The Thud
In 1951 Republic Aviation began a project to develop a supersonic tactical fighter-bomber to replace the F-84F. The result was the F-105 Thunderchief, later affectionately nicknamed the “Thud.” The prototype YF-105A first flew in October 1955.
The US Air Force sent F-105s to Southeast Asia shortly after the Tonkin Gulf incident in the summer of 1964. The USAF operated the F-105 extensively in the air campaign against North Vietnam called Rolling Thunder. Although designed as a nuclear strike aircraft, the F-105 could carry a total of over 12,000 pounds of conventional ordnance — a heavier bomb load than a World War II B-17.
The F-105 was gradually replaced by the F-4 Phantom.
F-105 pilot recalls doing the final ever Thud Flight
As explained by Theo van Geffen and Gerald Arruda in their book Republic F-105 Thunderchief Peacetime Operations, on Mar. 10, 1984 F-105F, 63-8287, did the final ever Thud flight when Capt Joe Gelinger as Thud 01 flew her to Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, to go on display at its Aerospace Museum. As Chanute did not have an active runway, it was decided to leave the rear seat empty…