P-47 Thunderbolt research help

O

ohbejuan

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2021
Messages
542
Hello,

I have not been too rigorous about doing research and finding reference photos, mostly content to use reference information from the kit manufacturer. I suspect I might be in the minority in that way :).
So, I was chatting with my sister's partner, and she said she had a relative that flew in World War II, in a P-47 Thunderbolt. I am now curious about building this plane for her.
She sent me this link. It has a good photo in it where I can see the markings. and the invasion strips.
https://mymemorialday.org/remember/hamilton.php

My question is... what are some good resources for finding reference photos and more information? I did some rudimentary Google searches and did not find much additional information.

Any suggestions are welcome.
 
You're not going to find aftermarket decals for that particular P-47 Thunderbolt scheme. Your best bet is make your own decals or find someone who does custom decals.
 
Thanks to everyone for the help so far! My friend is "up north" in Michigan for the summer and says she has more photos at home in North Carolina. So I hope to get the squadron and tail number in a few weeks.
 
lil ham.jpg
[Report - 8041 366th FS [IA-Z], 358th FG, 9th AF, High Halden, Station 411; "Mrs. Ham" / "Lil' Ham 3";
Shot down by Fw 190A-8 flown by unknown pilot and unit crashing on a wooded hill in Bérou-la-Mulotière,
France July 14, 1944; MACR 6878. Pilot killed ]

366th FS 358th FG
P47D-2-RE serial 42-8041

Augustus Hamilton died July 14 1944 over Berou-la-Mulotiere (France, I assume)
Some info here (although the aircraft info is not completely accurate):
https://www.database-memoire.eu/pri...ille-h-us/617-hamilton-gus-jr-366-fs-358-fg-u

I think I only do one aircraft (paper model) from that fighter group, and that's TarHeel Hal (shown below).
So I assume your Lil' Ham 3 might have the orange tail like Tarheel Hal, but I have no idea what any other forward paint might be.
(Until we find a better photo)
Keep in mind, Tarheel Hal (as shown) is a bubbletop (later D model), whereas Lil Ham is an early "razorback" style of P47.
And Lil Ham is obviously painted green, not bare metal.

I would be interested in seeing those photos, because I can add LIl Ham to my catalog.

P-47_Thunderbolt_IA-N_44-33240_Tarheel_Hal_of_the_356th_Fighter_Squadron_358th_Fighter_Group.jpg

adw-p47 tarheel hal Cover.jpg
 
Last edited:
airdave said:
View attachment 125598
[Report - 8041 366th FS [IA-Z], 358th FG, 9th AF, High Halden, Station 411; "Mrs. Ham" / "Lil' Ham 3";
Shot down by Fw 190A-8 flown by unknown pilot and unit crashing on a wooded hill in Bérou-la-Mulotière,
France July 14, 1944; MACR 6878. Pilot killed ]

366th FS 358th FG
P47D-2-RE serial 42-8041

Augustus Hamilton died July 14 1944 over Berou-la-Mulotiere (France, I assume)
Some info here (although the aircraft info is not completely accurate):
https://www.database-memoire.eu/pri...ille-h-us/617-hamilton-gus-jr-366-fs-358-fg-u

I think I only do one aircraft (paper model) from that fighter group, and that's TarHeel Hal (shown below).
So I assume your Lil' Ham 3 might have the orange tail like Tarheel Hal, but I have no idea what any other forward paint might be.
(Until we find a better photo)
Keep in mind, Tarheel Hal (as shown) is a bubbletop (later D model), whereas Lil Ham is an early "razorback" style of P47.
And Lil Ham is obviously painted green, not bare metal.

I would be interested in seeing those photos, because I can add LIl Ham to my catalog.

View attachment 125592

View attachment 125593
Click to expand...
Not all P-47 Thunderbolts were bare metal as some folks assumed. They re also were Olive Drab.
 
BlackSheepTwoOneFour said:
Not all P-47 Thunderbolts were bare metal as some folks assumed. They re also were Olive Drab.
Click to expand...
Definitely true, doubt anyone who has seen (all of us here right?) this famous vintage picture of "D" (5 I think) and "B" flying together.

1727738138661.png

Only stands to reason that painting and marking standards existed, but were secondary concerns.
 
Marking standards existed then and now, but paint colours were up to individual Groups and Squadrons.

Olive drab was/is a colour that the human eye has difficulty seeing under certain conditions making it a perfect camouflage colour.
Early 1944, factories stopped shipping aircraft painted with Olive Drab.
By this time, the USAAF was confident about air superiority and radar controlled flak made camouflage redundant.
Weight was also a consideration, and unpainted aircraft were much lighter. Every pound of paint, was a pound of fuel.
Not to mention, assembly time was shortened by eliminating the various painting steps.

Maintaining the paint in the field proved to be a difficult task and colour matching wasn't really a concern.
And most crews wanted individuality and were modifying aircraft in the field anyway.

So, while some aircraft had been stripped of their paint, most were painted green prior to February 1944.
Lil Ham P47D-2-RE serial (4)42-8041 was produced and shipped early 1944
 
Last edited:
Found this whilst doing a google search - 366th FS 1944 Lil' Ham



Hope these Help. Tamiya Do a nice 1/48 or 1/72 Razorback P-47D. If you can get custom decals made you're Golden. Hataka do a nice USAAF in the ETO paint set, but that depends if you want water based acrylics or not. Really looking forward to seeing the build.

Cheers!

339897120_1856950091331084_4746673909566536304_n.jpg


339729077_750595919852439_4108954302031379269_n.jpg


339793100_6194389667270450_7923951490285083656_n.jpg
 
airdave said:
View attachment 125598
[Report - 8041 366th FS [IA-Z], 358th FG, 9th AF, High Halden, Station 411; "Mrs. Ham" / "Lil' Ham 3";
Shot down by Fw 190A-8 flown by unknown pilot and unit crashing on a wooded hill in Bérou-la-Mulotière,
France July 14, 1944; MACR 6878. Pilot killed ]

366th FS 358th FG
P47D-2-RE serial 42-8041

Augustus Hamilton died July 14 1944 over Berou-la-Mulotiere (France, I assume)
Some info here (although the aircraft info is not completely accurate):
https://www.database-memoire.eu/pri...ille-h-us/617-hamilton-gus-jr-366-fs-358-fg-u

I think I only do one aircraft (paper model) from that fighter group, and that's TarHeel Hal (shown below).
So I assume your Lil' Ham 3 might have the orange tail like Tarheel Hal, but I have no idea what any other forward paint might be.
(Until we find a better photo)
Keep in mind, Tarheel Hal (as shown) is a bubbletop (later D model), whereas Lil Ham is an early "razorback" style of P47.
And Lil Ham is obviously painted green, not bare metal.

I would be interested in seeing those photos, because I can add LIl Ham to my catalog.

View attachment 125592

View attachment 125593
Click to expand...

urumomo said:
What a beast of an aircraft .
Sky Tank

339729077_750595919852439_4108954302031379269_n.jpg
Click to expand...
this is wonderful and helpful! I did not even know if it was bubble top or razor back.
 
airdave said:
View attachment 125598
[Report - 8041 366th FS [IA-Z], 358th FG, 9th AF, High Halden, Station 411; "Mrs. Ham" / "Lil' Ham 3";
Shot down by Fw 190A-8 flown by unknown pilot and unit crashing on a wooded hill in Bérou-la-Mulotière,
France July 14, 1944; MACR 6878. Pilot killed ]

366th FS 358th FG
P47D-2-RE serial 42-8041

Augustus Hamilton died July 14 1944 over Berou-la-Mulotiere (France, I assume)
Some info here (although the aircraft info is not completely accurate):
https://www.database-memoire.eu/pri...ille-h-us/617-hamilton-gus-jr-366-fs-358-fg-u

I think I only do one aircraft (paper model) from that fighter group, and that's TarHeel Hal (shown below).
So I assume your Lil' Ham 3 might have the orange tail like Tarheel Hal, but I have no idea what any other forward paint might be.
(Until we find a better photo)
Keep in mind, Tarheel Hal (as shown) is a bubbletop (later D model), whereas Lil Ham is an early "razorback" style of P47.
And Lil Ham is obviously painted green, not bare metal.

I would be interested in seeing those photos, because I can add LIl Ham to my catalog.

View attachment 125592

View attachment 125593
Click to expand...
thank you for all the research! this is so helpful
 

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