Nige, found some more:

http://www.web-birds.com/8th/56/61st/61st_squadron.htm
http://www.web-birds.com/8th/56/62nd/62nd_squadron.htm
http://www.web-birds.com/8th/56/63rd/63rd_squadron.htm

Look out for the Johnson clan.

EDIT: Nigel that is interesting, if 56th FG had changed to P-51 what would the end result have been? Seeing as most P-51 were lost to ground fire (on the way home) and IIRC the 56th did a lot of ground attack work near the end of the war. The P-47 was better suited to ground attack and could absorb a LOT more punishment than the P-51.

Hi Eric.
A bit of cross posting going on
Id be very interested to hear what you know about the other two Johnsons!
Oops,,just seen your links!
Interesting that the Richard and Willard Johnson photos are credited to Peter Randall ( Little Friends) but a search on his website doesnt pick the two pilots up
I'll have to have a look through my 56th "library" and see what I can find.
Nige

Solved the Richard H. Johnson problem, it is actually Richard H. Allison. On the photo the plane has Lt Dick Allison as the pilot.

EDIT: The little I have found on Willard D. Johnson is that he was also a Pilot on Louisiana Pirate and was taken POW on 12/05/44.

Nice one!
I wouldnt be overly surprised if the Willard Johnson is an incorrectly captioned photo either. Im sure Ive seen references to the "Three Johnsons" in some of my books.
As for the P-47s being far more suited to the fighter bomber role, its supported by the 354th FG ( which Eagleston flew with) which actually changed from Mustangs to P-47s in late 1944 before re equipping with Mustangs in early 1945.
Nige
EDIT.
Found 2 references now to Louisiana Pirate and Willard Johnson failing to return on May 12th 1944.
Still great artwork though

I was thinking I should get up to speed on things so I ordered Zemke's Wolf Pack and thought I would let you guys know there are still a few from .75 to 6.00 dollars U.S on half.com.
Later,
Kelly

Here are some color photos of 56 FG nose art, including Louisianna Pirate.
Source: Aces and Wingmen II Vol 2.

More from same source:

Schilling's P-47M. Note:
1. (Grey seems lighter than RAF stock. However, I read that RAF went to lighter grey later in the war. Can anyone elaborate?).
2. No tail fillet. (1st M delivered according to caption).
3. Tail leading edge is unpainted.

Sorry,
The caption did not follow the photo:

Great photos Rex. Thanks for posting.
Could we please post reference photos in the SIG. Ive transferred these over.
Otherwise we're going to end up with information scattered all over the place
Thanks everyone.
Nige

I presume you mean the "Zemkes Wolfpack as told to Roger Freeman" book?
A great read, and before you know it you'll be ordering "Zemkes Stalag" to find out the rest of "Mrs Zemkes little Hoo-Berts" story.
The start of a slippery slope
Im thinking of putting together a list of P-47 and Wolfpack related books for the SIG.This will probably spill out to include the "mighty eighth" as well.
My bookshelves look more like Amazon.com every time the postman calls !

Nige

Sign me up!

(How does one do that?)

Hi Chris.
You'll find everything you need to know, and the all important "Enlist" button, on the
CAVE TONITRUM CAMPAIGN PAGE
Nige

It looks like i am to late i just finished my 1/32 scale P-47


Looks like i must build another one

Mike

Lovely Eagleston P-47 Mike.
I presume its the Hasegawa kit?
How did you find the cowling assembly? Ive heard its a bit problematic but it doubt I'll get to start one of my Hasegawa P-47's before this campaign starts. (yep,,Ive got 2,,LOL. )
Nige

Thank yoy the cowl was a bit of a pain but i got it right in the end i used some tamiya tape and taped it up before i glued it. that was the only problem i had with the kit.
Thank you
Mike

Great tip Mike thanks.
I'll remember that when I build mine
Nige

Hi Nige!

I have enlisted, of course.

I´ll probably get the Trumpeter 1/32 P-47N and do the "Too Big & Too Heavy!

Gotta love that nose art, eh!

I already have the decals from ZOTZ, and they are BEAUTIFUL!

Some time ago I did a build of the Hasegawa 1/32 P-47D, in Gabreski´s markings.

This is a lovley kit and very easy to build.
Only the cowling can be somewhat fiddly to assemble, but I found the fit to be quite good.
I started with the lower part of the cowling and let the glue set completly.
Then the top section and let the glue set.
Then the sides of the cowling, I had to do some sanding but got a near-perfect fit.

Work slowly and be careful, and it really falls together!

I still have two Hasegawa Bubbletops and a Trumpeter Razorback in 1/32!

Cheers!

Stefan E

Hi Stefan.
I remember your "Gabreski" T'bolt.
Im coming to the end of my current T'bolt build,dont know what Im pulling from the stash next, but I cant wait to get stuck into the Hasegawa beast!
I might do a Mustang or a Spit next,. Man cannot live on Thunderbolts alone. Im tending to make every second build a P-47.
Thanks for the tips on the Hasegawa cowling.
Nige

I will do the 1/32 Trumpeter Razorback, and use the box art decals. There is something special about a T-bolt with a ship on its victory markings.

Well as the rules have stated "what ifs" are eligible, I shall be building a 1/48th Tamiya bubbletop in a very what if scheme.
I'm not telling anyone (not even you Nige ) what it is until its finished .
Can't wait to start now.
Andy

Now I have the excuse I needed to pull out that Academy P-47N that I bought to replace the ProModeler. I must thank you for the idea to use the Hawaiian National Guard Decals Nige, because that will be my attempt at making something "different"! I've had the decals sitting and waiting ever since you first mentioned them!

Mine only took 2 months but its arrived!
Thanks Chuck
Another couple of weeks and I'll be home and be able to see it at last!
Nige

I think this will be a real popular group build. Doesn't the XP look like a shark getting ready to attack.