The last of the new-build production Thunderbolts, the P-47N was created to meet a USAAF need for a long range B-29 escort for Pacific work. The basic P-47D fuselage was mated to a new wing center section that contained extra internal fuel; this design was tested by XP-47K 42-8702, prior to the July 1944 flight of the R-2800-57 powered XP-47N. Production P-47Ns began arriving in early 1945, and by that summer four fighter groups equipped with N-models were operational from Ie Shima and Iwo Jima.
P-47N production was finished out with the -25RE block, which had an improved and more ergonomic engine control system, and flaps & ailerons changed to better tolerate the effects of rocket firing. V-J Day cut short Thunderbolt production, as it had been planned to continue building P-47N-30s at Farmingdale and P-47N-RAs at Evansville. At the dawn of the 21st Century, a pair of P-47Ns (44-90447/N1345B Jackys Revenge and 45-5346/N47TB) were airworthy, although the latter aircraft crashed in March 2002.
The P-47N has been kitted in 1/72 scale by Italeri and Heller, and more recently by Sword.
