14 ft. 8 in. (4.47 m)

Performance Engine - 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 twin-row radial, 2,535 hp (1,890 kW) Maximum Speed - 433 mph @ 30,000 ft (697 km/h @ 9,145 m) Service Ceiling - 43,000 ft. (13,100 m) Rate Of Climb - 3,120 ft/min (15.9 m/s) Range - 800 mi. combat, 1,800 mi. ferry (1,290 km combat / 2,900 km ferry)

Armament 8 x .50 in. (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns w/ 3,400 rounds Maximum 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) of bombs 10 x 5 in. (127 mm) unguided rockets