The real 48th FG 'Nellie' and the newly painted presentation of 'Nellie' below.
The 48th FG moved to England in March 1944 and were stationed at Ibsley where the pilots trained in P-47's in preparation for the Allied invasion of Normandy. The wartime motto was in Latin 'vulneratus non victus' (Unconquered even though wounded).
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the Group bombed bridges and German gun positions and over the next couple of months supported the Allies advance across France. They also supported the airborne attack on Holland in September.
Their work over the winter of 1944-1945 would see them awarded two Belgian citations for their close support of Allied ground troops as well as a Distinguished Unit Citation.
The group's missions were varied. As well as flying patrol and escort missions, the group also flew weather reconnaissance and leaflet-dropping missions. On one occasion their payload consisted of blood plasma which was dropped in belly tanks to troops on the ground for medical transfusions.
Here's some history on the current 'Nellie' P-47 flying today in the UK. As most my know she's the old "No Guts, No Glory' Thunderbolt.
https://www.flyinglegends.com/aircraft/ ... -thun.htmlhttp://vintageaviationecho.com/thunderb ... how-scene/The original P-47 Thunderbolt ‘Nellie’ 48th FG 492 FS (photo: American Air Museum in Britain)
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/36867Fighter Aviation Engineering LTD's P-47 Thunderbolt 45-49192 (G-THUN) in color scheme of ‘Nellie’ 48th FG 492 FS.
Here's a photo of some of the ground crew. You can see that this P-47 was actually named 'Nellie B'
Lieutenant Broe of the 48th FG, 493rd FS with his P-47 Thunderbolt. 24-3-45 St Tond
Another nice view.
And a few 48th FG P-47's taxiing out for a mission.