F-105 Thunderchief In Action
(Softcover)
SS10241

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was the largest single-seat,
single engine combat aircraft to enter production. The
Thunderchief was conceived as supersonic, low altitude
fighter-bomber capable of delivering a heavy nuclear payload.
While never used as intended, the Thunderchief did see extensive
combat. The F-105 carried the brunt of the U.S. bombing campaign
during the early part of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam by
completing more than 20,000 sorties.
While serviced and flown by brave and competent men, the
extremely sophisticated Mach 2-capable F-105, or “Thud” as the
type was nicknamed, was ill suited for repetitive missions in
humid Southeast Asia. Maintenance requirements exceeded 100
man-hours labor per flight hour. Further, combat losses rose to
almost half of the 833-unit production total. Ultimately, the
F-105 was withdrawn from the theater.

The development, production and deployment of the seven
Thunderchief models are chronicled in this volume through nearly
200 vintage photos – more than half are in original color. These
photos are augmented with a dozen line drawings and eight color
profiles. 80 pages.

ISBN = 978-0-89747-816-8