This episode describes what is probably the best known combat incident involving the Republic P-47.
The P-47 was a huge fighter, armed with eight .50 caliber machine guns, and amply protected by its radial engine, it's self-sealing fuel tanks, and plentiful armor plating. Despite it's size and its weight of several tons, it could reach speeds greater than 400 miles per hour, and more than that in a power dive.
The fire power was no help to the pilot here, Robert Johnson, who was jumped by Focke Wolfs over France. His nose was grazed by a bullet and he was sent down in flames. As the fire abated, he managed to pull out of the spin, gain level flight, and head for home. The problem was that his airplane was thoroughly torn up.
The airframe was full of holes. The airplane now was able only to crawl along slowly. The cockpit was jammed almost shut. And his heart sank when a yellow-nosed FW-190 appeared behind him, flown by Egon Meyer, who had more than sixty kills behind him.
Meyer peppered the P-47 with .30 caliber machine gun bullets, and the helpless Johnson could do nothing except hunch down in his armored seat and watch pieces of his airplane flying off.
Meyer then pulled alongside Johnson, gave the battered P-47 a good scrutiny, shook his head in disbelief, waved, and then took position behind Johnson and began firing again, this time kicking the rudder slightly from side to side and walking the strike path of the bullets from wingtip to wingtip.
Finally, his ammunition exhausted, Meyer pulls alongside Johnson again, waves his wings, and flies off.
When at least he was able to land, Johnson stood next to his airplane and began counting the bullet holes. He quit when he reached two hundred.
It was an extraordinary demonstration of the ruggedness of the P-47, and there were many other examples. It was also fortunate for Johnson that Meyer had apparently used up the ammunition for his 20 mm. cannon.