Emulating Shultzie's example, here's a detail shot for you Thunderbolt fans. This is of a P-47D at the Flying Heritage Museum.

Notice the burn on the LG door from the wastgate dump.

John W

Great pictures.  Didn't realize the landing gear doors were three peices.   

Great pictures.  Didn't realize the landing gear doors were three peices.   

Not only that but the struts actually get shorter as they retract into the wells. The oleo struts extend as the weight is removed as in in-flight, and then the struts shorten to make them fit into the wells.
My favorite WWII fighter, for sure. Many myths and untruths about the airplane are told and retold after people read incorrect stories of the airplane. It was very fast, it had the highest roll rate of any US fighter or Axis fighter above 250 kts, it was very stable and easy to fly. It also cost twice as much as the Mustang. With Lockheed 175 gallon drop tanks on underwing pylons the Thunderbolt had the same range as the P-51.   
Chris...