the" THUD "

[MADe]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR2F677wYm0

my pops was a Wild Weasel, a weo in the F model.

The video has mucho live gun camera and other real time shots. I had no idea what a pivotal plane the thud was. Pivotal in aircraft design, weapons packages, toughness and speed.

wow!
I never really knew what my pops did and how much risk he and his fellows took. The weasels would deliberately hunt out and draw SAM fire in order to locate their launch sites, then they killed them.

What are service peeps do to protect our shores is unbelievable. I salute all who have served, in what ever capacity you have served. TY

[NatCigg]

thanks for the video.  something to watch while i eat my pie and drink a coke. 

[pipz]

 

http://burrusspta.org/thud.html

[mike8318]

I remember the 116th TFW had the last G models back in the early 80's. On a good hot day they would use most of the runway at Dobbins AFB on takeoff. They would fly low level all over north Georgia.A pilot told me once that below "200 knots, the 105 takes on the aerodynamic characteristics of a toolbox". Miss those planes.

[DaveBB]

Unique aircraft but used wrong.  They say history repeats itself.  One third of all B-17s were shot down.  One third of all F-105s were shot down.

[Widewing]

Unique aircraft but used wrong.  They say history repeats itself.  One third of all B-17s were shot down.  One third of all F-105s were shot down.

The F-105 was used as a tactical and strategic bomber as well as a Wild Weasel... In what other ways were they supposed to use it?

[Chalenge]

The Thud would make an awesome DCS aircraft. Just saying.

[Widewing]

The Thud would make an awesome DCS aircraft. Just saying.

It has been in flight sims before.... In Wings Over Vietnam....

[Widewing]

Some F-105 photos....

[Oldman731]

The F-105 was used as a tactical and strategic bomber as well as a Wild Weasel... In what other ways were they supposed to use it?

Probably the answer to this is more political than military.  The losses sustained by the 105 pilots should have been a national scandal.

Still...kewlest jet plane ever made, except maybe for the F-100....

- oldman

[Widewing]

Probably the answer to this is more political than military.  The losses sustained by the 105 pilots should have been a national scandal.

Still...kewlest jet plane ever made, except maybe for the F-100....

- oldman

Yeah, had targets included airfields and SAM storage warehouses and docks......

Most folks don't realize that F-105s shot down a great many more MiGs than the much ballyhooed "Last of the Gunfighters" F-8 Crusaders. Good Navy propaganda there...

Thuds shot down 24.5 MiG-17s with guns and another 3 with Sidewinders. Crusaders may have gotten 2 with guns, and 17 with missiles.

[bozon]

Yeah, had targets included airfields and SAM storage warehouses and docks......

Most folks don't realize that F-105s shot down a great many more MiGs than the much ballyhooed "Last of the Gunfighters" F-8 Crusaders. Good Navy propaganda there...

Thuds shot down 24.5 MiG-17s with guns and another 3 with Sidewinders. Crusaders may have gotten 2 with guns, and 17 with missiles.

That is hilarious statistc. I did not know that.
The gun Fighter got 2, the fat Thud 24 with guns ....

[Nefarious]

In all fairness,  their are lots of factors that contributed to the F-105 getting more kills than the F-8.

Not disagreeing with the overall numbers,  just saying that comparing the two aircrafts kills records arent as easy as just looking at the tallys.

[MADe]

Unique aircraft but used wrong.  They say history repeats itself.  One third of all B-17s were shot down.  One third of all F-105s were shot down.

I take it you did not watch the video. It contradicts your statement.

It was a pivotal aircraft in supersonic combat aircraft design and electronic warfare packages. Using combat losses as a judgement is just wrong.

Without the B-17's, the nazi's would have won the war, I have no doubts about this, they destroyed germany's war machine construction and materials production.

The thud dominated the skies over Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Killed migs with ease, they just pulled away from migs on their 6. During the Vietnam "WAR", there was no other aircraft available that could cover as many tasks as the THUD. Considering that there was only at most 700 and change manufactured and deployed..........
I am biased of course. My pops earned 2 silver stars and a distinguished flying cross in that war, him and the rest of the whole military effort are heros in my book.
It may have been a political war but our great service persons do not make that call, they serve! To the benefit of this great nation.

[Oldman731]

My pops earned 2 silver stars and a distinguished flying cross in that war, him and the rest of the whole military effort are heros in my book.

Then you should be very proud.  What did he do?

- oldman (and you should read Jack Broughton's "Thud Ridge.") (If you haven't already.)