Comments on: Republic Aircraft's F-105 Thunderchief http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:45:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Dennis Bridgford http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-782700 Dennis Bridgford Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:34:54 +0000 #comment-782700 I was with the 355th TFW, PCS George AFB, McConnell AFB, TDY to Korat and PCS to Takhli in 1963/66. Parachute shop. I packed thousands upon thousands of F105 drag chutes. Awesome aircraft. I now have retired to live in Korat Thailand 4 years ago. I was with the 355th TFW, PCS George AFB, McConnell AFB, TDY to Korat and PCS to Takhli in 1963/66. Parachute shop. I packed thousands upon thousands of F105 drag chutes. Awesome aircraft. I now have retired to live in Korat Thailand 4 years ago.

]]> By: ELIAS B. LARKIN http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-489996 ELIAS B. LARKIN Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:36:54 +0000 #comment-489996 I WAS A WEAPONS MECH. ON THE M61, ON THE 105 IN JAPAN. THAILAND AND SEYMOUR-JOHNSON FROM 1962, TO1966 I A LARGE PHOTO OF ONE FROM THE36TH TFS . LOVE THE THUD I WAS A WEAPONS MECH. ON THE M61, ON THE 105 IN JAPAN. THAILAND AND SEYMOUR-JOHNSON FROM 1962, TO1966 I A LARGE PHOTO OF ONE FROM THE36TH TFS . LOVE THE THUD

]]> By: John Cotseres http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-485930 John Cotseres Tue, 08 Mar 2011 02:49:59 +0000 #comment-485930 Someone told me you had two air force patches for sale. 1. the 100 MISSION patch / 2. says at top "421 TFS" and at bottom "READDY WILLING ABLE" it also has a SWORD and HAT" on it. I will pay you $100.00 for each of these patches. / I am a collector of Vietnam war patches. Lt Col Robert E Phillips wore these patches, he was leader of A-Flight, he flew bombing missions over North Vietnam in 1966 out of Korat AB. Please let me know if you want to sell these patches? John Someone told me you had two air force patches for sale.
1. the 100 MISSION patch / 2. says at top "421 TFS" and at bottom "READDY WILLING ABLE" it also has a SWORD and HAT" on it.
I will pay you $100.00 for each of these patches. / I am a collector of Vietnam war patches. Lt Col Robert E Phillips wore these patches, he was leader of A-Flight, he flew bombing missions over North Vietnam in 1966 out of Korat AB.
Please let me know if you want to sell these patches?
John

]]> By: Joe Catania http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-456830 Joe Catania Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:37:26 +0000 #comment-456830 I worked at Republic Aviation in the early sixties 19 year old kid I worked with only 4 other guys stevie,mike,another Joe and a kid who I can not remember his name. We were in a special classification call edTINY TIMS we installed the smallest fuel cell the 3D cell in the rear just before the tail . We would go out to Flightline to repair some cells before they left I think for Oklahoma. It was one of the most interesting and gratifying jobs I ever had. Hope all the other Tiny Tims are doing good. GREAT AIRCRAFT!!! I worked at Republic Aviation in the early sixties 19 year old kid I worked with only 4 other guys stevie,mike,another Joe and a kid who I can not remember his name. We were in a special classification call edTINY TIMS we installed the smallest fuel cell the 3D cell in the rear just before the tail . We would go out to Flightline to repair some cells before they left I think for Oklahoma. It was one of the most interesting and gratifying jobs I ever had. Hope all the other Tiny Tims are doing good. GREAT AIRCRAFT!!!

]]> By: Wayne "Gill" Gilliland http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-60642 Wayne "Gill" Gilliland Wed, 13 May 2009 18:41:14 +0000 #comment-60642 My year with the 333rd TFS was the best year of my life. I only wish I had extended another year. Takhli RTAFB was in the middle of no where. I was a bomb load crew chief. It was a job that I was real good at. Later with the Reserves I worked on F-4s, what a peace of junk! When you were under tha F-4 loading you were subjected to Phamton Bites. This junk had little bleader vents everywhere and they would split you head wide open. We had a hard time keeping enough aircraft operational. We had one that we named Aronald (after the pig on Green Achers). It was our hanger queen. We even made T-shirts with a crew chief in front of the F-4 with an ear of corn in each hand trying to get Aronald to come out of the hanger. My year with the 333rd TFS was the best year of my life. I only wish I had extended another year. Takhli RTAFB was in the middle of no where. I was a bomb load crew chief. It was a job that I was real good at. Later with the Reserves I worked on F-4s, what a peace of junk! When you were under tha F-4 loading you were subjected to Phamton Bites. This junk had little bleader vents everywhere and they would split you head wide open. We had a hard time keeping enough aircraft operational. We had one that we named Aronald (after the pig on Green Achers). It was our hanger queen. We even made T-shirts with a crew chief in front of the F-4 with an ear of corn in each hand trying to get Aronald to come out of the hanger.

]]> By: Jim Hill http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-37448 Jim Hill Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:01:10 +0000 #comment-37448 Spent 13 years with the 113th CAMS at Andrews, and served as a Instrument/Auto-Pilot and Doppler Radar tech. The avionics on that airplane can probably be duplicated in a box the size of an iPod today, but we found out eventually with similar technology the avionics in Gulf War aircraft actually all worked. I spent a good part of my military career walking the flight line at Andrews, and the electronics training the Air Force gave me has provided me with a career that is lucrative to this day. I was never able to serve in combat as a lot of my Thud Fixer brethern (and ladies - in the Guard - believe it or not!). But this airplane and the folks who kept her eyes sharp, her aim true and her thunder in the air will never forget her. Hell, on deployment to McDill AFB in 1983, we put 44 sorties a day in the air with 17 aircraft, while our regular Air Force pals could not get 20 F-4s off the ground with 77 airplanes to choose from. Go figure. Spent 13 years with the 113th CAMS at Andrews, and served as a Instrument/Auto-Pilot and Doppler Radar tech. The avionics on that airplane can probably be duplicated in a box the size of an iPod today, but we found out eventually with similar technology the avionics in Gulf War aircraft actually all worked. I spent a good part of my military career walking the flight line at Andrews, and the electronics training the Air Force gave me has provided me with a career that is lucrative to this day. I was never able to serve in combat as a lot of my Thud Fixer brethern (and ladies – in the Guard – believe it or not!). But this airplane and the folks who kept her eyes sharp, her aim true and her thunder in the air will never forget her. Hell, on deployment to McDill AFB in 1983, we put 44 sorties a day in the air with 17 aircraft, while our regular Air Force pals could not get 20 F-4s off the ground with 77 airplanes to choose from. Go figure.

]]> By: Larry G. Mitchell http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-17732 Larry G. Mitchell Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:21:18 +0000 #comment-17732 I was the laod crew jammer driver in the first group of guys to come down to Korat from Kadena in May of 1966. Spent a year of my young life loading at Korat. It was tough and hot in Thailand that year, but I would not trade that time period in my life for anything! I am proud to have served the 13 TFS Wild Weasels panther Pack!!! Hoo-rah! Larry the Loader! I was the laod crew jammer driver in the first group of guys to
come down to Korat from Kadena in May of 1966. Spent a year of
my young life loading at Korat. It was tough and hot in Thailand
that year, but I would not trade that time period in my life for
anything! I am proud to have served the 13 TFS Wild Weasels
panther Pack!!! Hoo-rah! Larry the Loader!

]]> By: SAMUEL GILBERT http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-4189 SAMUEL GILBERT Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:02:39 +0000 #comment-4189 We are the WildWeasels and north we did go to see that dude called HO. He send them up we kicked them down and in the process slaped some Migs around. Thud Ridge we did live and some died. WildWeasels first in and last out to all Thud drivers we got it right. We are the WildWeasels and north we did go to see that dude called HO. He send them up we kicked them down and in the process slaped some Migs around. Thud Ridge we did live and some died. WildWeasels first in and last out to all Thud drivers we got it right.

]]> By: Andrew Dougherty http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-2272 Andrew Dougherty Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:02:44 +0000 #comment-2272 I am a Thud pilot I love my plane It is my body I am its brain Packed with transistors Black boxes diodes But stay alert 'Cuz you might get hurt When she explodes I am a Thud pilot
I love my plane
It is my body
I am its brain

Packed with transistors
Black boxes diodes
But stay alert
'Cuz you might get hurt
When she explodes

]]> By: Tom Greenwood http://www.historynet.com/republic-aircrafts-f-105-thunderchief.htm#comment-151 Tom Greenwood Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:11:22 +0000 #comment-151 I started with Republic Aviation in 1963 and worked there in, "08 shop", for thirteen months on the last single seaters and then started on the two seater until I got drafted. While I was there I installed the rain remover in front of the windshield. My dad was in engineering, and now and then he would show up, talk to my foreman just to make sure I was doing the right thing. I loved it. I got drafted in "64" and ended up in Vietnam "65-66". Little did I know, the plane I worked on was above my head and probably preserved my life. I still have my,"Kennedy box",and different tools for the wing nuts and rivets,the pad to get authorization for tools or drills in the tool crib. Good Memories! I started with Republic Aviation in 1963 and worked there in, "08 shop", for thirteen months on the last single seaters and then started on the two seater until I got drafted. While I was there I installed the rain remover in front of the windshield. My dad was in engineering, and now and then he would show up, talk to my foreman just to make sure I was doing the right thing. I loved it.
I got drafted in "64" and ended up in Vietnam "65-66". Little did I know, the plane I worked on was above my head and probably preserved my life.
I still have my,"Kennedy box",and different tools for the wing nuts and rivets,the pad to get authorization for tools or drills in the tool crib. Good Memories!

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