Handlung

Noted World War II dogfights of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, an American fighter class famous for its durability under fire.

The Republic P-47, was affectionately known as "The Jug". It was the most rugged fighter of World War II. Produced in huge quantities, this 8 ton 1600 horsepower workhorse flew more sorties in Europe than all of the P-51s, P-38s and P-40s combined during World War II. With a production run of over 14,000 machines during World War II, it was the most produced fighter of the war.

Part one: WWII ace Robert S Johnson, in a flight of 48 P-47 are sent to escort bombers home. At this time he has little experience and is flying at the tail end the flight. Their mission is to escort B-17 bombers on the trip home. He is flying at the tail end of the formation.

16 Fokke-Wolf 190s approach the P-47s from the rear, Johnson spots them and tries to alert his flight lead, but before he can alert anyone, he's jumped by a FW-190. His plane is heavily damaged and goes into a flat spin, the cockpit on fire. Johnson pulls his plane out of the flat spin. Johnson attempts to jump, but his canopy is jammed.

By the time he's realized he can't get out of the plane, the fire has gone out. He heads for home. His plane was barely flyable and was slowly losing altitude. He is then intercepted by a German ace. Robert Johnson's only hope is that his P-47 is tough enough to survive an attack. The FW-190 fires mercilessly into the P-47. Robert S Johnson uses his rudder peddles to slip and get the FW-190 to overshoot. Johnson gets on short burst of fire on the FW-190, which circles around, and proceeds to empty his guns into the P-47.

Johnson nursed his P-47 home to England. After counting 200 bullet holes in his aircraft without having even moved, he gave up and walked away.

Part two: The P-47 was moved into the ground attack role as the P-51 came on line. George Sutcliffe is returning from a ground attack mission, when he spots 40+ ME-109s (actual model number: Bf-109s) are seen heading toward the back of the flight. The flight heads up towards the clouds to escape. All escape except for Sutcliffe and Bechtold, leaving them to face 40 ME-109s. Sutcliffe ploughs through the formation of ME-109s, then begins a climbing right spiral towards the clouds. Halfway there he levels off and spots 20 ME-109s orbiting 1500 feet above him, right under the clouds. One German fighter breaks off to dive on Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe waits and then rolls inverted and dives. He pulls out and spiral climbs back up again. With another ME-109 on his tail again, he dives and spiral climbs up again. This time an ME-109 is in his blind spot. He does yet another power dive and climbing spiral. Another ME-109 attacks. This time, he makes it into the clouds.

Part three: To be added at a later date.