General Background

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief first entered service in 1958. It had been designed for high-speed low-level penetration to deliver a nuclear bomb but was converted to deliver conventional payloads. It was the heaviest U.S. single-engined fighter ever made and could carry a greater bomb load than the B-17, B-24 or B-29. Best known for its action in Vietnam the F-105 flew over 20,000 combat missions with the loss of 382 aircraft out of the 833 produced.

The Aircraft

On May 26, 1958 the first F-105 received by 335th Fighter-Day Squadron, 4th Fighter-Day Wing was the one and only F-105B-6RE built and was serial 54-111. It was considered the first F-105 delivered to an operational unit. Their job was to put the Thunderchief through its paces and find any deficiencies, which they did. On July 1, 1958 the unit was renamed the 4th TFW and the 335th became the 335th TFS. In early 1964 the 4th TFW transitioned to the F-105D/F.