Corgi Aviation Archive Series Diecast Model

Republic P-47D-16 Thunderbolt – "11", Major Herschel H. “Herky” Green, 317th FS “Checkertails”, 325th FG, USAAF, Lesina, Italy, 1944

1:72 Scale.  Length: 6".  Wingspan: 6.75"


Limited Edition of 1,400 Models Worldwide

Herschel "Herky" Green was not only the ranking P-47 ace in the Mediterranean Theatre (MTO) but also the USAAF's top scoring pilot-in-theatre. Green commanded the 317th FS from March until September 1944. This particular P-47 was his personal aircraft and like all his aircraft was numbered 11 and lacked any embellishment other than an 'ace' on the nose. The inspiration for this design was a Vargas calendar cowgirl, a very popular model for aircraft nose art during the war. Periodically Green was obliged to fly other aircraft if his was under repair and in one such P-47, 'Star of Altoona', he shot down six aircraft on January 30, 1944. His final tally stood at 18 destroyed, 1 probable and 6 damaged.

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a single-seat fighter aircraft used by the U.S. and Allied air forces during World War II. It was one of the largest, heaviest, most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single piston engine. The P-47B was first flown on May 6, 1941 with the first production aircraft being delivered in May 1942. The Thunderbolt was very effective as a short-to-medium range escort fighter and as a fighter-bomber proved especially adept at ground attack. The aircrafts eight .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns could inflict severe damage on lightly armored targets. In the fighter-bomber ground-attack role it could carry ten five-inch rockets or a bomb load of up to 2,500 pounds.

The first P-47 combat mission took place on March 10, 1943 when the 4th FG took their aircraft on a fighter sweep over France. By 1944, the P-47 Thunderbolt was in service with the USAAF in all of its operational theaters, except Alaska. Although the P-51 Mustang eventually replaced the P-47 in the long-range escort role in Europe, the P-47 still ended the war with 3752 air-to-air victories claimed in over 746,000 sorties. A total of 15,678 P-47s of all types were built, the last being a P-47N, which rolled off the Republic Aviation production line in October 1945. The P-47 Thunderbolt served with the U.S. Army Air Force (U.S. Air Force after 1947) until 1949 and the Air National Guard until 1953.


Corgi is a leading manufacturer of high quality, pre-built, die-cast model airplanes. Every model is crafted with meticulous attention to details, using specifications of the original aircraft. Corgi models are constructed with precision-tooled diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a P-47 Thunderbolt features: