Why did they call the F-105 the Thud?

Why did they call the F-105 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.

Was the F-105 a good plane?

“It was a great airplane,” said one Thud pilot. “Not much of a fighter, but it was so much faster than everything else.” The 105 could go so fast down low that the canopy would start to soften or become opaque from the heat. But speed was its salvation, particularly when challenged by MiG-17s.

What jet was called the Thud?

F-105 pilots
F-105 pilots, called “drivers”, nicknamed this aircraft the “Thud,” some called it “Nickels” for the five designation, but very few called it the “Thunderchief”.

What missiles did the F-105 carry?

The F-105D was also capable of carrying 2.75-inch rocket pods, napalm canisters, as well as four AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared homing air-to-air missiles. The M61A1 Gatling-type, 20-mm cannon proved highly effective in the dual role of air-to-air combat and ground strafing.

How fast is the f105 Thunderchief?

1,386 mphRepublic F-105 Thunderchief / Top speed

When was the F-105 retired?

February 25, 1984Republic F-105 Thunderchief / Retired

What was the nickname for the F-105?

Thud
Upon returning to the U.S., the plane served in USAF and Air National Guard units though the early 1980s. The F-105 Thunderchief’s nickname, “Thud,” was inspired by Chief Thunderthud, a character on the Howdy Doody TV series.

What is a thud pilot?

Thud Pilot is the personal account of a combat fighter pilot who flew the Air Force’s premier fighter-bomber in the most dangerous skies over North Vietnam. In the first five years of the Vietnam War, the F-105 Thunderchief conducted 75 percent of the Air Force bombing missions over North Vietnam.

What was the F-105 Thunderchief used for?

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was an American supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it was the only American aircraft to have been removed from combat due to high loss rates.

What is the ISBN number for the F 105 Thunderchief?

Fighter Aircraft. London: Lorenz Books, 2002. ISBN 0-7548-0990-0. Davies, Peter E. F-105 Thunderchief Units of the Vietnam War (Osprey Combat Aircraft #84). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2010.

Why did the F-100F not replace the F 105?

However, the F-100F was an interim solution, since its limited payload often required multiple aircraft to conduct a successful strike; it also lacked the speed and endurance to effectively protect the F-105.

What is the best book on the Republic F-105 Thunderchief?

Republic F-105 Thunderchief (Classic Warplanes). New York: Smithmark Publishers Inc., 1992. ISBN 0-8317-1410-7. Sherwood, John Darrell. Afterburner: Naval Aviators and the Vietnam War. New York: NYU Press, 2004. ISBN 0-8147-9842-X. Stoff, Joshua. The Thunder Factory: An Illustrated History of the Republic Aviation Corporation.