Corgi US33811 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt USAAF 345th FG, 353rd FS, Glenn Eagleston, w/Nose Art Panel

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt aircraft with a unique nose art panel.

This particular plane belonged to the USAAF 345th Fighter Group, 353rd Fighter Squadron, and was flown by Glenn Eagleston. During World War II, it was common for pilots to personalize their aircraft with nose art to add some humor and relief to their difficult lives. The P-51 pilots of the 353rd needed a morale boost while flying the P-47s, and this distinctive nose art likely helped. However, once they restored the P-51D Mustangs to the unit in 1945, Eagleston began adding to his kill score again.

The Corgi Nose Art range is designed to capture some of the fantastic works of art that adorned aircraft on all sides of the conflict. Each model includes a diecast body panel featuring the art in large-scale and colourful detail.

The Republic P-47D Thunderbolt was designed by Alexander Kartveli to meet a USAAC requirement for a heavy fighter. It first flew on May 6th, 1941. Later models featured a "bubble-top" canopy instead of the sharply peaked "razorback" fuselage, which gave poor visibility for the pilot. The P-47 was a deadly pursuit aircraft that featured 8 x 12.7mm machine guns mounted in the wings. Despite the complicated turbosupercharger system, the sturdy airframe and tough radial engine allowed the P-47 ("Jug" or "Juggernaut" as it was nicknamed) to absorb damage and still return home. Built in greater quantities than any other US fighter, the P-47 was the heaviest single-engine WWII fighter and the first piston-powered fighter to exceed 500 mph.