Originally Posted by
LongRanger
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt...
Dunno about its high-altitude performance. It's biggest attractions were . . .
1) phenomenal fire-power --- 8x .50 machine guns = 100 rounds/sec would literally vaporize any target
2) excellent range --- 1st Allied fighter capable of escorting bombers all the way to Berlin; P-47N had a ~2k mi range and was specifically designed for escorting B-29s over the Pacific
Mustang was a better performer, though --- especially in air-to-air . . . so the 47s were put to use as ground attack aircraft --- in addition to their punishing armament, they could carry all kinds of bombs + rockets, and survive damage that liquid-cooled aircraft couldn't. Especially notorious as train-busters...