This photograph, preserved within a collection otherwise focused on the 101st Airborne Division, documents a U.S. Army Air Forces P-47 Thunderbolt fighter on a forward dirt airstrip during World War II. The rugged Thunderbolt, prized for its durability and firepower, provided close air support to Allied ground forces -- including airborne troops -- throughout the campaigns in Europe, making its inclusion among airborne veterans' photographs a fitting testament to the close cooperation between air and ground forces. Project: 218245