U.S. THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS OUTFIGHT BEST GERMAN PLANES. A U.S.

U.S. THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS OUTFIGHT BEST GERMAN PLANES. A U.S. Army Air Forces P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane is pictured at an air base in England preparatory to taking off on a sweep over Germany and occupied Europe with formations of heavy bombers. Thunderbolts, armed with eight machine guns, have outgunned and outflown German fighters in combat. The Thunderbolt, powered by a 2,000 horsepower engine, develops 420 miles an hour in level flight and has recorded a 720 miles an hour in a dive. Thunderbolts of the Eigth U.S. Army Air Force Fighter Command, on more than 3,000 sorties in one month, destroyed 77 German fighters with loss of only five Thunderbolts-a ratio of 15 to 1. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.