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F-84 Thunderjet
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Photo:
Robert Deering 10/18/2012 National Museum of the USAF Dayton, Ohio |
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The rugged F-84
Thunderjet gained its greated renown during
the Korean War. Initially sent to escort
B-29s on long-range missions over North
Korea, the Thunderjet excelled as a close
air support and daytime interdiction strike
aircraft. In Korea, F-84 pilots attacked
enemy railroads, dams, bridges, supply
depots and troop concentrations with bombs,
rockets and napalm. The Thunderjet became the Army Air Forces' second jet fighter to enter large-scale production, and it first flew flight in February 1946. Early F-84s had several problems, including weak wing spars, excessive weight and shortages of engines and spare parts. The F-84E, however, corrected most of the Thunderjet's shortcomings. During its service life, the Thunderjet served in several roles, including day fighter, long-range escort fighter, fighter-bomber and as the USAF's first tactical nuclear bomber. The USAF also supplied F-84s to 14 other countries. The basic "straight-wing" F-84 design later evolved into a swept-wing fighter version called the Thunderstreak and a swept-wing reconnaissance version called the Thunderflash. F-84s were also used as test-beds for experiments, including power plant trials and aerodynamic research. By the time production ceased in 1953, about 4,450 "straight-wing" Thunderjets (XP-84, YP-84A, F-84B/C/D/E/G) had been built. |
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