Cockpit lighting in P-47D-30

[Steve Brown]

I'm trying to find data on lighting. Did they use regular bulbs in gauges that would probably be more of a yellow illumination? I have a manual but I can't find much on that. To be honest I haven't found much on night missions at all. I would assume they did night bomber escorts. I would think there would be some type of cockpit light for looking at maps if need be. I just wondered if anyone could fill me in on what they actually had back then.

Thanks,
Then Newbie

 

[Airframes]

Don't know of any night escort missions.
In most fighter aircraft, lighting was normally provided by two or more small, tubular lamps, which could be dimmed, and angled onto the instrument panel, whilst the instruments themselves used luminous paint for the markings and indicator hands.
If the instruments themselves were illuminated, they would use small, low power bulbs, again with a rheostat to allow dimming, just like car instruments of the period.
Glenn (T-Bolt) is building a full size P-47 cockpit, and may be able to add more regarding this type.

 

[Crimea_River]

 

[Wurger]

 

[T Bolt]

A D-30 would have the spot light (A) shown above. The instruments were not lit, they had radium painted hands & faces which glowed continually, or the type of glow in the dark paint we see today which is activated by light and glows for a while afterword

 

[Steve Brown]

Thanks for the insight. That bust the myths that a lot of people seem to believe.

 

[Steve Brown]

Gents I am blind, I found this in my P-47D-25 through 35 manual. Its hard to make out what the wording is above or below the switches but further in the manual It seems very clear. It mentions only one swivel light. Granted the only manual I've found for th -30 is the British model. I know what the manual posted above says I assume it is from one of the other manuals posted. My question is. Is for what country is that manual for? This is the manual I'm looking at . Crimea_River could you send me a link to the manual you posted the images from? I'm working on the P-47-30 for an opensource flight sim. =free. Everything is free. I want things to be accurate. Thanks

 

[Crimea_River]

The manual I used can be found here: P-47 Thunderbolt Manual's

 

[Steve Brown]

The manual I used can be found here: P-47 Thunderbolt Manual's

OK thanks. That one also shows an instrument light switch and compartment light controls. I guess the -30 lost one compartment light when the Razorbacks seemed to have had 2 from the image in your earlier post.

 

[waroff]

P47B & C had two fluorescent lamp type C1 and one fluo spotlight type C5 on right side
P47D(all, razorback & bubble) had one C5 only *
source: electrical system P47B, C, D

type C-1:

Type C-5:

*EDIT: M & N also had one C5 only.