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JUGS VS. JETS – P-47 PILOT SCORES THE ULTIMATE KILL

Not the most glamorous airplane of the conflict, the P-47, nonetheless, was one of the most successful. However, few survived into the 50s. Those that did were being operated by foreign air forces and were slow to come back into the U.S. and even slower being restored. The P-47D pictured was one of the very first to fly in civilian hands and was owned and flown by an ex-Jug pilot, Les Friend. (Photo by Budd Davisson)

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To all P-51 Mustang or P-47 Thunderbolt pilots who flew combat over France and Germany in World War II, any jet kill they made would rate at the top of the charts. Their most successful prop versus jet victories were made against the Me 262, which was produced in larger numbers (1,430), while the tiny rocket-propelled Me 163 only had a production run of about 370. The Allied pilots ran up some impressive scores against...

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All the stories featured in Flight Journal are as unique and varied as the airplanes and warriors who flew them. From popular warbirds like the P-51 Mustang and Me 109 to the Lockheed SR-71 and futuristic hypersonic fighters, we cover the whole spectrum of aviation. We’ve heard from countless readers over the years about how much they enjoy the compelling stories and beautiful photography.