The Thunderbolt Mk. 1 is name for the American P-47 fighter adopted by the Royal Air Force. After the successful deployment of the P-47, the United Kingdom took an interest in the aircraft. The two parties quickly reached an agreement, resulting in the delivery of 240 P-47 aircraft to the UK. Most of these aircraft were used in combat in the Pacific Theater as ground-attack aircraft. With their large fuel capacity and decent payload, the Thunderbolts quickly earned the respect of British pilots. Even after the arrival of the more modern Tempests, the P-47s continued to serve in the RAF. However, after the war ended, the Thunderbolts were phased out of service with British air units.

The Thunderbolt Mk.1 was introduced in Update 1.101 “Raining Fire”. The Thunderbolt is the ideal high-speed fighter. Its powerful armament, good top speed, excellent handling at high speeds, and high Max speed limit allow players to effectively employ the "Boom & Zoom" tactic. It is ideal not only for dogfights, but also for mixed combat, thanks to its ability to carry a large number of bombs and rockets.