In WWII the British obtained 830 P-47Ds. Designated Thunderbolt Mk.I (razorbacks) and Thunderbolt Mk.II (bubbletops). They equipped 16 RAF squadrons and served mainly in Southeast Asia on ground attack and bomber escort duties. By the end of the war 275 had been lost to all causes. This decal sheet provides codes and individual markings for 12 Thunderbolts in WWII RAF service. The sheet only provides roundels and fin flashes for six aircraft. The placement instructions also include detailed painting notes and indicate which propeller type equipped each subject. The options are as follows:
Thunderbolt
Mk.I of 135 Squadron based at Chittagong, India in 1944. Dark green (DG) and
dark earth (DE) upper surfaces with medium sea gray (MSG) under surfaces.
White forward cowl and white theater bands around wings and tail planes.
Early style SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. White
codes.
Thunderbolt Mk.I of 146 Squadron based at Kumbhirgram, India in September, 1944. DG and DE upper surfaces with MSG under surfaces. White theater bands around wings and tail planes. SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. This aircraft also has a unit crest on the left side of the cowl. White codes.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 134 squadron based in Burma during December, 1945. DG and DE upper surfaces with MSG under surfaces. White forward cowl and white theater bands around wings and tail planes. SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes on both sides. Light blue codes. This aircraft has the name “Elaine” in white on both sides of the fuselage just forward of the cockpit opening.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 30 squadron based at Chittagong, March, 1945. DG and DE upper surfaces over MSG under surfaces. White forward cowl with white theater bands around wings and tail planes. SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. White codes.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 79 squadron based at Wangjing, China, December, 1944. DG and DE upper surfaces over MSG under surfaces. White forward cowl with white theater bands around wings and tail planes. SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. Light blue codes. This aircraft has “nose art” on both sides of the cowl.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 42 squadron based in Burma, September, 1945. DG and DE upper surfaces over MSG under surfaces. White forward cowl with white theater bands around wings and tail planes. SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. White codes.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 146 squadron based at Kumbhirgram, India, October, 1944. DG and DE upper surfaces over MSG under surfaces. Partially over painted white forward cowl with white theater bands around wings and tail planes. SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. Light blue codes.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 258 Squadron based at Kuala Lunpur, Malasia, Late 1945. Natural metal finish overall with Olive Drab anti glare panels. Roundel blue forward cowl and roundel blue theater bands around wings and tail planes. SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. Black codes.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 81 Squadron based at Kemajoram, Java in 1946. Natural metal finish overall with Olive Drab anti glare panels. Roundel blue forward cowl and roundel blue theater bands around wings and tail planes (note theater bands on horizontal tail planes do not go over the elevators) SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. Black codes.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 134 Squadron based in Burma, December 1945. DG and DE upper surfaces over MSG under surfaces. White forward cowl with white theater bands around wings and tail planes. SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. White codes. This aircraft has scantily clad female nose art with the script “ Jungle Queen” on the left side of the cowl.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 261 Squadron based at Myingyan, North Burma, May 1945. Natural metal finish overall with Olive Drab anti glare panels. Roundel blue forward cowl and roundel blue theater bands around wings and tail planes. SEAC roundels in six positions and SEAC fin flashes. Black codes.
Thunderbolt Mk.II of 73 OTU based at Fayid, Egypt, 1945. Natural metal finish with Olive Drab anti glare panels. Type C roundels in six positions with red/white/blue (front to back) fin flashes. Sky type S band around rear fuselage. Black codes. This aircraft has “Ace of Spades” with a yellow skull centered in the spade nose art on both sides of the cowl.
Note: all subjects have black serials
While perhaps not the most colorful P-47s to have taken to the sky, the subjects represented by these decals are nevertheless interesting. Any of the Thunderbolts featured would make a nice addition to Pacific war aircraft model collections.