Weapons Array
The armament used by the
Jugs consisted of various combinations of Bazooka rockets and bombs, combined
with the plane’s 8-gun, plus eventually drop tanks of different capacities,
according to the distance to the target of the day.
The impressive array of
armaments carried by ground attacking P-47D’s
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Legend: |
Bomba |
Bomb |
de |
of |
lançador |
launcher |
Triplo |
Triple |
Morteiros |
Rockets |
Tanque |
Fuel
Tank |
gal |
Gallons |
£ |
lbs |
Camouflage &
Markings
Most of the Thunderbolts,
as supplied by USAAF Aircraft Depots, were camouflaged by the USAAF standard of
Olive Drab (FS 34087) upper surfaces and Neutral Grey (FS 36173)
undersurfaces. Some were left in Natural Metal Finish (NMF). They
came from the factory with the Brazilian style of national insignias, just stars
with the Brazilian national colors of green, yellow, blue and white in four wing
positions, besides the rudder painted in green and yellow.
However, this system of
demarcation caused some mishaps in theater, for this kind of insignia was quite
different, and initially the Brazilian planes so-marked were almost shot down by
friendly (?) aircraft. It was then decided to incorporate the US-style
nationality markings, exchanging the US white star for the Brazilian one.
This way the Brazilian P-47’s often wore insignias in six positions (it is
interesting to note that the first nationality insignias applied were indeed
DECALS!).
Nowadays, there is only
one decal sheet manufacturer which does correctly represents Brazilian P-47D’s,
FCM Decals from Brasil (normally available from the manufacturer, at www.webspace.com.br/fcm,
or from Hannants, UK, at www.hannants.co.uk),
and just an Aeromaster decal sheet called "Luscious Latin Jugs" (but
only in 1/48th scale, as to my knowledge), which brings only one
Brazilian plane, a NMF one, Black 2.
As to kits available to
represent the Brazilian Thunderbolts, the recommended ones are:
1/72nd Scale
1-Hasegawa
:
An old mould, it is indeed
poorly equipped to represent many of the Brazilian planes, but it can be used successfully.
2-Academy
:
This kit is better suited
because of its great armament array, besides bringing in the hard to find
Bazooka rockets, permitting to represent many of the 1º GAC planes.
1/48th Scale
1-Hasegawa
:
This late mould is of
outstanding quality, but it deserves the same comments of its 1/72
counterpart...
2-Academy
:
Similarly, this kit
receives exactly the same comments of its 1/72 brother...
Notes :
a) it is important to say
that only the Hasegawa P-47D-30/40 kit has the infamous Dorsal Fin which
equipped many of the Brazilian Thunderbolts, as to improve stability. Many
P-47D arrived without it, and later were retrofitted with it...later all were
already supplied with it.
b) there are other
P-47D Thunderbolt kits on the market, but the above reviewed are the ones which
less modifications needed to correctly represent Brazilian planes. As
always, the final decision resides with the modeler.
c) some of the P-47D
used the Hamilton-Standard propeller, which is available, in 1/48th
scale, only in the Monogram’s Bubbletop P-47D or the Hasegawa’s "Gabreski"
special edition.
Aircraft Profiles
Well, enough talking, let
us go to the Brazilian P-47D Thunderbolt profiles (courtesy of
"Jambock", FCM Decals 1/48 sheet, by Felipe C. Miranda).
1)P-47D-25RE 4226450,
"Black 1", Lt.-Col. Nero Moura, 1º GAC Commander
|
Box art on a Revell 1/32
P-47D kit, Brazilian market 1970’s edition
|
This aircraft has indeed
some corrections to be done to the above profile (the wings shown are the upper
ones) :
- upper left wing insignia was of the
North American "big" standard type (exactly the same used on US
Thunderbolts), with Brazilian colors (the size depicted is identical to the
fuselage one, which is wrong);
- propeller hub was silver, not black as
shown;
- there is a replacement panel installed,
and two "rudder green" dots (the airbrush clogged, but when
cleaned by pressure...);
- Hamilton-Standard propeller and
disc-covered wheels;
- Black anti-glare stripe/serial
number/bombing mission symbols.
This aircraft was one
of the first to arrive at Tarquinia, being at the time the only one in NMF.
A photo showing well the
NMF finish at 1o. GAC airdrome (Maj Buyers,USAAF).
Note
: the site from where the photo has been acquired authorized its use. It
is the BSB Cinema site, which produced recently the documentary film
"Senta a Púa", about 1o. GAC adventures in the MTO. It is worth
a visit, for it has the English version." Senta a Púa" will also be
released in English. More info at the site itself with BSB staff.
2)P-47D-28RA 4228986,
"White B6", Lt. Leon R. Lara de Araújo, 1º GAC 2nd
Flight
Note : propeller hub was
silver, not black as shown;
B6 arrived in January,19
1945, being posted in the reserve ranks, but not for long, for days later it was
assigned to Second-Lieutenant leon Lara Roussouliers de Araújo.
It was marked with the
US-style nationality insignia, had the Curtiss Electric propeller and spoked
wheels. It flew in the Brazilian Air Force up to 1953.
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|
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Photos
showing well the OD/NG finish (Maj Buyers,USAAF). |
Conclusion
All interior, engine
colors were Republic standard, so use USAAF Jugs to orient yourself.
There are many other quite
interesting First Brazilian Fighter Group P-47D Thunderbolt camouflage schemes,
but this will be part of future articles, if any interest arises at all.
I do hope honestly a
little bit else of the history of the Brazilians could be shown here to the
benefit of those gallant men and of those modelers who do wish to represent
their mounts as well (thanks Steve Stohr).
Marcus
For those interested in
more info, this could be achieved at the websites (besides those already listed
above) :
http://www.mat.ufrgs.br/~rudnei/FAB/english.html
http://www.iis.com.br/~mdau/
Any contacts concerning
this article can be made at :
Marcus V. T.
Borges-Captain
Brazilian Air Force
Part
one of this three part article
Part
two of this three part article
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