Why is the F-105 called the thud?
According to F-105 pilots and crews, the “Thud” nickname was inspired by the character “Chief Thunderthud” from the Howdy Doody television series. The aircraft’s offensive capabilities were sarcastically referred to as a “Triple Threat”—it could bomb you, strafe you, or fall on you.
Are there any F-105 still flying?
By 1970, the Air Force had withdrawn the F-105D from combat, though the Wild Weasels soldiered on until the end of the war. Ninety-six F-105s remain relatively intact in museums, on display at various Air Force bases or awaiting destruction at the Davis-Monthan boneyard in Arizona. Not a one is flyable.
What replaced the F-105?
The Thunderchief was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. However, the “Wild Weasel” variants of the F-105 remained in service until 1984 after being replaced by the specialized F-4G “Wild Weasel V”.
How fast is the f105 Thunderchief?
1,386 mphRepublic F-105 Thunderchief / Top speed
How many b52 bombers were shot down in Vietnam?
Thirty-three B-52 crew members were killed or missing in action, another 33 became prisoners of war, and 26 more were rescued. Over 11 days, North Vietnamese air defenses fired 266 SA-2 missiles downing—according to North Vietnam—34 B-52s and four F-111s.
Did the F-105 have a bomb bay?
First flown in 1955, the F-105 was developed as an all-weather strike fighter-bomber; it was one of the only fighters with an internal bomb bay. The USAF Thunderbirds flew the F-105 for only six shows before switching to the F-4.
What aircraft was called the Wild Weasel?
The Wild Weasel concept was originally proposed in 1965 as a method of countering the increasing North Vietnamese SAM threat, using volunteer crews flying the two-seat F model of the F-100 Super Sabre; while the United States Navy primarily relied upon the A-4 Skyhawk.
How good is the F-105?
It operated well from sea level to 15,000ft, and in military power the jet would run faster than any other aircraft at low level — it just didn’t turn much. It also had a great gun and was a very stable bomber that could take hits and come home.” Pilots for the F-105 squadrons came from a range of backgrounds.
How many bombs can a b52 drop?
The 1760 IWBU will allow the B-52 to carry eight JDAM 2000 lb bombs, AGM-158B JASSM-ER cruise missile and the ADM-160C MALD-J decoy missiles internally.