#07aug

Warlord Photo File from Warlord No. 411, dated 7 August 1982. The Republic RF-84F Thunderflash. It states in the text it was a development of the Thunderjet but reading up on it shows it was really a variant of the later Thunderstreak.

Confusingly the Thunderjet and the Thunderstreak were both known as the F-84 (the Thunderstreak being the F-84F) but were quite different planes.

The Thunderflash was given the added 'R' prefix for 'Reconnaissance' and had loads of cameras. Other than that I don't know very much about these planes. Although they were used by various NATO forces I would say in the UK this family of jets aren't that well known.

Photo by P. H. Lee.

Below is a 1974 ad for the Airfix model kit of the Thunderstreak.

Battle Picture Weekly No. 40, dated 6 December 1975. Rat Pack cover by Carlos Ezquerra. The artwork was recoloured and reused for the cover of Battle No. 279, dated 7 August 1982.

Bullet No. 26 dated 7 August 1976. Fireball cover, artist unknown. Can't believe Fireball wears the exact same clothes as me.

Buddy No. 78, dated 7 August 1982. Young Starhawk cover, artist unknown. Meanwhile things turn a bit dark on pitch for Limp-Along Leslie with art by Neville Wilson.

Warlord No. 411, cover dated 7 August 1982. Union Jack Jackson cover by Ian Kennedy (with a photo background of US Marines with the distinctive "frogskin" camo covers on their helmets). I thought this image was unusual as the figures seemed familiar and the faces weren't as detailed as Ian's normal work. On checking it turned out the figures were reused from the background of Ian's cover to Warlord No. 386, dated 13 February 1982.

1978 ads for 2000AD prog 77, cover dated 12 August 1978 but on sale 7 August, featuring Robo-Hunter with art by Ian Gibson. The strip had debuted in the previous issue.

Warlord No. 98, dated 7 August 1976. Code-name Warlord cover by Carlos Cruz.

Back page feature on two of the hovercraft used by the Royal Navy.