The P-47 Thunderbolt (Republic P-47D-30-RE Thunderbolt s/n 44-210549) flown by Lt. Richard Sulzbach of the USAAF’s 364th Fighter Squadron, 350th Fighter Group, 12th Air Force, after his return at Pisa Air Base, Tuscany, Italy, April 1,1945. Lt. Sulzbach had a little run-in with some trees while on a strafing run over Italy. He was able to fly the plane in this conditions 120 miles back to base and land safely. Testimony of pilot’s skill and of P-47s toughness. Victor Sierra

A tough bird

Ground crews servicing a North American A-36A Apache aircraft of USAAF’s 86th 86th Fighter Bomber Group, on an Italian airfield, late 1943. At beginning 86th Fighter Group, 86th Fighter Bomber Group from 23 August 1943, when were already in Italy, the group was deployed on many bases in Sicily and Italian mainland. One year later the group received its final wartime designation, again 86th Fighter Group, and replaced the A-36 with the P-47 Thunderbolt. The last Italian base, late 1944, of the 86th was Pisa. Early 1945 the 86th was transferred in France and, finally, in Germany. Victor Sierra

A-36 in Italy

According to the “Holy Texts” it’s impossible flying an airplane with a propeller in this conditions. But, clearly, neither the pilot nor the plane had read the “Flight’s Bible” and plane and pilot returned to home. Story: this P-47D Thunderbolt of USAAF’s 64th Fighter Squadron “Black Scorpions”, 57th Fighter Group while on a mission to Milan, 1945, struck the ground during a low level strafing run. Despite the bent props and crushed chin, the pilot nursed the Jug 150 miles home to Grosseto. Victor Sierra