The F-105G Thunderchief:
The Wild Weasel
The newly restored F-105G Thunderchief will soon have a new home in Hangar One at the Museum of Aviation. Members of the Restoration staff are busily working together along with Middle Georgia Technical College students to restore the aircraft back to its original camouflage coloring. According to Chief Restoration Supervisor, Dennis Oliver, the restoration process is entering the final stages now. “We’re putting the last of the markings on now,” said Oliver. “We’re dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s.” The decision to repaint the aircraft was due to its inappropriate color scheme for the setting because the Georgia ANG flew the F-105 from 1980-1983. The Museum is restoring the aircraft to its original glory it hasn’t seen since it flew in Southeast Asia, nearly 40 years ago.
The F-105G Thunderchief was originally designed as a supersonic strike fighter capable of delivering a tactical nuclear weapon within enemy territory. The prototype YF-105A first flew in 1955 and the first production, the F-105B entered service in 1958 with the 45th Tactical Fighter Wing. Thunderchiefs were sent into combat inSoutheast Asia where F-105 crews flew over 20,000 combat missions and accounted for nearly 75% of the bombing missions flown by the USAF during the conflict. The aircraft housed at the Museum is known as the F-105G, or the “Wild Weasel.” This model was equipped with additional avionics and radar-seeking missiles to detect and destroy enemy radar and missile sites.
Robins AFB shared close ties with the F-105G during much of its operation. The Warner Robins ALC was the primary management and repair center for the avionics, fire control and communication systems, guns and air launched missiles used on all F-105s. The Warner Robins ALC was also involved with developing and maintaining the electronic warfare system used on the F-105G.
The F-105G Thunderchief on display at the Museum of Aviation was originally built by the Republic Aviation inFarmingdale, NY. It was first assigned to the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing, located at Nellis AFB, NV. The aircraft was retired in April 1983 and is now on permanent exhibit at the Museum of Aviation.
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