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The '''F-105 Thunderchief''', sometimes referred to as the "Thud", was a single-seat, heavy fighter-bomber, built by [[Republic Aviation]] and designed for tactical bombing. It was the mainstay of the U.S. bombing force in the early part of the [[Vietnam War]]. The F-105 could carry up to 12,000 lb of bombs or a nuclear payload, and carried an internal [[M61 Vulcan]] 20 mm cannon that fired at a rate of 6000 rounds/minute. The internal gun set it apart from most other American fighters of the era, such as the [[F-4 Phantom]], which carried only missiles. It was powered by a single [[Pratt & Whitney]] turbojet engine that allowed it a top speed of over Mach 2 in level flight.<ref>''Fast Movers'', by John Darrell Sherwood, St. Martin’s Press, 1999</ref>
The '''F-105 Thunderchief''', sometimes referred to as the "Thud", was a single-seat, heavy fighter-bomber, built by [[Republic Aviation]] and designed for tactical bombing. It was the mainstay of the U.S. bombing force in the early part of the [[Vietnam War]]. The F-105 could carry up to 12,000 lb of bombs or a nuclear payload, and carried an internal [[M61 Vulcan]] 20 mm cannon that fired at a rate of 6000 rounds/minute. The internal gun set it apart from most other American fighters of the era, such as the [[F-4 Phantom]], which carried only missiles. It was powered by a single [[Pratt & Whitney]] turbojet engine that allowed it a top speed of over Mach 2 in level flight.<ref>''Fast Movers'', by John Darrell Sherwood, St. Martin’s Press, 1999</ref>
In May of 1963, the Thunderchief was selected to be the plane of the [[U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds|Thunderbirds Air Force demonstration team]].<ref>[http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/usa/republic/f-105/F-105_Thunderchief.htm Republic F-105 Thunderchief]</ref>
In May 1963, the Thunderchief was selected to be the plane of the [[U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds|Thunderbirds Air Force demonstration team]].<ref>[http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/usa/republic/f-105/F-105_Thunderchief.htm Republic F-105 Thunderchief]</ref>
In response to the losses in [[Operation Rolling Thunder]] to North Vietnamese [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] batteries, some Thuds were modified as SAM-site killers, with a second seat in the back and [[AGM-45 Shrike|missiles that homed in on enemy radar]]. The pilots of these planes were called Wild Weasels.
In response to the losses in [[Operation Rolling Thunder]] to North Vietnamese [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] batteries, some Thuds were modified as SAM-site killers, with a second seat in the back and [[AGM-45 Shrike|missiles that homed in on enemy radar]]. The pilots of these planes were called Wild Weasels.
*[http://www.talkingproud.us/HistoryThudA.html The F-105 Thud, a legend flown by legends]
*[http://www.talkingproud.us/HistoryThudA.html The F-105 Thud, a legend flown by legends]
==Further Reading==
==Further reading==
*''Thud Ridge: F-105 Thunderchief Missions over Vietnam'', by Col. Jack Broughton, MBI Publishing, 2006
*''Thud Ridge: F-105 Thunderchief Missions over Vietnam'', by Col. Jack Broughton, MBI Publishing, 2006
*''When Thunder Rolled: An F-105 Fighter Pilot over North Vietnam'', by Ed Rasimus, Harper Collins, 2003
*''When Thunder Rolled: An F-105 Fighter Pilot over North Vietnam'', by Ed Rasimus, Harper Collins, 2003