Republic JF-105B "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 in the single-seat F-105B and F-105D series and the two-seat F-105F model, with some F-105Fs later modified into F-105Gs. A total of 833 Thunderchiefs of all types were built, including 610 F-105Ds. The F-105D could carry more than 12,000 pounds of ordnance, including up to 8,000 pounds internally in its bomb bay, a heavier bomb load than a World War II B-17. The F-105D was used extensively in Vietnam and flew 75 percent of the air strikes against North Vietnam during its first four years there. The last F-105D left Air Force service on July 12, 1980. Aircraft 54-0105 was flown by Lt. Col. James Risner, commander of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, while on tdy to Da Nang Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam from January through September 1965. Risner was shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese on September 16, 1965, and was released eight years later with other POWs as a result of the January 28, 1973 agreement.

Lackland AFB, Texas · United States