In this oral history snippet from the Burma Banshees Archive, veteran LT Adair recalls the destructive firepower of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt while operating with the 89th Fighter Squadron in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater.

LT Adair describes the impact of the P-47’s eight .50-caliber Browning machine guns, set to converge at 1,000 feet—a devastating wall of lead that made “a real big impression” on ground targets.

Featured Footage & Imagery:

  • Interview clip with LT Adair (89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group)

  • Archival photos: LT Adair’s P-47 at Tingkawk Sakan and taking off from Nagaghuli Airfield

  • Archival photos: Armorers (including “Spook” McClain) charging guns on P-47 #78

  • Rare color film of P-47 Thunderbolt airfield taxi and takeoff operations in Burma

👉 Explore the full historical archive: BurmaBanshees.com

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