Republic
F-105
Thunderchief
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Photo: Robert Deering 1981
Majors Airport (GVT)
Greenville, Texas
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, but the first F-105D did not fly until June 1959. A total of 833 Thunderchiefs of all types were built, including 610 F-105Ds.

The U.S. Air Force sent F-105s to Southeast Asia shortly after the Tonkin Gulf incident in the summer of 1964. The USAF operated the F-105D 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, and the USAF withdrew the last F-105D from service in February 1984.

F-105G
Photo: Robert Deering 10/18/2012
National Museum of the USAF
Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO)
Dayton, Ohio
F-105G
Photo: Robert Deering 7/11/2004
Cavanaugh Flight Museum
Addison Airport (ADS)
Addison, Texas
F-105D
Photo: Robert Deering 7/21/2018
Frontiers of Flight Museum
Love Field (DAL)
Dallas. Texas		  
SPECIFICATIONS: PERFORMANCE:
Span: 34 ft. 11 in.
 Length:  64 ft. 5 in.
Height:  19 ft. 8 in.
Empty Weight:  
 Gross Weight:  52,838 lbs. maximum
Crew: 		Maximum speed: 1,390 mph
Cruising speed: 778 mph
Range: 2,206 miles
Ceiling:
Service ceiling: 51,000 ft.
Engines: One Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W of 24,500 lbs thrust
Armament: One M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon and more than 12,000 lbs. of ordnance
   
SOURCE: National Museum of the United States Air Force  
   
1959 DOD Aircraft
Recognition Manual Page