Dates |
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Event |
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Constructed as a F-105D-31-RE by Republic at Farmindale, New York, USA. |
30 August 1963 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 62-4353. |
16 September 1963 |
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To 8th TFW, Itazuke AB, Japan. |
13 May 1964 |
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Transferred to 41st Air Division, Yokota AB, Japan.
Transferred under Project Clearwater. |
1 April 1965 |
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Transferred to 6441st TFW, Yokota AB, Japan.
41st Air Division redesignated as 6441st TFW. |
1 June 1967 |
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Transferred to 67th TFS, 18th TFW, Kadena AB, Okinawa. |
From December 1967 to December 1968 |
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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 |
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Damaged.
Damaged in crash landing. |
17 July 1968 |
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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 |
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Transferred to 333rd TFS, 355th TFW, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. |
19 April 1969 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Damaged.
Damaged by enemy ground fire. Managed to return to Takhli and was repaired. |
19 October 1970 |
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Transferred to 23rd TFW, McConnell AFB, KS. |
From 27 October 1970 to After March 1971 |
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Assigned to McConnell AFB, KS for storage. |
1 May 1971 |
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Transferred to 149th TFS, 192nd TFG, Virginia ANG, Byrd Field, VA. |
By May 1981 |
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Transferred to 466th TFS, 508th TFG, AFRES, Hill AFB, UT.
Operated with markings: HI |
From 15 August 1981 to 29 August 1981 |
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Deployed to Skrydstrup, Denmark, under Coronet Rudder. |
By July 1982 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Redesignated as GF-105D. |
12 October 1983 |
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To Security Police Training Area (south), Kelly Field (formerly Kelly AFB), San Antonio, TX.
 View the Location Dossier |
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To National Museum of the United States Air Force Loan Program, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
View the Location Dossier |
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Loaned to VFW Post 1657, Pampa, TX. |
By June 2012 |
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Placed on display with Freedom Museum USA, Pampa, TX.
View the Location Dossier |
29 April 2024 |
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Photographer: John Bennett
Notes: Taken at Pampa, TX, USA |
