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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Republic F-105
    Latest Model:GF-105D Thunderchief
    Last Military Serial:62-4353 USAF
    Construction Number:D552
    Latest Owner or Location:Freedom Museum USA, Pampa, Texas

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a F-105D-31-RE by Republic at Farmindale, New York, USA.

    30 August 1963

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 62-4353.

    16 September 1963

    To 8th TFW, Itazuke AB, Japan.

    13 May 1964

    Transferred to 41st Air Division, Yokota AB, Japan.
    Transferred under Project Clearwater.

    1 April 1965

    Transferred to 6441st TFW, Yokota AB, Japan.
    41st Air Division redesignated as 6441st TFW.

    1 June 1967

    Transferred to 67th TFS, 18th TFW, Kadena AB, Okinawa.

    From December 1967 to December 1968

    Michael Bohlander comments (9 April 2021): I, Sgt.MICHAEL R. BOHLANDER WAS CREWCHIEF ON THIS AIRCRAFT IN TAKHLI, THAILAND, DEC 1967-DEC 1968.

    9 January 1968

    Damaged.
    Damaged in crash landing.

    17 July 1968

    Transferred to 354th TFS, 355th TFW, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand.
    Operated with markings: Billie Fern / Thunderchief
    Name(s) on both intakes. On fuselage below cockpit.

    By March 1969

    Transferred to 333rd TFS, 355th TFW, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand.

    19 April 1969

    Maj. Eugene E. Cirillo comments in F-105 Thunderchiefs: A 29-Year Illustrated Operational History by W. Howard Plunkett: The aircraft was flown on a combat mission by Maj. Eugene E. Cirillo. It was his 165th and last combat mission. 0545 briefing. Target was Route 8 where it exits North Vietnam through Ban Karai Pass into Northern Laos. Objective was to cut the road. Callsign for mission was Dolphin. It was a four ship flight. Maj. Cirillo was lead ship. Ordinance on each aircraft was six Mk. 117 bombs, two 450 gallon tanks, QRC pod and an AIM-9 on the outboard stations. The mission was successful and none of the aircraft sustained combat damage.

    By May 1970

    Transferred to 354th TFS, 355th TFW, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand.
    Operated with markings: Thunderchief
    Name in red. Storm cloud with yellow lightning bolt and profile of Indian Chiefs head on gun access panel.

    28 August 1970

    Damaged.
    Damaged by enemy ground fire. Managed to return to Takhli and was repaired.

    19 October 1970

    Transferred to 23rd TFW, McConnell AFB, KS.

    From 27 October 1970 to After March 1971

    Assigned to McConnell AFB, KS for storage.

    1 May 1971

    Transferred to 149th TFS, 192nd TFG, Virginia ANG, Byrd Field, VA.

    By May 1981

    Transferred to 466th TFS, 508th TFG, AFRES, Hill AFB, UT.
    Operated with markings: HI

    From 15 August 1981 to 29 August 1981

    Deployed to Skrydstrup, Denmark, under Coronet Rudder.

    By July 1982

    Markings Applied: No Guts No Glory
    Noseart consisted of a mouse with a dream cloud of a World War I biplane in the shield.

    11 October 1983

    Last flight.
    One of 24 F-105s flown on ceremonial final mission at Hill AFB, UT. After the mission, 62-4353 was one of 7 F-105s delivered to Lackland AFB, TX. Retired with 4,769.1 flying hours.

    12 October 1983

    Redesignated as GF-105D.

    12 October 1983

    To Security Police Training Area (south), Kelly Field (formerly Kelly AFB), San Antonio, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    To National Museum of the United States Air Force Loan Program, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
    View the Location Dossier

    Loaned to VFW Post 1657, Pampa, TX.

    By June 2012

    Placed on display with Freedom Museum USA, Pampa, TX.
    View the Location Dossier


    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    F-105 Thunderchiefs: A 29-Year Illustrated Operational History by W. Howard Plunkett
    U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden

    Internet Sources
    Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    National Museum of the United States Air Force

    Individual Contributors
    Max Sabin

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