Thunderchief: The Complete History of the Republic's F-105 (DENNIS JENKINS)

PaulMM (Overscan) said:

I hope this is good. My best reference for F-105 development to date is Robert D Archer's The Republic F-105 "Thunderchief" which is from 1969...

Click to expand...

bercr said:

It's Specialty Press, not Schiffer. The layout is not that bad from my point of view.

Click to expand...

Archibald said:

Slightly off topic (sorry) but is there a photo somewhere with all the Century Fighters (100 101 102 104 105 106) flying in formation ? kudos if YF-107 among them...

Click to expand...

elmayerle said:

Got a notice from Specialty Press that the book would be delayed a few weeks, seems the weather-induced snarl in Chicago, along with some other factors, has slowed arrival of the printed books. I did find out I ordered early enough to get one autographed by the author, though.

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, this title is caught in a massive freight delay in Chicago due to -

1) A Chinese import surge that was caused by potential tariff increases
2) The Chinese New Year
3) Post-holiday traffic

We anticipate it may be another 2 to 3 weeks before this book will be available in our warehouse to ship to you.

Click to expand...

elmayerle said:

Yes, I noticed they said nothing about the weather, but I saw enough on the news to expect problems there. Apparently it's the coldest Chicago has been in decades and it has snarled many aspects of life in that city and environs (I have to wonder how the commuter lines running on overhead catenary lines fared).

Click to expand...

elmayerle said:

Yes, I noticed they said nothing about the weather, but I saw enough on the news to expect problems there.

Click to expand...

martinbayer said:

elmayerle said:

Yes, I noticed they said nothing about the weather, but I saw enough on the news to expect problems there. Apparently it's the coldest Chicago has been in decades and it has snarled many aspects of life in that city and environs (I have to wonder how the commuter lines running on overhead catenary lines fared).

Click to expand...

Simple - if they don't use electric heaters or hot-air blowers, they just heat the tracks with a toasty open fire: https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a26090529/rail-company-tracks-fire-chicago/

Click to expand...

This promotional film for the F-105 Thunderchief fighter bomber was made by Republic Aviation to showcase the aircraft's utility for Tactical Air Command (TAC) under a wide variety of conditions. It likely dates to about 1960. ( The first F-105Bs entered USAF service with the Tactical Air Command's 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing in August 1958, although the squadron did not become fully operational until 1959.)

Click to expand...

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it was the only U.S. aircraft to have been removed from combat due to high loss rates. Originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear-attack aircraft, a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was commonly known as the "Thud" by its crews.

Click to expand...

As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable North American F-100 Super Sabre, the F-105 was also armed with missiles and a cannon; however, its design was tailored to high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a single nuclear weapon internally. First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief entered service in 1958. The single-engine F-105 could deliver a greater bomb load than some American heavy bombers of World War II such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The F-105 was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced). Although less agile than smaller MiG fighters, USAF F-105s were credited with 27.5 kills.

Click to expand...

During the war, the single-seat F-105D was the primary aircraft delivering the heavy bomb loads against the various military targets. Meanwhile, the two-seat F-105F and F-105G Wild Weasel variants became the first dedicated Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) platforms, fighting against the Soviet-built S-75 Dvina (NATO reporting name: SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles. Two Wild Weasel pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites, with one shooting down two MiG-17s the same day. The dangerous missions often required them to be the "first in, last out", suppressing enemy air defenses while strike aircraft accomplished their missions and then left the area.

Click to expand...

When the Thunderchief entered service it was the largest single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft in history, weighing approximately 50,000 pounds .[3] It could exceed the speed of sound at sea level and reach Mach 2 at high altitude;[4] the F-105 could carry up to 14,000 lb of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. However, the "Wild Weasel" variants of the F-105 remained in service until 1984 after being replaced by the specialized F-4G "Wild Weasel V".

Click to expand...

NMaude said:

this book is still available

Click to expand...

Made by Republic to promote the F-105 Thunderchief, MACH OF THE THUNDERCHIEF shows the aircraft going through maneuvers. It had just recently set a new world's record for speed at Edwards Air Force Base. The film shows the design, construction and testing of this unique supersonic aircraft at the Republic Aviation factory in Bethpage, New York, including the roll-out of the aircraft. The film concludes with a mock war game at Eglin AFB, with F-105s dropping munitions on a B-29 or B-50 target aircraft.

Click to expand...

The Republic Aviation Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York. Originally known as the Seversky Aircraft Company, the company was responsible for the design and production of many important military aircraft, including its most famous products: World War II's P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, the F-84 Thunderjet and F-105 Thunderchief jet fighters, as well as the A-10 Thunderbolt II close-support aircraft.

Click to expand...

The F-105B entered USAF service with the Tactical Air Command's 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing in August 1958, although the squadron did not become fully operational until 1959. On 11 December 1959, an F-105B piloted by Brig Gen Joseph Moore (commander of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing) set a world record of 1,216.48 miles per hour over a 62 miles circuit.

Click to expand...

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it was the only U.S. aircraft to have been removed from combat due to high loss rates. Originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear-attack aircraft, a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was commonly known as the "Thud" by its crews

Click to expand...

.As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable North American F-100 Super Sabre, the F-105 was also armed with missiles and a cannon; however, its design was tailored to high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a single nuclear weapon internally. First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief entered service in 1958. The F-105 could deliver a greater bomb load than some American heavy bombers of World War II such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The F-105 was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced). Although less agile than smaller MiG fighters, USAF F-105s were credited with 27.5 kills.

Click to expand...

During the war, the single-seat F-105D was the primary aircraft delivering the heavy bomb loads against the various military targets. Meanwhile, the two-seat F-105F and F-105G Wild Weasel variants became the first dedicated Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) platforms, fighting against the Soviet-built S-75 Dvina (NATO reporting name: SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles. Two Wild Weasel pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites, with one shooting down two MiG-17s the same day. The dangerous missions often required them to be the "first in, last out", suppressing enemy air defenses while strike aircraft accomplished their missions and then left the area.

Click to expand...

The Thunderchief was the largest single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft in history, weighing approximately 50,000 pounds. It could exceed the speed of sound at sea level and reach Mach 2 at high altitude; the F-105 could carry up to 14,000 lb of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. However, the "Wild Weasel" variants of the F-105 remained in service until 1984 after being replaced by the specialized F-4G "Wild Weasel V".

Click to expand...

Made by Republic Aviation around 1960, this F-105 Thunderchief promotional film — originally classified "Secret" according to a card at the end — focuses on the aircraft's armament capability and spin tests. The film begins with astonishing shots of the aircraft's wide array of ordnance, and shows the supersonic aircraft's large bomb bay, equipped with an ejection system. The bay can also carry an extra fuel tank or small training bombs.

Click to expand...

The aircraft is shown performing supersonic maneuvers at the 4:00 mark, with precision bomb release, including 1000 lb bombs. Sidewinder capable racks are shown installed at the 4:50 mark. A sidewinder vs. HVAC rocket is seen at the 5:40 mark. The F-105's 20mm Vulcan gun is seen at the 5:50 mark.

Click to expand...

Spin maneuvers are seen at the 7:30 mark, the location of many of the tests appears to be Edwards Air Force Base.

Click to expand...

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it was the only U.S. aircraft to have been removed from combat due to high loss rates. Originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear-attack aircraft, a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was commonly known as the "Thud" by its crews.

Click to expand...

As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable North American F-100 Super Sabre, the F-105 was also armed with missiles and a cannon; however, its design was tailored to high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a single nuclear weapon internally. First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief entered service in 1958. The F-105 could deliver a greater bomb load than some American heavy bombers of World War II such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The F-105 was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced). Although less agile than smaller MiG fighters, USAF F-105s were credited with 27.5 kills.

Click to expand...

The Thunderchief was the largest single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft in history, weighing approximately 50,000 pounds. It could exceed the speed of sound at sea level and reach Mach 2 at high altitude; the F-105 could carry up to 14,000 lb of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. However, the "Wild Weasel" variants of the F-105 remained in service until 1984 after being replaced by the specialized F-4G "Wild Weasel V".

Click to expand...

The initial reaction of the fighter pilot community to their new aircraft was lukewarm. Between its massive dimensions and troubled early service life, the F-105 had garnered a number of uncomplimentary nicknames. In addition to the aforementioned "Thud", nicknames included the "Squat Bomber", "Lead Sled", and the "Hyper Hog" and/or "Ultra Hog". The latter two names arose from the F-105's predecessors, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and F-84 Thunderstreak, nicknamed "Hog" and "Super Hog", respectively. According to F-105 pilots and crews, the "Thud" nickname was inspired by the character "Chief Thunderthud" from the Howdy Doody television series.

Click to expand...

The aircraft's offensive capabilities were sarcastically referred to as a "Triple Threat" — it could bomb you, strafe you, or fall on you. Positive aspects, such as the F-105's responsive controls, strong performance at high speed and low altitude, and its outfit of electronics won over some pilots. For some, "Thud" was a term of endearment; retroactively the RF-84F Thunderflash became known as "Thud's Mother". F-105 pilot Colonel Jack Broughton said of the nickname: "The Thud has justified herself, and the name that was originally spoken with a sneer has become one of utmost respect through the air fraternity".

Click to expand...