Republic F-105 Thunderchief

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 bore the brunt of strike bombing over North Vietnam during the early years of the Vietnam War. Originally designed and deployed as a single seat aircraft, a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for use in the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. It was commonly known as the Thud by its crews.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Republic
• F-105
• Thunderchief

[gallantrycross]

I was with the 23rd Wing (Flying Tigers) in 1972, assigned to the 561st Squadron. We sent over a dozen Wild Weasels for Linebacker and four of them got shot down. One of them was the last F-105 shot down in the Vietnam War. Linebacker I & II brought North Vietnam to its knees and we forced them to the peace table where the North Vietnamese were made to sign the Paris Peace Accords, thus ending the war. The USA did not lose--three years after we left the South Vietnamese lost the war, not us.

[Mitch70832]

Proud to have loaded many of the actual birds you see in this video. Most of the footage here I recognize as being my base in 1965/66, Korat, Thailand. Just beofre the planes started to get the large tail codes spray painted on, like "JJ". A1CLarry G. Mitchell, Weapons load team, 13TFS, 13th AF.

[vfIskullangel]

@kjb86 I prefer the F-5 over both :)

[oldpro1977]

@redonionsauce You are welcome.

[redonionsauce]

@oldpro1977 Thank you

[xxchinookxx]

I love and admire both the F-105 Thunderchief & F-4 Phantom. Wildweasel pilots had nerves of wire. Just knowing that SAM missles were ready to strike would of gave me the creeps.

[Greenhornet270]

I only saw one of these 105's in Vietnam I was amazed at the huge SIZE of it....

[greenfruitface]

Yeah, you can tell just by looking at this thing that it's built like a freakin' tank. I mean, look how wide the gear is, for starters. It must have been great to land, for something that size and weight.

[oldpro1977]

I was a Mechanical Accessories mechanic on these in Vietnam and Thailand(64 to 66). You could not believe how shot-up they would get and still make it home. A great plane for it's war time function. Very underrated aircraft.

[ryanspeed]

The Phantom was definitely a much better dogfigher but down on the deck it handled rather poorly. I know 5 former Phantom drivers 4 of which who also flew 105's and all said at low level high speed runs the Phantom had a tendecy to buffet whereas the Thud was smooth as glass.