Historical skin of the P-47D-20-RA "Miss Mary Lou"
19th FS - 818th FG - Saipan, 1944
Pilot - Major Harry McAfee
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/alb...achmentid=8889
She was in the vanguard of the island-hopping campaign of 1944, using the P-47's ruggedness for low-level close support work.
On June 22, 1944 twenty four P-47D Thunderbolts of the 19th Squadron were launched from the escort carrier USS Natoma Bay to land on the Aslito field on Saipan. First plane to touch the ground was flown by Capt. Harry E. McAfee. These planes immediately went into action in support of the Marines fighting well entrenched and determined Japanese troops.
On June 24th, McAfee and another pilot guided Marines ashore on Tinian. They flew almost at the wave top level over the landing craft towards the beach, turned, and flew again and again guiding the boats to exactly where they supposed to land on path finding sweeps.
When the island was captured on July 31st, Major McAfee became the first American pilot to land on Tinian.
Other Web sites for this aircraft:
http://www.fold3.com/image/#55720829
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18532986@N07/3320006647/
http://www.gremirmodels.com/p-47d_miss_mary.htm
fourth paint skin down:
http://il-2-modding.wikispaces.com/P-47+Skins
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