The Republic F-105 Thunderchief

Part One

Air National Guard Service

Compiled by Tom Hildreth

Design Specifications

Powerplant: F-105D One Pratt & Whitney J-75-P-19W turbojet with 15,000 lb s.t. military power and 26,500 lb s.t. with water injection and afterburner.

Performance: F-105D Max speed approx Mach 2.2 at 38,000 ft. Max speed approx Mach 1.2 at S.L. Cruise speed Mach 0.92 at 38,000 ft.

Weights: F-105D Empty 26,855 lb. Gross 52,550 lb.

Dimensions: F-105D Span 34 ft. 11 In. Length 64 ft. 5 in. Height 19 ft. 8 in. Wing area 385 sq. ft.

Type: F-105B Supersonic day fighter-bomber.F-105D Supersonic all-weather fighter-bomber with internal tactical nuclear weapon capability.

Brief Development History

Reknowned designer Alexander Kartveli and his team began work on a replacement for Republic's F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bomber in 1951. This work resulted in the Republic Model AP-63, which became the F-105 Thunderchief.

22 Oct 1955-The first of two YF-105A service evaluation examples exceeded Mach 1.0 on its maiden flight powered by a Pratt & Whitney J-57 engine.

26 May 1956-First flight of F-105B single-seat day fighter-bomber. Delivery of 75 of these aircraft would follow. The F-105B employed revolutionary swept-forward engine intake design for shock wave control of powerplant airflow. The intakes were located on the leading edge of the wing root.

27 May 1958-First F-105B aircraft accepted by 335 Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) of the 4 Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW). Development slippages, preproduction aircraft modifications and other equipment problems caused this service introduction to be nearly three years late. In addition, continuing revision of GOR-49 (General Operational Requirement 49)the document, which for the first time with the Thunderchief, controlled the development and production of an aircraft as part of a Weapon System also contributed to the delay.

In addition to equipping the 4TFW at Eglin AFB FL (Later at Seymour-Johnson AFB NC), the type also equipped the 4520 Combat Crew Training Wing (CCTW) at Nellis AFB, NV.

09 June 1959-First flight of F-105D, the most numerous of the Thunderchief versions. Equipped with the General Electric FC-5 Integrated Flight and Fire Control System with NASARR radar, the F-105D was capable of delivering nuclear as well as conventional munitions via high or low altitude mission profiles in all weather conditions. FC-5 included air search, ground mapping, and terrain avoidance capability. 610 F-105D aircraft were built at an equipped unit cost of 3.86M (1964)USD each.

By the time the last F-105D was delivered in January 1964, the type equipped the 4TFW and 4520 CCTW, as well as USAF's 355 TFW at George AFB CA. In Europe, the 36TFW and 49TFW were operational with the F-105D, as were the 8TFW and 18TFW in PACAF.

11 June 1963-First flight of two-seat F-105F operational trainer. These were actually the last 143 F-105D airframes that had a 31 in. fuselage extension for the second cockpit, and a taller tail fin. Of these two-seaters, 86 would eventually be modified as F-105G Wild Weasel III defense-suppression aircraft using Standard and HARM anti-radiation missiles.

9 August 1969-First flight of modified F-105D known as Thunderstick II. These aircraft had full-length dorsal enclosure for AN/ARN-92 LORAN navigation equipment. They equipped the 23TFW, and eventually saw service with AFRES.

The F-105B/D/F and G equipped squadrons of the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) and Air National Guard (ANG) between 1964 and 1983. The photographs accompanying this page were taken during this 19-year period.

Part Two of this series will cover AFRES operation of the Thunderchief. The author would be glad to hear from anyone with stories, information, or photos of the F-105 that they would like to contribute to this series of illustrated histories. Full credit will be given. Contact: hildrethtom@hotmail.com or write to me at:

Tom Hildreth
72 Mountain View Street
Chester, Vermont 05143-9497

Unit Information

Click on photo for large version and information

121st TFS/113TFG District of Columbia ANG


The 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron of the Distict of Columbia Air National Guard converted from the F-100C/F Supersabre to the F-105D/F Thunderchief in July, 1971. The squadron operated the F-105 for a decade, after which they were replaced by the F-4D Phantom.

127th TFTS/184TFTG Kansas ANG


The 127th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron of the Kansas Air National Guard converted from the F-100C/F Supersabre to the F-105D/F Thunderchief in the spring of 1971. The squadron operated as the ANG training unit for the Thunderchief as part of the 184th Tactical Fighter Training Group. In late 1979 the organization converted from the F-105 to the F-4D Phantom and continued in the training role.

128th TFS/116TFW Georgia ANG


The 128th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the Georgia traded in its F-100D/F Supersabres for the F-105G Wild Weasel variant of the Thunderchief in the summer of 1979. The Wild Weasel role for the GA ANG was to last but a short time, with the F-4D Phantom equipping the unit by the summer of 1983.

141st TFS/108TFG New Jersey ANG


The 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron of the New Jersey Air National Guard was based at McGuire AFB, NJ. This organization was the first non-active duty unit to convert to the Thunderchief. In April, 1964 they relinquished their F-86H Sabrejets for the Republic F-105B/F, which they operated for 17 years. In the spring of 1981 the F-105 was replaced by the F-4D Phantom. The 119th Tactical Fighter Squadron, New Jersey Air National Guard at Atlantic City converted from the F-100C/D Supersabre to the F-105B in June, 1970. This was a short-term arrangement, as the 119th became an Air Defence Command-gained unit two years later when it equipped with Convair F-106A Delta Dart interceptor.

149th TFS/192TFG Virginia ANG


The 149th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the Virginia Air National Guard converted from the Republic F-84F to the F-105D/F in February, 1971. It operated the Thunderchief for 11 years, relinquishing the big supersonic fighter for the LTV A-7D Corsair II in 1982.