Unbelievable weapons carrier! Was USAF 46250 Wpns Mechanic on The F-105s out of Yakota AB Japan, TDY to Osan AB Korea and Takhli Thailand 1964 Thru 1966 with the 35th Tac Fighter Squadron. My crew loaded Nucs and all conventional weapons required by the missions, including up to 3,000 pounders. Now those were bombs! Would love to have flight pictures of this beast loaded for Cong! Remember the defination of Veteran! Active Duty, Discharged, Retired, or Reserve. Is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to: "The United States of America," For an amount of " up to, and including his or her life." That is “Honor”, and there are way too many people in this country today, who no longer understand that fact.
Benton Kendig, e-mail, 28.09.2009 18:18
I served in the 18th A&E in okinawa and Korat 1965-66 as a Doppler Navigational Repairman. The F-105 System was quite a complex system that incorporated digital and analog technology. Transistor technology was little more that a decade old. Opperation rolling thunder was in force. I had a heck of an experience. I have lost touch with all of my fellow airmen except Don Lesner.
paul scott, e-mail, 14.08.2009 00:38
Amazing aircraft, just like the Phantom. I saw a great Discovery Channel documentary on it. A huge bomb bay at supersonic speed, what more would you want from a fighter-bomber. Just like the classic Buccaneer, though not as fast of course.
Tom Hannah, e-mail, 31.07.2009 03:32
What memories! I served with USAF and worked on the ASG-19 FCS on the F-105D & F at Nellis from Nov-62 to Jun-66, then to Yokota AFB, Japan in Aug-66. One particular memory is when Gen. Ryan paid a visit to our shop at Yokota, along with a lot of "brass", resulting in the development of the Wild Weasel enhancements on the Thud. The pilots were call "Ryan's Raiders" so we called ourselves "Ryan's raiders Aiders" The F-105B was setup for the Thumderbirds for a short time and in my opinion were the most beautiful in formation of any of the other planes they have flown. Unfortunately they were grounded after one fell apart in Calif. and they went back to the F-100 for a few years.
Thomas Solinski, e-mail, 09.07.2009 16:30
Wow looking at all the great comments from the folks that flew and cared for the Thuds is just inspiring. I met the Thud at the end of her carreer, not flying but still serving, as Aircraft Battle Damage Repair (ABDR) training aircraft. Teaching us youngsters how to fix battle damage so that the next generation could stay flying.
Thank you for your service folks!!
Bonnie C. McKee, e-mail, 05.07.2009 03:51
July 4, l966, Captain Wayne D. Hauth, pilot of F-105 bombed a SAM site in Hanoi...received a Silver Star for his actions that day....after 100 missions over North Vietnam he was stationed at McConnell AFB as an instructor...he was my brother...
larry brantl, e-mail, 24.06.2009 05:16
Was a jet engine mech on the F-105d and F models from feb62 to may 66. Was with the 36th in Bitburg than on to Seymore Johnson with a tdy to Yakota and Takli. Went to Eglin AFB when I returned on the WILD WEASEL program in 66. A lot of graet memories for this short time. Retired from Teledyne CMC as a test engineer after 40.5 yrs. Theres a F model in front of a VFW in Blissfield MI. Brings back good times when I drive by.I see a name on the list that after all this time I reconize. He's the first one to to put me in the cockpit and said run this baby. Paul Soucy AF retired. send me a e-mail, sounds like we had a few things in common after the service.
leo rudnicki, e-mail, 06.05.2009 17:08
It was that great philosopher/statesman, Sonny Bono who once said " And the beat goes on."
jim drown, e-mail, 06.05.2009 03:06
baby sat this monster on alet pads from incerlick turkey to kadana then into a war that pitted us aganst the foe and our leaders in washington results, lost friends broken spirits and a deep distrust of leadership
Paul Soucy, AF Msgt Retired, e-mail, 08.02.2009 21:06
As a jet engine guy and after 22 years in the AF and 20 years as a tech rep on many diferent aircraft & engines I can truthfully say the 'Thud' was the best. I think I was the only guy to remove an engine by myself. And in the middle of the night at Bitburg. Stayed with the Thud through Bitburg, McConnell AFB,and the 388th in Korat. There are initial plans underway for a reunion for all that were assigned in the 36th TFW, Bitburg AB, Gemany. Email me for more info.
Vincent J. DeMaggio, e-mail, 22.11.2008 04:13
I crewed an F-105D 62-430 at Takhli, Aug 1967-Aug 1968, 333 TFS. Went to DM in 2004 (after a tour in Iraq with the Texas Guard) and was upset to see 61-159 wearing 354th TFS colors! 61-159 was in 333 TFS in 67-68. I know, I had to go to Vietnam, Chu Lai, to fix it when the ATM went out. Great airplane, a real triple threat, shoot you, bomb you and fall on you! Former Thud CC. What I wouldn't give to launch a Thud, just once more! Vincent J. DeMaggio COL (R) AR TXARNG
Dave Seaver, e-mail, 11.11.2008 02:54
My father was Don Seaver, flew F-80s in Korea then became an F-105 test pilot for Repuiblic assigned to Eglin. He was killed in a mid-air collision in May 2nd 1963 while flying out of Farmingdale. The other pilot killed was Jack Bade a WWII ace. I have a very poor copy of the accident report. The report lists AF numbers but since the planes had not been transferred to the AF there is no airforce acident report, only a Republic report. Would appreciate any leads on getting another report, or source that can take my very bad copy and reproduce it. Thanks Dave Seaver
Chuck Cavrak, e-mail, 10.11.2008 04:05
I was with the 8 A&E Squadron at Itazuke Air Base from 1962 thru 1954. We received the 105's in 63. I was a Fire Control Technician at the time. I also worked on the F-100's before the 105's arrived. The Thuds arrived later than they were expected because of a strike at Republic, the manufacturer.
Jim Null, MSgt, USAF (Ret.), e-mail, 09.09.2008 10:33
I was a crew chief on the Thud from Feb, 1971 to Sept, 1974. My jet was F-105G, 63-8351. I was with the 561st TFS from McConnell AFB, KS. We deployed to Korat, RTAFB in 1972 and participated in Linebacker II. We kicked butt in that bombing campaign. It was a good jet and relatively easy to work on. I sure would like to see one in airworthy condition some day.
Mark Cook, e-mail, 17.08.2008 03:56
I put the Thud through it's paces in 1960 as a Test Project Officer in the Fighter Weapons School. With the help of Mr. Bill Young, an Eglin AFB mathemetician, we developed all of the nuclear weapons delivery stats. Then along came the RCAF, asked me to help them with their CF-104 program. I believe that I am the only pilot ever to fly the F-105D and the F-104 on the same day. The opportunity presented itself when I was doing flight testing on the Thud at Nellis, and simultaneously checking out in the F-104 at George AFB in preparation for my exchange tour with the Canucks.
Roy Pagnini, e-mail, 17.08.2008 02:17
Was a comm-nav repairman on the first f105d's and f's at Spangdahlem AFB in Germany in 1961. Saw a lot of surprised faces at Wheelus AFB in north africa when a slick winged test flight of a D by a captain Sparks climbed right up between 2 f104s on take off and leveled out about 5000 feet above them.Now that was a show that made us 105 troops proud.
C. Trabold, e-mail, 07.08.2008 17:22
I served with the 18tfw from Kadena air fore base okinawa TDY to Takli and Korat Thialand from 1964 to 1966. The f105d was the work horse we sent those planes over to vietnam 2 runs a day of 25 sorties each and what a versale plane it would carry anything and did. They could shoot the hell out of them but they brought our boys home. Farmindale did a great job. This site brought back memories and chills up my spine some of the memories I would like to forget. All be safe and GOD BLESS AMERICA
Ed Dalder, e-mail, 12.06.2008 08:41
I worked for Republic Avation as a materials engineer from 1956 to 1962. To convert the F105 into a STOL model, we made up Mo alloy afterburner doors which, unfortunately, vaporized when heated to above 1300F. Tom Wolfe was the chief Materials Engineer at that time. We then tried a Ni-based superalloy, which worked well, but the STOL version of the plane was never adopted by anyone.
Bob, e-mail, 10.06.2008 20:35
I was with the 18th TFW on okinawa and went TDY to Korat thailand 1965. I recall the "Cartrige" start system it had.
Rich Van Wicklen, e-mail, 07.05.2008 00:17
My first job out of the navy in 2-59 was working in Republicas an electronic tester. I moved to the flight line working on the R14A radar and the bomb tossing computer. I also did thr boresighting and compass swinging. A great job for a young guy. I always look back with good memories on my time at Republic. I had two great trips to Eglin and Seymore Johnson. It's so sad that all the good jobs have been taken away from Long Island. The cradle of aviation.
Don Goeke, e-mail, 05.05.2008 02:09
Their seems to be a little history missing on the F-105. We received them at Itazuke, Japan in 1963 and we got the only full wing of 31RE D's. Itazuke was shut down in the middle of 1964 and we were moved to Yokota, Japan and at the same time we supported the alert pad at Osan, Korea and when the war broke in Viet Nam we sent the first batch of aircraft to Korat, Thialand. I was and electrician on the Thud and I flat loved the aircraft. I spent a total of 5 years with them in the flyables and with them in Depot at McClellan AFB, Caifornia. When we moved to Yokota in 1964 we were greeted with the "F" models.
Gary Barnhill, e-mail, 24.04.2008 17:32
It wasn't sexy, like the F104 Starfighter, but it had legs, could carry a load, and it got the job done over North Viet Nam that no other fighter could do. I flew it out of Takhli in 1965.
Ed White, e-mail, 05.06.2007 08:33
I was sent to Okinawa to support the F-105D/F in January 1962, didn't see any aircraft until October 62. Loved the aircraft and the Weapons Control System. An "old" 30N
BOB KINDER, e-mail, 11.03.2007 01:09
Great Bird,I Crewed FH-502 (Little Rody) Stenciled on the Nose Wheel Door,s 1961-1962 53th TFS Bitburg AFB Germany.It once flew 21 Sortie,s without a write up,unsual for a F-105.Sad to say it was shot down in 1966 by a Mig,that was my BABY.
Bill Fleming, e-mail, 31.01.2007 18:48
You left out the A-10 Warthog built by Republic in the same plant as all Republic Fighters since the P-47.
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