Hobby Master HA8408 1:48 P-47D Thunderbolt

Hobby Master 1:48 P-47D Thunderbolt HA8408. 226785 "OH JOHNNIE", 1st Lt. Raymond Knight 346th FS/350th FG, Pisa, Italy, 1945.

Highly detailed diecast pre-finished collector model airplane. Each model comes with display stand, rolling gears, and is assembled and ready to display. 

The Republic Aviation P-47 “Thunderbolt” entered service in May 1942 with the introduction of the P-47B. It had a “Razorback”, a high dorsal spine behind the side-ways opening canopy that reduced visibility. As improvements were made a “D” variant was produced with 12,602 being manufactured. The British developed a sliding bubble canopy for their Typhoon and this was adopted by the USAAF starting with the P-47D 5. With its ability to survive enemy fire along with impressive armament and bomb load the P-47 excelled at ground attack roles.

On April 24, 1944 1st Lt. Raymond Knight volunteered to lead two other P-47s on a raid of a German airfield at Ghedi, Italy. Knight kept the other P-47s high while he flew at tree-top to reconnoiter the field. He spotted 8 aircraft and during following strafing runs he destroyed 5 and the other P-47s account for two more. Later that day he led a raid on Bergamo; making ten strafing passes destroying six twin-engined aircraft and two fighters while the other P-47s destroyed 5 twins and one fighter. On April 25, 1944 Knight attacked Bergamo again and destroyed three more German aircraft but this time “Oh Johnnie” was critically hit and crashed killing the 22 year old 1st Lt. Raymond Knight.