P-47D Thunderbolt “Naughty Nadine” – John S. Lolos and the Thunderbolt That Flew Over the Pacific
Some models start with a photo. Others with a historical event. But there are also those that start with a book.
The story of the P-47D Thunderbolt “Naughty Nadine” began exactly like that.
Through the book Greeks in Foreign Cockpits by Dimitris Vasilopoulos, a lesser-known but particularly powerful page of aviation history is revealed: the path of the Greek-American pilot John S. Lolos, who flew in the Pacific with the US Air Force during World War II.
For fans of history, aviation and scale modeling, this book is available through GModel Art and is an excellent research source for those who want to discover the stories of Greek aviators who served outside Greece.
From Springfield to the Sky of the Pacific
John S. Lolos was born in Massachusetts to Greek immigrants. He was exposed to aviation from a young age and began private flying lessons before even joining the army. After his enlistment in 1942, he completed his training and was sent to Australia before being transferred to operations in the Southwest Pacific.
There he joined the 341st Fighter Squadron “Black Jack”, part of the 348th Fighter Group of the 5th Air Force.
The 348th Fighter Group developed into one of the most effective P-47 units of the war in the Pacific, with hundreds of recorded successes in dogfights and missions of escort, reconnaissance and support of ground forces.
The P-47D Thunderbolt “Naughty Nadine”
Lolos’s aircraft was a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, one of the heaviest and most durable single-engine fighters of the war.
The aircraft in question bore the name “Naughty Nadine” painted on the front of the fuselage, while on the right side there was a characteristic nose art. The tail was painted white with a large number 36, while victory markings appeared below the cockpit.
As was often the case with American Pacific fighters, the aircraft was transported disassembled to Australia and reassembled before going into action.
The dogfight that went down in history
On December 27, 1943, John Lolos was flying a patrol mission over the Arawe area.
During the mission, he spotted a friendly aircraft under attack and immediately dived into battle.
In the ensuing engagement, he encountered Japanese fighters and recorded successes against enemy aircraft. Years later, he recalled that the experience made him realize that the adversaries were also young people fighting for their country.
His combat action earned him the Air Medal, while reports attribute several aerial victories to him during his service.
From history to model
For a modeler, the P-47D Thunderbolt “Naughty Nadine” is more than just a Thunderbolt.
P-47D Thunderbolt “Naughty Nadine” – John Lolos
It is a project that combines:
historical research,
nose art,
especially markings,
operational use in the Pacific,
and the story of a Greek diaspora who found himself on the front lines of the war.
Interestingly, research on this particular aircraft can start from the same point where this discovery began: the book Greeks in Foreign Cockpits, which is available from GModel Art for those who want to delve deeper into the stories of Greek aviators outside of Greek squadrons.
Colors US WWII. Aircraft and Camouflage of The U.S. ARMY-USAAF
P-47D Thunderbolt, John S. Lolos “Naughty Nadine”
John Lolos
