Republic F-105D "Thunderchief"

Republic Aviation began developing a supersonic tactical fighter-bomber in 1951 to replace the F-84F, producing the F-105 Thunderchief, later nicknamed the Thud. The prototype YF-105A first flew on October 22, 1955, and the first F-105D flew on June 9, 1959. Thunderchiefs were built as the single-seat F-105B and F-105D and the two-seat F-105F, with some F-105Fs later modified into F-105Gs. A total of 833 were built, including 610 F-105Ds. The F-105D could carry more than 12,000 pounds of ordnance, including 8,000 pounds internally in its bomb bay, and it was used extensively in the Vietnam War, flying 75 percent of the air strikes against North Vietnam during its first four years in that theater. The last F-105D left U.S. Air Force service on July 12, 1980, and Air Force Reserve service on February 25, 1984. The aircraft painted as it appeared in late 1966 served with the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand, fought in Vietnam for 3 years 9 months with three different fighter wings, and is dedicated to Colonel Michael Muskat.

Montgomery, Alabama · United States