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Old 27th May 2022, 12:23
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layman
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
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A P-47 Thunderbolt is pushed into position for take-off from the USS Manila Bay, Saipan, Marianas Islands, June 23, 1944 : WWIIplanes (reddit.com)

Photos of them on the flight deck.

On 23 June, Manila Bay came under enemy air attack during refueling operations east of Saipan. Four Aichi D3A Val dive bombers attacked her from dead ahead, dropping their bombs which exploded wide to port. As a precautionary and rather unusual move which Raymond A. Spruance later characterized as "commendable initiative", Manila Bay launched four of the P-47 thunderbolts she was ferrying to fly protective CAP until radar screens were clear of contacts. The Army fighters then flew to Saipan, their intended destination.
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