An FR-1 Fireball of VF-66 at NAS North Island, 1945 | |
Role | Fighter |
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National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Ryan Aeronautical |
First flight | 25 June 1944 |
Introduction | March 1945 |
Retired | 1 August 1947 |
Primary user | United States Navy |
Produced | 1944–1945 |
Number built | 71 |
Developed into | Ryan XF2R Dark Shark |
TDesign of the FR-1 began in 1943 to a proposal instigated by Admiral John S. McCain Sr. for a mixed-powered fighter because early jet engines had sluggish acceleration that was considered unsafe and unsuitable for carrier operations. Ryan received a contract for three XFR-1 prototypes and one static test airframe on 11 February 1943 with the first two prototypes delivered in 14 months. Another contract was placed for 100 aircraft on 2 December 1943 and a later contract on 31 January 1945 increased the total of FR-1s on order to 700.
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The P-47 proved to be a formidable fighter-bomber due to its good armament, heavy bomb load, and ability to survive enemy fire. The P-47's survivability was due in part to its radial piston engine, which unlike comparable liquid-cooled engines, had a high tolerance for damage.
Other positive attributes included the P-47's ruggedness; its radial piston engine had a high tolerance for damage compared to liquid-cooled engines,
In the Pacific, Colonel Neel E. Kearby of the Fifth Air Force claimed 22 Japanese aircraft and was awarded the Medal of Honor