F-105 Thunderchief (Thud) – 1/1
This article is part of a series:
From October 1963 to September 1965 we were stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB in N. Carolina. Dad flew the B, D and F models of the Thunderchief, as part of the 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron. A TDY assignment took the unit and it’s Thuds to Incirlik AB, Turkey, for several months in 1965.
In October 1965 he was assigned to the 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron stationed at Bitburg, Germany. They flew the 105’s until April 1966, when the unit transitioned to F-4’s (next in the series).
As I remember it, the Seymour Johnson Thuds were NMF, and it wasn’t until Germany that they began to carry the SEA scheme in anticipation of taking part in action in Vietnam.
That is not him in the cockpit – one of his squadron mates.
13 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Michel Verschuere said on October 9, 2018
This THUD material is really unique Greg, I love this plane and its designer (same as the Republic Thunderbolt) Alexander Kartveli, a European immigrant to the US. Looking forward to your next entry here!
Jeff Bailey said on October 9, 2018
I’m with Michel in looking forward to more photos & stories!
Jeff Bailey said on October 9, 2018
More awesome photos! I love seeing these. The fact that it’s your Dad’s unit and planes makes it even better! Thanks for sharing, Greg!
In 1983 I was almost stationed in Bitburg, but ended up in Fulda with the 11th Cavalry. I miss Germany.
Greg Kittinger said on October 9, 2018
@mikegolf: I loved Germany. First half of the year (winter) we loved on top of a mountain because base housing wasn’t available. Oil heat – no hot water in the shower. Bear tracks and an abandoned castle on our mountain, and one day when I disobeyed my mom and tried to walk up the mountain when the school bus dropped me off at the bottom, I had a standoff with a wild boar face-to-face. Memories I’ll never forget!
Jeff Bailey said on October 9, 2018
Yep! LOTS of BIG boars in Ger-mer-many! They were always around whenever we went on field problems. You sure had to be wary and alert!
Craig Abrahamson said on October 9, 2018
Another favorite airplane of mine….thanks for sharing your pics, Greg.
Gábor Szabó said on October 9, 2018
Thank You! I love the “thud” and the pictures are all great! What a family album!
Robert Royes said on October 9, 2018
Nice! These show the transition of AF camo,,nice shot of the exhaust petals!
Tony Prince said on October 9, 2018
Really good of you to share such wonderful photos Greg. Thanks so much.
Marc Barris said on October 9, 2018
Hey Greg, thanks for the pictures and the memories, I am really enjoying this.