While the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is legendary
far less known are some of the prototypes which preceded it. One of these was the Biplane 'Bolt.
Conceived as a modernized follow-on to the Seversky XPH-29
this revolutionary heavy interceptor was officially known as the Thunder Cloud II but would eventually be retconned as the Biplane 'Bolt.
Design work began in the mid-1930s as part of the War Department's Continental Coordinated Air Defense Operations Plan.
While this strategy employed various measures to protect the U.S. from enemy attack, it was only slightly less complex than the detailed engineering Republic needed to get their large interceptor off the ground.
The prototype completed flight testing and the U.S. Army Air Corps, still believing in the supremacy of highly maneuverable biplanes, thought they had the perfect weapon to defend American skies. It was an intimidating aircraft indeed, carrying no less than 14 high-caliber machine guns although armorers simply considered this job security.
Unfortunately, the new interceptor would be quickly overtaken by the march of technology and by the time the war started, it was relegated to testing and other second-line duties.
By 1942, the U.S. had fully mobilized all resources for the war effort.
This included the Biplane 'Bolt which just participated in the West Virginia Wormwood maneuvers, performing Op Force recon. It was winging its way back to the Republic plant in Farmingdale, Long Island when local Civil Defense spotted suspected enemy aerial intruders.
The alarm was raised and the Biplane 'Bolt was ordered to intercept the invaders.
Even though the Paris of Appalachia was surprised by the alert, the enemy turned out to be just a rogue flock of pigeons.
The all-clear was sounded shortly after the Biplane 'Bolt made sure there was no airborne threat and continued on its way.
However, it was not all-clear for this prototype which by now was clearly obsolete. The Air Corps ordered it stripped for usable parts and what little remained became atomized by rapid-fire gunnery practice.
Nothing exists of it today except this model which was built using a one-off conversion set. It's shown here accurately depicted in war games camouflage wearing bold numerals which are less an aircraft identifier and more a warning that 100% death and dismemberment coverage is required to operate the type.
Sadly the Biplane 'Bolt is mostly forgotten today. A vision of the future that might have been, while it had two sets of wings, it never really had a prayer.
Brian da Basher
