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CREATED AS A TEASER FOR PBNA-BOOSHER'S IN-PROGRESS CAMPAIGN FEATURING THE THUNDERBOLTS OF THE 255 IAP!

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-HISTORY-
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The USSR received many planes as part of the lend-lease program in the Great Patriotic War. Some of the
aircraft served them well. They made great use of the P-39's, P-40's, A-20's, B-25's, Spitfires, Hurricanes, and
other types. In mid-1943 they received yet another type: the Republic P-47. The first P-47 donated to them was
paid for by a group of US Senators. Nicknamed "Knight of Pythias," this P-47D-10 was assembled and test-flown
for the VVS. The Russians weren't pleased. The aircraft, according to their standards, was not a fighter. It was
much too heavy, not maneuverable enough, and did not possess a cannon armament. If anything, the aircraft could
be used as a multi-role ground-support and anti-ship bomber.

As the war progressed Soviet aircraft types were holding their own on all fronts but the stubbornness of
Fascist forces around the Gulf of Finland led to the increasing use of aircraft in a ground attack role. There
were not always enough aircraft readily available to assault ground positions and deal with the constant mine-
layers and sweepers doing mischief as close to the city of Leningrad as they could. The Soviet Navy hadn't dared
venture outside of their ports in the city or on the island fortress of Kronshtadt for fear of isolating their
naval power. The "Marat" battleship served well, even after Hans Ulrich Rudel's bomb had forced it to bottom
out at Kronshtadt, by becoming a massive artillery platform supporting the Red Army. In order to protect these
installations the Soviet Naval Air Force pulled their pilots of the 255th IAP out of their P-39's.

On the approximate date of October 29th, 1944, the 255th IAP received their first Thunderbolt and by
November 20th they had accumulated 14 new P-47D aircraft. The initial opinion of the aircraft had not changed,
although the versions sent to the Motherland had. Of the 14 aircraft, 12 were -22 type with a razorback canopy
and the other two were the new -27 type with a bubble canopy. For the next several months the 255 IAP flew
combat sorties, such as level bombing from 1000m, anti-ship operations, and ground attack, with their
Thunderbolts.

Of the 16 skins represented in this skinpack, only the Knight of Pythias, D-27 White #39 and D-27
Yellow #23 are historical as far as I can tell. Those three aircraft I created off of profiles found on WINGS
PALETTE. The other aircraft numbers I came up with by using the serial numbers that came with the aircraft. The
color I assigned randomly. For example, P-47D-22 Yellow #41 has the serial number 225541. The 41 comes from the
last two digits and the color was my choice. These skins are only a few of the many I'm creating for my in-progress
campaign featuring the Soviet usage of the P-47 with the 255th IAP in the Gulf of Finland. Please enjoy them!

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-- SKINS --
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P-47D-10:

Blank
Markings
Knight of Pythias

P-47D-22:

Blank
Markings
White #12
White #52
White #82
Yellow #41
Yellow #57
Yellow #59
Yellow #74

P-47D-27:

Blank
Markings
White #39
Yellow #23

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--CREDITS--
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Friendly Flyer
Jester
Serval
Monguse
Kristorf

Thanks to these five gents for the elements in their templates which I used to assemble these skins.

Uploaded to M4T and should be ready for download soon!

Hey, PBNA-Boosher. Those skins profiles are very nice, mate! I believe the skins are even better! Though I must say I would slightly reduce weathering effects, just a little-little bit... But it's absolutely a matter of personal taste, so, as I said before, you made a great work there!
I'm looking forward to download them... Thank you...

P.S.: If you need any help with your WIP Soviet Campaign, I'd be ready to help anyway I can...

Sincere regards,
Mangas.

This will be interesting. I've wondered in the past if anyone would do something like this with the P-47s. I look forward to it

Thanks guys! Mangas_Rus, you have a new PM