Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA2553
F-105F Thunderchief "Peach 91" 63-8299, 128th TFS, Dobbins, 24 May 1983
 
General Background
One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4 performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4 evolved into well over a dozen variants.
 
The Aircraft
In 1964 F-105F 63-8336 was delivered to the 23rd TFW as a two-seat combat capable trainer. In 1971 63-8336 underwent extensive modifications to convert it to an F-105G Surface-To-Air Missile (SAM) suppression attack aircraft known as “Wild Weasel”. They were equipped with sensors that could detect enemy radar signals once they were turned on, electronic jamming equipment and anti-radar missiles that could be launched to eliminate the SAM radar causing the missile to lose guidance. F-105G named “Patience” and Buzzard artwork refers to a cartoon of the day.