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According to the truly knowledgable (i.e wing wiper fans and former USAF types that I know) the Thunderbolt was more labor intensive for maintenance, and cost more to operate due to the increased fuel consumption of the aircraft.
But the bottom line was that the USAF in 1950 had broken into two camps: strategic nuclear delivery and air superiority fighter operations. "Mud moving" was not glamorous and not on their scope, period. Thankfully they did have enough old hands from WWII who remembered how to do that to prevent a total disaster in 1950. However, much of the "close air support" that the USAF eventually flew during the war was what we now call "battlefield air interdiction" that went for fixed targets just behind the front lines, such as bridges, railheads, barracks, troop concentrations, etc. -- basically non-mobile targets.
Cookie Sewell
AMPS
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