ODISEA

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief is marking 68 years since its #firstflight in 1955.

This fighter-bomber played a pivotal role as one of the primary attack aircraft during the Vietnam War, known for its remarkable bomb-carrying capacity, exceeding that of most WWII bombers.

A USAF "Iron Hand" SAM-suppression team late in the war.

F-105D Thunderchief taking on fuel prior to heading to bomb the ‘Dragons Jaw’ Than Hoa bridge, 3 April 1965; the Dragon Jaw was a steel truss rail/highway bridge with reinforced concrete piers for resistance to bombing which proved to be a challenging target for US airpower. Apologies for the temperamental AI it was best version before it crashed…..

14 May 1957. First flight of the first production Republic F-105B Thunderchief. American supersonic fighter-bomber.

A B-66 bomber and four F-105 Thunderchiefs dropping their bombs on a city in North Vietnam

"Flying under radar control with a B-66 Destroyer, Helps improve accuracy in Bad weather.

@Destroye83 via X

North American A-5 Vigilante.

Vought F-8 Crusader

The Vought F-8 Crusader was one of the most important American fighters of the Vietnam War. It served primarily with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, providing fleet air defence, fighter escort, reconnaissance, and ground-attack capabilities. Nicknamed “The Last Gunfighter”, it achieved the best kill-to-loss ratio of any American fighter in the conflict and helped counter the threat posed by North Vietnamese MiGs. Its combination of speed, agility, and missile armament made it a formidable opponent in air combat.

The Crusader excelled in the demanding environment of air-to-air combat. Although famous for its four 20 mm cannons, it achieved almost all of its victories in Vietnam with Sidewinder missiles. Navy pilots valued its manoeuvrability and acceleration, which enabled skilled crews to successfully engage MiG-17s and MiG-21s. At a time when many American fighters were optimised for missiles and radar interception, the Crusader retained the qualities of a true dogfighter.

Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless, US Marine Corps, VMSB-132, 1941, U.S. Navy photo

A U.S. Marine Corps Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 (VMSB-132) in flight, in 1941. This totally bodacious Dauntless represents the heroic early WWII carrier and Marine dive bomber force that helped turn the tide in the Pacific!

F9F-2 Panthers over Korea

A swept wing development of the Convair B-36, and originally called the B-36G, the YB-60 was a competitor with the Boeing B-52 for a US Air Force contract. Suffering handling problems and with a top speed 100mph slower than the B-52 only one of the two planned prototypes were completed before the project was cancelled.