First off the P-47D could hit 426 mph, only 11 mph less than a P-51’Ds 437 mph, and the P-47N could hit 470 mph and the hot-rodded P-47M could hit a genuine 500 mph.
“At high altitude, the P-47Ms could attain a climb rate of 3,500 feet per minute and a maximum speed of 473 miles per hour in level flight—though some pilots reported achieving 490 to 500 mph when using WEP (Wartime Emergency Power). This made the P-47M arguably the fastest piston-engine fighter to see combat in the war—though still slower than the Me-262’s 540-miles per hour maximum speed.”-Wiki
As for air effectiveness the P-47 was THE premier high altitude fighter with good power right up till 40,000 because of its TURBO-supercharger that let it really gulp that thin air above 30,000 ft.
For “boom & zoom” energy tactics the P-47 excelled at striking from high altitude with its top diving speed on any piston-powered fighter of WWII (only the Me 262 could dive faster,) and with its extremely rare electric dive brakes and extremely strong build it could dive like a hawk on a mouse.
It eight .50s and 3200 rds allowed it to fire for aprox 30 seconds, eight more than a P-51 with its six guns and 1880 rds.
It was not particularly maneuverable, true, but those kind of dogfighting tactics had gone out with the Battle of Britain. “Boom & zoom”, tactics, its favorite type, reigned after 1941.
It had the best survival rate per combat sortie of any single engined fighter in WWII and could take damage, including engine damage that would shoot down any other aircraft, and still get home.
It was a phenomenal fighter.