Proposal for new skin for P-47D-28 of the 392FS, 367thFG

[wiscstar]

REQUEST: Historically Accurate Skin — P‑47D‑28‑RE “42‑26649” (392nd FS, 367th FG)

I’m looking for a historically accurate IL‑2 skin of P‑47D‑28‑RE, serial 42‑26649, flown by Lt. James B. Cutler of the 392nd Fighter Squadron (H5‑), 367th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force. This aircraft was lost on 16 April 1945 near Michelsberg, Czechoslovakia during deep‑penetration operations in the final weeks of the war.

 

Why This Skin Matters

P‑47D‑28‑RE 42‑26649 is one of the few 367th Fighter Group Thunderbolts with a fully documented combat loss record. The 367th had only recently transitioned from P‑38s to P‑47s (February 1945), and their Thunderbolts carried a distinctive set of late‑war Ninth Air Force markings — including the group’s unique Blue / Yellow / Blue fin stripes with a horizontal black border beneath them.

Despite this, most existing IL‑2 skins for the 367th FG mix markings from different eras or omit key details entirely. Creating an accurate skin for 42‑26649 would fill a real historical gap in the game’s library and honor the aircraft, its pilot, and the unit’s short but intense P‑47 combat period.

 

Call to Artists

If any talented skinner in our community feels inspired to take this on, your work would help preserve a small but important chapter of Ninth Air Force history. The 367th FG’s P‑47 period was brief, visually distinctive, and almost completely unrepresented in IL‑2 with historically accurate markings. A faithful skin of 42‑26649 would be a meaningful contribution to the sim and a respectful tribute to Lt. Cutler and the men of the 392nd FS.

 

MASTER REFERENCE SHEET

P‑47D‑28‑RE “42‑26649” — 392nd FS, 367th FG (April 1945)

Below is a complete 360‑degree marking guide for IL‑2 artists.

 

General Appearance

• Natural Metal Finish (NMF)
• Model: P‑47D‑28‑RE
• Olive Drab anti‑glare panel
• Yellow cowl ring (9th AF standard)
• No invasion stripes
• No red cowlings
• Moderate late‑war weathering
• Squadron code: H5‑X (left) / X‑H5 (right)
• Tail: Blue / Yellow / Blue vertical bars + horizontal black border

 

Left Side Profile

 

[ NOSE / COWL ] - Yellow cowl ring - Cowl flaps natural metal [ ANTI-GLARE PANEL ] - Olive Drab, straight-edged [ FUSELAGE ] - Natural metal - National insignia centered vertically - Codes: H5‑X (black) [ AFT FUSELAGE ] - Natural metal with turbo exhaust staining [ TAIL ] - Blue / Yellow / Blue vertical bars - Black horizontal border beneath bars - Serial (left side only): 226649

 

Right Side Profile

 

[ NOSE / COWL ] - Yellow cowl ring [ FUSELAGE ] - Natural metal - Codes: X‑H5 (black) [ TAIL ] - Same tail bars + black border - No serial on right side

 

Top‑Down View

 

[ NOSE ] - Yellow cowl ring - Olive Drab anti-glare panel [ WINGS – UPPER ] - Natural metal - National insignia on left wing only [ FUSELAGE – UPPER ] - Natural metal with panel variation [ FIN / RUDDER – UPPER ] - Blue / Yellow / Blue bars visible - Black border visible below bars

 

Bottom‑Side View

 

[ WINGS – LOWER ] - Natural metal - National insignia on right wing only [ FUSELAGE – LOWER ] - Natural metal - Turbocharger ducting visible [ TAIL – LOWER ] - Natural metal (tail bars not visible from below)

 

Color References (Approx.)

• Blue (tail bar): ANA 501 / FS 35052
• Yellow (tail bar & cowl ring): ANA 614 / FS 33538
• Black (separator band): Matte black
• Anti‑glare: Olive Drab ANA 613 / FS 34087

 

Historical Context

• Lost 16 April 1945
• Mission over Czechoslovakia
• Pilot Lt. James B. Cutler became a POW
• 367th FG had flown P‑47s for only ~2 months
• All aircraft were NMF with standardized tail bars

[wiscstar]

Just wanted to add a quick follow‑up now that the proposal has been accepted — thank you to the moderators for giving this project a green light.

To any artists browsing the thread: if you feel drawn to historically grounded work, this aircraft is a perfect canvas. The references above give you everything you need to build a faithful late‑war Ninth Air Force Thunderbolt, including the correct 367th FG tail bars, the black separator band, the H5 squadron codes, and the natural‑metal D‑28 layout. It’s a clean, well‑documented subject with a real combat story behind it, and it would be great to see this aircraft represented in IL‑2 with the accuracy it deserves.

If anyone decides to take it on, feel free to post progress or questions here — I’d be glad to support the research side so you can focus on the art.