Republic F-105D ‘Thunderchief’ (THUD)

Built by Republic Aviation, the F-105 Thunderchief was a supersonic, single-seat fighter-bomber capable of delivering nuclear or heavy conventional bomb loads over long distances at high speed. First flown on October 12, 1955, the all-weather F-105D featured a 20mm Gatling gun, Doppler radar, and external fuel tank provisions. Its internal bay, originally for nuclear weapons, often carried extra fuel, while bombs, rockets, and other munitions were mounted on fuselage and wing pylons. A retractable in-flight refueling probe extended its range. During the Vietnam War, F-105s flew major bombing missions in North Vietnam’s high-threat Route Package VI from Takhli and Korat Royal Thai Air Bases. Known for exceptional low-altitude speed, the type was regarded as one of the war’s most effective fighter-bombers.

USAF S/N 62-4301, an F-105D-31-RE, was one of 610 built in Farmingdale, New York. Delivered April 25, 1963, it served in Japan, Korea, and Thailand, including two combat tours with the 355th TFW that saw an unofficial ground kill of an IL-28 bomber. Notably, WWII Triple Ace Brig. Gen. Bud Anderson commanded the 355th and flew the F-105 in the Vietnam War. Following maintenance at McClellan AFB in 1972, it served with Air Force Reserve units in Oklahoma and Utah before arriving at the museum on January 16, 1984.