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Posted: 11/19/2011 12:05:40 AM EDT
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Posted: 11/19/2011 1:16:11 AM EDT
[#1]
big damn fighter, fast as hell but couldn't turn worth a shit
the idea of an internal weapons bay in a single engine fighter is pretty cool though |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 2:05:06 AM EDT
[#2]
Made a very interesting low alt fighter bomber with those tiny wings !
VC Sam sites remember.. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 4:23:57 AM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
Made a very interesting low alt fighter bomber with those tiny wings ! VC Sam sites remember.. Really? How many VC had SAMs? The Thud was nice aircraft, and very durable. For so many to go down is a testament to the AAA, SAM, and MiG threat in North Vietnam. There's a pic of a Thud that got drilled in the ass, on accident, by an American Sidewinder. The.plane got the pilot home, and after repairs it flew again. Ed Rasimus's book, and Jack Broughton's book lend creedence to the Thud's toughness. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 4:41:01 AM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Made a very interesting low alt fighter bomber with those tiny wings ! VC Sam sites remember.. Really? How many VC had SAMs? The Thud was nice aircraft, and very durable. For so many to go down is a testament to the AAA, SAM, and MiG threat in North Vietnam. There's a pic of a Thud that got drilled in the ass, on accident, by an American Sidewinder. The.plane got the pilot home, and after repairs it flew again. Ed Rasimus's book, and Jack Broughton's book lend creedence to the Thud's toughness. He probably meant NVA, She was a tough bird though, I have read "100 Missions North" forget who the author was though. Excellent read, couldn't put it down. That last pic in the OP is a Thud getting nailed by an SA-2 SAM. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 4:54:03 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Made a very interesting low alt fighter bomber with those tiny wings ! VC Sam sites remember.. Really? How many VC had SAMs? The Thud was nice aircraft, and very durable. For so many to go down is a testament to the AAA, SAM, and MiG threat in North Vietnam. There's a pic of a Thud that got drilled in the ass, on accident, by an American Sidewinder. The.plane got the pilot home, and after repairs it flew again. Ed Rasimus's book, and Jack Broughton's book lend creedence to the Thud's toughness. The Thud had to be tough, considering it's original role. 
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Posted: 11/19/2011 4:59:00 AM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Made a very interesting low alt fighter bomber with those tiny wings ! VC Sam sites remember.. Really? How many VC had SAMs? The Thud was nice aircraft, and very durable. For so many to go down is a testament to the AAA, SAM, and MiG threat in North Vietnam. There's a pic of a Thud that got drilled in the ass, on accident, by an American Sidewinder. The.plane got the pilot home, and after repairs it flew again. Ed Rasimus's book, and Jack Broughton's book lend creedence to the Thud's toughness. Should have wrtten North Vietnamese SAM's, not VC... you understood what I meant, anyway.. 
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Posted: 11/19/2011 5:06:59 AM EDT
[#7]
These look like Thuds over Vietnam that my Dad took a picture of in 1965.
[flash width=' 425px' height=' 350px' src='http://  '] |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 5:21:52 AM EDT
[#8]
One of my all time favorite aircraft.
 The runway at McGuire AFB pointed right at the barracks on Ft. Dix. I had the pleasure of hearing Thuds blasting sound all during Basic. This is now a Thud pron thread.    Oops. Almost broke it.  The last flights. Thud Out Day. 419th FS, 1984.    The Thud looked good wearing Thunderbirds colors.   |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 5:29:35 AM EDT
[#9]
on my way to an air museum around noon today. hope to see one.
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Posted: 11/19/2011 6:19:57 AM EDT
[#10]
My Nana helped build those birds
She used to tell me about the 1st "100 mission" Thud coming back to the Factory
all beat to shit and half-repaired, and how they all autographed it. They used women for the interior work, to get into tight spaces. I LOVE telling folks that. She started out at Grumman building F3F Wildcats, then went to Fairchild and was building Starfighters when she retired. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 6:29:47 AM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
My Nana helped build those birds She used to tell me about the 1st "100 mission" Thud coming back to the Factory
all beat to shit and half-repaired, and how they all autographed it. They used women for the interior work, to get into tight spaces. I LOVE telling folks that. She started out at Grumman building F3F Wildcats, then went to Fairchild and was building Starfighters when she retired. That really is a cool story. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 6:55:39 AM EDT
[#12]
When I was at McGuire AFB as a C-141 Crew Chief, the Guard unit had -105s. I remember one taxied behind a 141 doing an engine run. The Thud driver had the canopy open. Canopy departed aircraft.
Texas Ave ran along one side of the base, and an approach to one of the runways came over the street pretty much perpendicular to it. One of our 437 OMS maintenance officers was driving by there and noticed a 105 on approach that seemed to be having trouble. He was - his hydraulics were taking a dump. She (the MXO) stopped to watch the airplane. When the pilot had no control left he ejected, the plane increased its descent rate, and her car was hit by one of the main landing gear as the jet entered the crash phase of its flight, spinning her car around. When I left active duty after my first enlistment I joined that Guard unit, but by then they had transitioned to F-4Ds, another classic. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 6:57:44 AM EDT
[#13]
Cool aircraft. Took amazing losses in Vietnam.
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Posted: 11/19/2011 7:05:55 AM EDT
[#14]
[span style='font-weight: bold;']Quoted:[/span]
These look like Thuds over Vietnam that my Dad took a picture of in 1965. [flash width=' 425px' height=' 350px' src='http://[url=http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii217/cda97/Scan-111107-0051.jpg]http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii217/cda97/Scan-111107-0051.jpg[/url]'] no these are F-100s Super Sabres |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 8:16:44 AM EDT
[#15]
"If the Air Force builds a longer runway, Republic will build a fighter that uses all of it."
TC |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 8:19:22 AM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
The Thud looked good wearing Thunderbirds colors. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b265/bytor94/thunderbirds-f-105-26.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b265/bytor94/thunderbirds-f-105-04.jpg WOW! I had no idea. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 8:25:55 AM EDT
[#17]
My AFJROTC instructor was a Thud Driver, he told some very interesting stories about his missions into NV and the FUBAR rules of engagement they had to adhere to (fucking McNamara). He said the Thud could soak up a ton of damage but if they tried to turn with a a SA 2 that the pucker factor got real high real quick.
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Posted: 11/19/2011 8:28:54 AM EDT
[#18]
I can never decide if the Thud is a pretty plane or an ugly one. I have gone back and forth since I learned about them as a little kid 20 some odd years ago.
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Posted: 11/19/2011 8:31:15 AM EDT
[#19]
F-4's loaded for air-to-air would fly like Thuds and use their radio call signs to lure MiGs into the air for dogfights.
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Posted: 11/19/2011 8:38:50 AM EDT
[#20]
When I was a kid we lived on what was called an "oil burner route" Low level flight training path. We used to sit up on the roof and watch all sorts of aircraft fly down the river valley, we would be higher than some of the aircraft.
The Thuds were always easy to spot, very distinctive shape and sound. Saw just about everything in the inventory then, from A37's to F111's. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 8:49:34 AM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
F-4's loaded for air-to-air would fly like Thuds and use their radio call signs to lure MiGs into the air for dogfights. Robin Olds, leader of the Wolf Pack. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 9:54:36 AM EDT
[#22]
[span style='font-weight: bold;']Quoted:[/span]
These look like Thuds over Vietnam that my Dad took a picture of in 1965. [flash width=' 425px' height=' 350px' src='http://[url=http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii217/cda97/Scan-111107-0051.jpg]http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii217/cda97/Scan-111107-0051.jpg[/url]'] Maybe, but to me they look more like F100s. Nice pic though. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 10:26:03 AM EDT
[#23]
Quoted:
F-4's loaded for air-to-air would fly like Thuds and use their radio call signs to lure MiGs into the air for dogfights. Thuds would also load up a full gun pod and AIM-9s and act like they were bombing. They'd bitch over the air about no fighter escort, and when the miGs came up, the Thuds would shoot them down. " I heard one young Thud pilot, a lieutenant, scream 'I got one! I got one!.. To which I replied, 'Shoot some more of them down.' " -Col Jack Broughton |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 10:42:09 AM EDT
[#24]
Wow, guys. Thanks for all the stories and pics!
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Posted: 11/19/2011 11:33:38 AM EDT
[#25]
F-105 was designed to interdict Soviet tank armies with a single B28IN nuclear bomb carried in the internal weapon bay.
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Posted: 11/19/2011 11:35:57 AM EDT
[#26]
The local AFB had some of the Wild Weasel variants a long time ago..................cool planes
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Posted: 11/19/2011 12:02:23 PM EDT
[#27]
Quoted:
F-4's loaded for air-to-air would fly like Thuds and use their radio call signs to lure MiGs into the air for dogfights. Robin Olds/Operation Bolo. Took out a big chunk of the N. Vietnam air force ETA: I should have read the whole thread before posting. The "Dogfights" episode on Operation Bolo is pretty outstanding. Then again, just about anything with the Phantom II is. 
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Posted: 11/19/2011 12:13:52 PM EDT
[#28]
Quoted: F-4's loaded for air-to-air would fly like Thuds and use their radio call signs to lure MiGs into the air for dogfights. Operation Bolo, rip Col. Robin Olds  |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 12:18:06 PM EDT
[#29]
Quoted:
The Thud was nice aircraft, and very durable. For so many to go down is a testament to the AAA, SAM, and MiG threat in North Vietnam. There's a pic of a Thud that got drilled in the ass, on accident, by an American Sidewinder. The.plane got the pilot home, and after repairs it flew again. Ed Rasimus's book, and Jack Broughton's book lend creedence to the Thud's toughness. BS. Its a testament to the failures of our leadership for their sheer ignorance and stupidity of refusing to listen to the guys who were actually flying the aircraft. Having rules of engagement of only being able to fly a specfic route day in and day out at a certain altitude and time tends to get the guys killed. To say nothing of the targeting the same worthless targets over and over again while not being able to engage visisble threats such as the Migs coming up from the adjacent airbase to intercept them was beyond ridiculous. The men who flew these aircraft had brass balls. Col Jack Broughton wrote an excellent book in Thud Ridge while the war was ongoing and as he left. It outlined the failures of the administration and the sheer stupidity of the shot callers while highlighting the sheer bravery these guys held as they continued to fly these missions. ETA now with much more Thud win! 
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Posted: 11/19/2011 12:31:45 PM EDT
[#30]
I digs the ones in the SEA scheme.
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Posted: 11/19/2011 12:34:10 PM EDT
[#31]
Quoted:
F-4's loaded for air-to-air would fly like Thuds and use their radio call signs to lure MiGs into the air for dogfights. fucking evil....i love it!
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Posted: 11/19/2011 1:02:21 PM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
I digs the ones in the SEA scheme. I like the original tactical nuke silver myself. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 1:13:46 PM EDT
[#33]
On static display outside a municipal airport in northern Missouri.
 
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Posted: 11/19/2011 1:14:29 PM EDT
[#34]
Quoted:
Quoted:
The Thud was nice aircraft, and very durable. For so many to go down is a testament to the AAA, SAM, and MiG threat in North Vietnam. There's a pic of a Thud that got drilled in the ass, on accident, by an American Sidewinder. The.plane got the pilot home, and after repairs it flew again. Ed Rasimus's book, and Jack Broughton's book lend creedence to the Thud's toughness. BS. Its a testament to the failures of our leadership for their sheer ignorance and stupidity of refusing to listen to the guys who were actually flying the aircraft. Having rules of engagement of only being able to fly a specfic route day in and day out at a certain altitude and time tends to get the guys killed. To say nothing of the targeting the same worthless targets over and over again while not being able to engage visisble threats such as the Migs coming up from the adjacent airbase to intercept them was beyond ridiculous. The men who flew these aircraft had brass balls. Col Jack Broughton wrote an excellent book in Thud Ridge while the war was ongoing and as he left. It outlined the failures of the administration and the sheer stupidity of the shot callers while highlighting the sheer bravery these guys held as they continued to fly these missions. RIF, I've read all of Jack Broughton's books, and have mentioned him atleast 5 times now, and I get that political medling got our guys killed. That said I dont see how you logically claim that North Vietnam's air defense network wasnt top notch. Small arms, 23mm, 37mm, 57mm, 76mm, using 122mm STS rockets as poboy SAMs on up to SAMs, and various MiGs. Especially when those people flying those missions commented on how effective it was including Broughton. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 1:21:35 PM EDT
[#35]
Andrews AFB. From when I was working the tattoo. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 1:23:04 PM EDT
[#36]
this youtube vid seems fitting to this thread
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Posted: 11/19/2011 1:30:47 PM EDT
[#37]
I lived in Wichita when McConnel AFB had the F-105 training wing. Only for a year or so before they converted to F-4 Phantoms. Knowing their history in Vietnam, I always loved seeing the Thuds flying.
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Posted: 11/19/2011 1:43:33 PM EDT
[#38]
The tail surfaces on that plane look all wrong. Like it was originally supposed to be much larger and someone whittled it down to size. The wrong size.
Could just be me, I'm not qualified as an aeronautical expert. 
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Posted: 11/19/2011 2:31:46 PM EDT
[#39]
In my mind, the THUD drivers were the bravest fixed wing pilots of the Viet Nam war. To continue to fly into that situation with those lousy ROE's was an amazing achievement.
ETA - Thank you guys for the photos. |
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Posted: 11/19/2011 3:53:54 PM EDT
[#40]
Just recently posted on YouTube, a late-60s Fairchild Republic film featuring the Thud, plus some others (Bird Dogs, BUFFs, SPADs, Huns, & Phantoms) over Vietnam - "The Twenty-Five Hour Day - A Story of Air Force F-105s").
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Posted: 11/20/2011 9:20:24 AM EDT
[#41]
I know there has been an effort to put one back in the air during the last few years, but, I don't know where that stands right now. Last I heard, there were people involved in the process actually lobbying congress because of some of the hoops that needed jumped through for some reason, not sure why, or what happened.
Here is last update on project F-105 Project I'm going to see if I can dig up any updates on what is going on. 
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Posted: 11/20/2011 9:34:37 AM EDT
[#42]
I'll give you a virtual, Internet nickel if you can correctly identify this, from my collection...
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Posted: 11/20/2011 9:44:45 AM EDT
[#43]
Not many made it back from SEA...
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Posted: 11/20/2011 9:51:42 AM EDT
[#44]
Quoted: Mach Meter...speedometer??I'll give you a virtual, Internet nickel if you can correctly identify this, from my collection... http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/omega62/F105.jpg |
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Posted: 11/20/2011 10:01:13 AM EDT
[#45]
Quoted:
I'll give you a virtual, Internet nickel if you can correctly identify this, from my collection...
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/omega62/F105.jpg Bomb-Tosser thingy. Trying to remember name, LABS or something like that. |
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Posted: 11/20/2011 12:15:31 PM EDT
[#46]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Mach Meter...speedometer??
I'll give you a virtual, Internet nickel if you can correctly identify this, from my collection...
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/omega62/F105.jpg <––-Tosses worthless Internet nickel to MK4Mod0. This is a combined "book" (or "tape" style) airspeed indicator, G meter, and Mach meter. It was manufactured by the Bendix corporation, and was mounted in the cockpit of an F-105 D model Thud. When the Thud went to the boneyard, it was sold off as scrap some years back, and has been in use as a bookend in my home for years. The book is the memoir of CMOH award earning Thud Driver and former POW Leo Thorsness. At one point I was thinking of mounting this in my Mustang so when I got pulled over by cops and they said I was going "so and so," I could point to it and say "Gee officer, I was only doing zero point four Mach," but I figured they might not have sense of humor about that. 
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