The Story of a WWII P-47 Pilot Who Fought Tiger Tanks and Lost a Wing

Hunting German Vehicles

On January 27, 1945, two P-47 Thunderbolts skimmed through the mountains of northern Italy. In the second plane sat 18-year-old Raymundo da Costa Canario of the 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron. Leading the flight was Lieutenant Luiz Lopes Dornelles. Their mission was to hunt enemy targets, and as they rounded a cliff, they spotted a column of German vehicles.

Dornelles spoke into the radio. “You see that, Canary? It’s Tigers!”

Canario confirmed the sighting. Among the vehicles, the large silhouettes of two Tiger tanks stood out. Without hesitation, he dived in first. Dornelles warned him to watch for anti-aircraft fire, but the thrill of the attack pushed Canario forward. He lined up his sights and fired a volley of rockets before releasing a stream of machine-gun fire. His bullets tore through trucks, sending flames into the sky. As he leveled off, he dropped two 500-pound bombs on the Tigers below.

Facing Enemy Fire

As Canario climbed away, green tracer rounds streaked past his canopy. A German 20mm anti-aircraft gun was locked onto him. He veered left, trying to escape, but the shells kept coming closer.

“I got you, kid!” Dornelles called out.

Dornelles swooped in, targeting the anti-aircraft gun. His bullets forced the crew to scatter, and as he flew over, he released a bomb. The explosion silenced the threat. Canario, catching his breath, joked over the radio, “Thanks, Luiz! I almost lost my feathers.”

Another Tiger Appears

Just as they prepared to leave, they spotted another Tiger tank down the road. Dornelles took the lead, diving toward the target. His rockets streaked toward the tank, but only one hit, damaging its suspension. “Canary, he’s all yours!”

Canario followed, launching his last four rockets. The explosions tore into the tank, leaving it disabled. “Three Tigers in one day! Maybe they should call you an eagle!” Dornelles laughed. But their mission wasn’t over yet.

Chasing a Half-Track

A German half-track sped away, possibly carrying another anti-aircraft weapon. Dornelles signaled to attack. He fired first, but the driver weaved, avoiding his shots. Canario lined up next and opened fire. His bullets shredded the vehicle’s thin armor. One round ignited the ammunition inside, causing a violent explosion.

As he pulled up, Canario saw a factory chimney looming ahead. He yanked the stick back, but it was too late. His wing clipped the structure, sending his plane into a violent roll. He fought for control, pushing left rudder. Miraculously, the P-47 steadied, but a third of his right wing was gone.

A Risky Flight Home

Dornelles flew alongside. “Can you fly it home?”

Canario checked his instruments. The engine held steady. Fuel levels were normal. He responded, but Dornelles couldn’t hear him. Their radio had malfunctioned.

As they crossed the Adriatic, two unidentified fighters appeared. Dornelles accelerated to intercept, but as they neared, he recognized them—Spitfires. He broke off, signaling they were friendly, but the British pilots had already opened fire.