Luftwaffe Laughed At P 47's Size—Until It Destroyed 9,000 Locomotives In Europe Discover how a fighter that looked oversized and awkward quietly reshaped the air war over Europe. When the P-47 first appeared in 1943, many German pilots dismissed it as too heavy and too clumsy to matter. It climbed slower and turned wider than sleeker opponents. But looks hid its real purpose. Built to dive fast, take punishment, and keep flying, the Thunderbolt thrived where others failed. As the war shifted tow