Dhimari P-43 Lancers

**Spinners** · April 15, 2023

Republic P-43A-2 Lancer - No.1 Squadron, Royal Dhimari Air Force, 1942

Delays with the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine intended for the new P-47 Thunderbolt meant that orders were placed for an additional 200 P-43 Lancer fighter aircraft in order to keep the Republic production lines operating whilst waiting for P-47 production to start. Of this additional batch of 200 P-43 Lancers, 54 P-43's were allocated to the USAAC, 125 P-43A-1s were allocated to China (under the lend-lease program) with the balance of 21 aircraft being allocated to Dhimar as P-43A-2's. These were eagerly received by a desperate Royal Dhimari Air Force who wasted no time in re-equipping No.1 Squadron during the Spring of 1942 and also the High-Altitude Reconnaissance Flight where the P-43's excellent high-altitude performance enabled it to regularly fly above 40,000ft. In Dhimari service, the Lancer was well regarded and this led Royal Dhimari Air Force officials to push for P-47 Thunderbolts in preference to other types of fighter.