Detailed Tour of P-47D Thunderbolt “Bonnie”

An Iconic Warbird

The P-47 Thunderbolt—affectionately nicknamed the “Jug”—remains one of World War II’s most iconic fighters. With its massive engine and turbo-supercharger setup, it packed serious punch and earned a reputation as one of the deadliest aircraft of the war.

Chris from Military and Aviation History recently gave a great walkaround and cockpit tour of the P-47D Thunderbolt “Bonnie,” thanks to the folks at AirCorps Aviation in Bemidji, Minnesota. They’ve done a fantastic job maintaining and restoring this beauty to her wartime glory.

“Bonnie” is a prime example of the early birdcage canopy models, and what really stands out is that they kept the original gunsight installed—a rare touch, since many flying restorations tend to leave that out.

Credit where it’s due: AirCorps knocked it out of the park. Not only did they bring this warbird back to life, but they also serve as a go-to source for flight manuals and restoration resources. You can really tell these guys are passionate about preserving aviation history the right way.