P-47N rockets- were they used operationally l?

[BushBrit66]

Hi

 

I understand that after -2 machines, that the P-47N had underwing rocket stubs fitted (-2 were field mods). However , I cant seem to find pics ofoperational Pacific theatre machines with with the stubs or rockets fitted. While chatting to a friend last night, he believes non of the stubs were fitted in time for use in theatre. Any pics or info out there? 

 

Cheers

Sean

[Tbolt]

38 minutes ago, BushBrit66 said:

Hi

 

I understand that after -2 machines, that the P-47N had underwing rocket stubs fitted (-2 were field mods). However , I cant seem to find pics ofoperational Pacific theatre machines with with the stubs or rockets fitted. While chatting to a friend last night, he believes non of the stubs were fitted in time for use in theatre. Any pics or info out there? 

 

Cheers

Sean

 

There was no such thing as a N-2. They went from N-1 to N-5. Rocket stubs were standard from the N-5. Off hand I can't help with how much the HVAR's were used operational on N's but I'm sure someone will know.

[BushBrit66]

I think the N-2 was a designation given to the N-1with stubs field fitted. The Kagero and other refs state this, but it could be a bit like the RAF roundel designations. A post war convention.

[Duggy]

Some photos can be seen here, and none of them show rockets being used on any of the P-47 N's in the PTO ?

Link --  http://axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?id=18849

[tempestfan]

5 minutes ago, BushBrit66 said:

I think the N-2 was a designation given to the N-1with stubs field fitted. The Kagero and other refs state this, but it could be a bit like the RAF roundel designations. A post war convention.

There may be something to this - I read somewhere a long time ago that the block numbers increased in 5er increments (usually, and excepting -1 to -5) to accommodate post-production upgrades/retrofits of later-block improvements to earlier blocks.

[Tbolt]

15 minutes ago, BushBrit66 said:

I think the N-2 was a designation given to the N-1with stubs field fitted. The Kagero and other refs state this, but it could be a bit like the RAF roundel designations. A post war convention.

 

Yes my poor memory seems to recall something like this a number of years back. I should have read BushBrit66's post fully.

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Republic tended to built a few of a new version a month or two before series production began, P-47N-1 production was 1 in September and 1 in October 1944, then from December 1944, P-47N-5, was 1 in January, 2 in February then from mid March to near end May 1945.  The group histories to check,

 

413th FG HQ at Ie Shima 19 May 1945 Flew a few strafing missions from Saipan to the Truk Islands in May before beginning operations from Ie Shima in June. Engaged in dive-bombing and strafing attacks on factories, radar stations, airfields, small ships, and other targets in Japan. Made several attacks on shipping and airfields in China during Jul. Flew its only escort mission on 8 August 1945 when it covered B-29's during a raid against Yawata, Japan.  The 413th used rockets, see page 19, http://413thfightergroup.com/images/413th_Combat_History.pdf

 

507th FG HQ at Ie Shima 24 June 1945 Entered combat on 1 July 1945, operating from Ie Shima. Flew missions to Japan, Korea, and China to attack such targets as shipping, railroad bridges, airfields, factories, and barracks. Met little fighter opposition until 8 August 1945 when the group, flying its only B-29 escort mission of the war, encountered many enemy planes over Yawata, Japan.

 

414th FG HQ at Iwo Jima 7 July 1945 The air echelon, based temporarily on Guam, attacked objectives in the Truk Islands on 13 and 22 July. The group began operations from Iwo Jima late that month with an attack against a radar station on Chichi Jima. Operations during August were directed primarily against enemy airfields in Japan, but the group also strafed hangar barracks, ordnance dumps, trains, marshalling yards, and shipping.

 

When the production block number system settled down the first block was -1, the second and later block numbers divisible by 5, with the numbers in between reserved for other changes.  There were plenty of exceptions, the P-47N from Farmingdale were N-1, N-5, N-15, N-20, N-25

[Mycapt65]

I believe the rocket stubs themselves weren't permanently fixed to the wing. I believe the provisions for them were internal. Meaning the stubs were bolted to wings and could be cleanly removed.  I'm only guessing that the stubs were removed to clean up the wing for maximum fuel economy for the very long over sea missions they were typically flying. Other Ordnance may have been more appropriate or accurate for typical missions as well.

[Michael A.]

There is a good color film ‘out there’ produced by the 507th FG.  As I recall it depicts rocket and strafing attacks against a radio / radar station and intercostal fishing targets.  The fishing boats were tied up at their docks and since they were all clumped together, they got worked over pretty good.  Pinnacles are difficult targets from my experience, your rounds are short, on target or sail off ineffectively into the next week.

Back in the 90s I met a former 507th pilot that had participated in the radio station attack.  The Group flew combat missions roughly for two months.  The average pilot flew every other day.  Each morning you were briefed on the target and your ordnance load.  Missions were from 6+ to 12 hours in duration.  Alter the longer missions many pilots had to be lifted out of their cockpits.  The day following the mission was usually a day off and spent rehydrating in preparation for you next mission.  The group also has a robust Officers Club which contributed to the rehydration process.
 

[Creepy Pete]

Here's one of the 318th: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/601571915d14073e2247d367/595fad8d-d350-4e31-8b49-1e91eb540ebc/P-47N_318th_19th.jpg

[Mycapt65]

57 minutes ago, Creepy Pete said:

Here's one of the 318th: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/601571915d14073e2247d367/595fad8d-d350-4e31-8b49-1e91eb540ebc/P-47N_318th_19th.jpg

I wonder if that was a staged photo to show its fearsome armament. The plane behind it is empty and fully loaded on internal fuel only it's range would be somewhat limited.

Edited April 19 by Mycapt65

[Geoffry M]

 

14 hours ago, Mycapt65 said:

I wonder if that was a staged photo to show its fearsome armament. The plane behind it is empty and fully loaded on internal fuel only it's range would be somewhat limited.

The 318th was based on Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima which was still held by the Japanese wasn't that far away, so a heavy loaded P-47N wouldn't have too much trouble getting there and back without external fuel tanks.  

[EwenS]

2 hours ago, Geoffry M said:

 

The 318th was based on Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima which was still held by the Japanese wasn't that far away, so a heavy loaded P-47N wouldn't have too much trouble getting there and back without external fuel tanks.  

 

The 318th FG converted from the P-47D to the P-38 in Nov 1944 and then to the P-47N in April 1945 while based on Saipan in the Marianas. On 30 April 1945 it moved up to Ie Shima, a little island off the NW coast of Okinawa. (Edit - its operations while based on Ie Shima were mostly up the island chain and over Kyushu, the southermost of the four main Japanese Home Islands).

 

The only P-47N equipped FG that was based on Iwo Jima in WW2 was the 414th FG. Part of it went direct there while the remainder went to Guam on escort carriers arriving in early July 1945. The Guam element flew its frst missions against Truk on 13 July and eventually joined the element on Iwo Jima. The first mission flown from Iwo Jima was on 29 July and was against a radar station on Chichi Jima. Chichi Jima is to the north of Iwo Jima and closer to Japan.

Edited April 19 by EwenS

[Geoffry M]

thanks for the clarification

7 hours ago, EwenS said:

 

The 318th FG converted from the P-47D to the P-38 in Nov 1944 and then to the P-47N in April 1945 while based on Saipan in the Marianas. On 30 April 1945 it moved up to Ie Shima, a little island off the NW coast of Okinawa. (Edit - its operations while based on Ie Shima were mostly up the island chain and over Kyushu, the southermost of the four main Japanese Home Islands).

 

The only P-47N equipped FG that was based on Iwo Jima in WW2 was the 414th FG. Part of it went direct there while the remainder went to Guam on escort carriers arriving in early July 1945. The Guam element flew its frst missions against Truk on 13 July and eventually joined the element on Iwo Jima. The first mission flown from Iwo Jima was on 29 July and was against a radar station on Chichi Jima. Chichi Jima is to the north of Iwo Jima and closer to Japan.