285 P-43A

About 272 in total were made made despite the USAAF not wanting any!  The intention was to keep Republic Aircraft's lines busy until the P-47 was reaady for production.  These supposedly were just used as traing aircraft, BUT actually a small number (14-20) went to the USAAF and the RAAF in the Southwest Pacific  in mid 1942 as Photo-Reconaisance aircraft because with their turbo-charged R-1830 engine, the could easily mainatin 25,000 feet and 350 MPH if needed.  125 P-43 A1s (with pilot armor and early model self-sealing wing tanks) were sent to China for the Chinese Airforce and used from 1942 until retired in early 1944. It had a good roll rate and excellent altitude performance for the early war period, but it's fuel tanks were still quite vulnerable.