Life-saving Jugs: When the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt went to sea

Yet another reason to love the P-47

The aircraft of the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron wore red, white and blue striped noses and yellow banded tails. The group’s radio call sign was 'teamwork' and pilots were affectionately known as 'seagulls'.

Just when you thought the mighty Jug couldn't be any more amazing, you discover the eight-gun bruiser had a side gig saving lives. A roaring surplus of horsepower got them to the scene pretty damn quick too, which was of vital importance for those requiring its services. Thrown around by a gloomy North Sea, most likely with hypothermia and injuries, bomber crews wouldn't last long.

Lacking the well-organised British rescue system, the USAAF set up their own. The USAAF allotted older war weary 'razorback's (earlier variants that lacked the bubble canopy) to an improvised unit called the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron based at Boxted Airfield near Colchester. Whenever a bomber mission was launched, two P-47 Thunderbolts of the Air Sea Rescue.

Their war weary mounts had the usual pylon loads replaced with smoke floats and flares, but kept their .50 calibre heavy machine-guns just in case they were needed.  A canister with an air-drop capable raft was attached to the centreline rack.  Some rescue Thunderbolts are recognisable thanks to a rare sliding 'bubble' canopy with reduced framing to improve the pilot's view.  The unit saved 938 lives. Somebody buy this fighter a beer.  Right now.