Warplanes of the USA: Republic F-84F Thunderstreak and RF-84F Thunderflash

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak and Republic RF-84F Thunderflash

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Republic F-84F-50-RE Thunderstreak (s/n 52-6852) of the 91st Fighter-Bomber Squadron, RAF Bentwaters UK.

The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American swept-wing turbojet-powered fighter-bomber. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version.

The design was originally intended to be a relatively simple upgrade to the F-84 Thunderjet to make it more competitive with the F-86 Sabre, differing largely in the use of a swept-wing and tail. Given the small number of changes, it was assigned the next model letter in the F-84 series, F. The prototypes demonstrated a number of performance and handling issues, which resulted in marginal improvement over the previous versions. Production was repeatedly delayed and another run of the straight-wing Thunderjets were completed as the G models.

Looking for a clear performance edge compared to the G models, the engine was upgraded to the much more powerful British Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire built in the United States as the Wright J65. The larger engine required the fuselage to be stretched into an oval shape and the air intake to be modified. With these and other changes, the design was finally ready to enter production, but only a fraction of the original production systems could be used and the aircraft was effectively a new design. It finally entered service in November 1954, by which time the Sabre had also undergone many upgrades and the Thunderstreak was relegated to the fighter-bomber role. Its time as a front-line design was brief, it began to be moved to secondary roles as early as 1958.

F-84Fs were then offered to NATO member countries and other allies, who took them up in large numbers. Operators included the Belgian Air Force, Royal Danish Air Force, French Air Force, West German Air Force, Greek Air Force, Italian Air Force, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Republic of China Air Force, Turkish Air Force, and for a brief period using ex-French examples, the Israeli Air Force.

The F-84F was retired from active service with the USAF in 1964, and replaced by the North American F-100 Super Sabre. The RF-84F was replaced by the RF-101 Voodoo in USAF units, and relegated to duty in the Air National Guard. The last RF-84F Thunderflash retired from the ANG in 1971. Three Hellenic Air Force RF-84Fs that were retired in 1991 were the last operational F-84s. (Wikipedia)

Variants

YF-84F - Two swept-wing prototypes of the F-84F, initially designated YF-96.

F-84F Thunderstreak - Swept wing version with Wright J65 engine. Tactical Air Command aircraft were equipped with Low-Altitude Bombing System (LABS) for delivering nuclear bombs. 2,711 built, 1,301 went to NATO under Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP).

GRF-84F - 25 RF-84Fs were converted to be carried, and launched from the bomb bay of a GRB-36F bomber as part of the FICON project. The aircraft were later redesignated RF-84K.

RF-84F Thunderflash - Reconnaissance version of the F-84F with intakes relocated to the wing-roots, 715 built.

RF-84K Thunderflash (FICON) - RF-84F with a retractable probe for hookup with carrier GRB-36Ds and tailplanes with marked anhedral, 25 redesignated from RF-84F.

XF-84H -Two F-84Fs were converted into experimental aircraft. Each was fitted with an Allison XT40-A-1 turboprop engine of 5,850 shaft horsepower (4,365 kW) driving a supersonic propeller. Ground crews dubbed the XF-84H the Thunderscreech due to its extreme noise output.

YF-84J - Two F-84Fs were converted into YF-84J prototypes with enlarged nose intakes and a deepened fuselages for the General Electric J73 engine; the YF-84J reached Mach 1.09 in level flight on 7 April 1954. The project was cancelled due to the excessive cost of converting existent F-84Fs.

(USAF Photos)

U.S. Air Force FICON (Fighter Conveyer) project: YRB-36 and YF-84F in launch position. 1955.

(USAF Photo)

U.S. Air Force Republic F-84F-25-RE Thunderstreak (s/n 51-1747) of the 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 178th Tactical Fighter Group, Ohio Air National Guard, during Operation "Punchcard IV". Note the open drag chute door, the chute was lost during flight because it was accidentally deployed. This aircraft is displayed at Montpelier, Indiana (USA), since 1970.

(USAF Photo)

Republic F-84F, coded FS-384.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Republic F-84F-45-RE Thunderstreak (Serial No. 52-7114), 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1957.

(USAF Photo)

164th Tactical Fighter Squadron - Two F-84F Thunderstreaks.

(USAF Photo)

124th Tactical Fighter Squadron - ADC F-89J Scorpions and the squadron'c first F-84F Thunderstreak on the flightline at Des Moines MAP.

(USAF Photo)

12th Tactical Fighter Wing F-84F Thunderstreaks (Serial Nos. 52-6846 and 52-6365). 6846 noted Jun 25, 2004 at Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, MI, painted as 52-5422. 6365 seen at scrapyard in Socorro, NM.

(USAF Photo)

Republic F-84F-40-RE Thunderstreak (Serial No. 52-7079), wing commander's aircraft. It had tail stripes for the 113d then 116th TFS, Indiana ANG and the Ohio 112th TFS.

(USAF Photo)

128th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron General Motors F-84F-40-GK Thunderstreak (Serial No. 51-9520).

(USAF Photo)

163d Tactical Fighter Squadron - F-84F Thunderstreaks about 1967 in Vietnam War camouflage livery. Also note the USAF insignia was much smaller after the switch-over from the natural aluminum finish made in 1966 under AFM 66-1.

(USAF Photo)

169th Tactical Fighter Squadron Republic F-84F-35-RE Thunderstreak (Serial No. 52-6467). Sold to Greek Air Force after retirement.

(USAF Photo)

Republic F-84F-55-RE Thunderstreak (Serial No. 52-6936) of the Ohio Air National Guard.

(Mike Freer Photo)

Republic (General Motors) F-84F Thunderstreak (51-9364).

(USAF Photo)

169th Tactical Fighter Squadron Republic F-84F-35-RE Thunderstreak (Serial No. 52-6497). Sold as N5372 to Community School District, Des Moines, IA. Now at Iowa Gold Star Museum, Camp Dodge, IA

(USAF Photo)

169th Tactical Fighter Squadron General Motors F-84F-30-GK Thunderstreak (Serial No. 51-9414).

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Indiana ANG Republic F-84F35-RE 52-6433 at Moffett Field.

(USAF Photo)

Four Republic F-84F Thunderstreak from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatics team flying in formation in 1955/56.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatics team

Surviving aircraft

Republic XF-84F

(NMUSAF Photo)
49-2430 – National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

(Michael Barera Photo)
51-1386 – Barksdale Global Power Museum, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
51-1620 – Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville, New York.
51-1639 – Springfield Downtown Airport, Springfield, Missouri.
51-1640 – Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, Utah.

(Eric Friedebach Photo)
51-1659 – Combat Air Museum, Topeka Regional Airport at Forbes Field, Topeka, Kansas.

(USAF Photo)

(ZLEA Photo)

51-1655 - Iowa Aviation Heritage Museum, Iowa.

(redlegsfan21 Photo)
51-1713 – Delta County Airport in Escanaba, Michigan.

(aeroprints Photos)
51-1714 – Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska.
51-1739 – Korean War memorial South Whitley, Indiana.

(Alan Wilson Photo)
51-1772 – Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan, California.
51-1786 – Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton, Virginia.
51-1797 – Ohio ANG Base in Springfield, Ohio.
51-1817 – Camp Robinson in Little Rock, Arkansas.
51-1818 – Fairfield MAP in Iowa.

(ZLEA Photo)
51-1822 – Illinois ANG Base in Springfield, Illinois.
51-9350 – Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards AFB, California.

(USAF Photo)

141st Tactical Fighter Squadron General Motors F-84F-25-GK Thunderstreak 51-9396. Aircraft retired in 1965. Now displayed at Holloman AFB, NM
51-9396 – Holloman AFB, New Mexico.
51-9430 – Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Painted as 52-7066.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

(Tomas Del Coro Photo)
51-9432 – March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.

(Clemens Vasters Photo)
51-9433 – Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.
51-9444 – Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
51-9451 – Wilson Park in Granite City, Illinois.

(Chris Light Photo)

51-9456 - Grissom Air Museum, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Peru, Indiana.
51-9480 – American Airpower Museum, East Farmingdale, New York.

(Greg Goebel Photo)
51-9495 – Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, Florida.
51-9501 – Yankee Air Museum, Belleville, Michigan.
51-9514 – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

(Aaron Headly Photo)
51-9522 – Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
51-9531 – Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs, California, formerly at Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum in Rantoul, Illinois.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

52-6359 - Travis AFB Heritage Center, California.
52-6379 – Wauchula Veteran's Park in Wauchula, Florida.
52-6385 – VFW Post 2503, Omaha, Nebraska.

(Alan Wilson Photo)
52-6438 – Georgia Veterans State Park in Cordele, Georgia.
52-6455 – American Legion post #490, Houston, Texas.
52-6456 – Veterans of Foreign Wars post #6791, West Chicago, Illinois.
52-6461 – Lackland AFB, Texas.
52-6470 – Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

(Thompson200 Photo)
52-6476 – Aviation History & Technology Center, Marietta, Georgia.

(Michael Barera Photo)

52-6486 - Air Zoo at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport in Portage, Michigan.
52-6497 – Iowa Gold Star Museum in Johnston, Iowa.

(NMUSAF Photo)

(Dsdugan Photo)
52-6526 – National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
52-6553 – Window on the Plains Museum in Dumas, Texas.
52-6555 – Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

(aeroprints Photo)
52-6563 – Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
52-6634 – Defense Supply Center Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.

(Eric Friedebach Photo)
52-6701 – Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Georgia.
52-6782 – Luke AFB, Arizona.
52-6993 – Wilbur Wright Birthplace and Museum near Millville, Indiana.
52-7019 – Cheyenne Municipal Airport in Wyoming.
52-7080 – England AFB, Louisiana.
52-8837 – Richmond Airport, Virginia.
52-8886 – South Dakota Air and Space Museum at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.
52-9089 – Kansas Aviation Museum, Wichita, Kansas.

Republic RF-84F Thunderflash
51-1929 – Neligh, Nebraska.
51-1944 – Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
51-1948 – Harlan Airport (HNR) in Harlan, Iowa.
51-11259 – Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebraska.
51-17046 – Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, Utah (nose section only).
52-7249 – Dannelly Field ANG Collection, Montgomery, Alabama.
52-7259 – National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

(Alan Wilson Photo)
52-7265 – Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California.
52-7409 – Birmingham ANGB, Birmingham, Alabama.
52-7421 – Yankee Air Museum, Belleville, Michigan.
53-7529 – Berry Field ANGB, Nashville, Tennessee.
53-7570 – Enka Middle School, Candler, North Carolina.
53-7595 – American Airpower Museum, East Farmingdale, New York.

(USAF Photo)

Four U.S. Air Force Air National Guard fighters in flight, circa 1970: (clockwise from the left): a Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger (s/n 56-1323) from the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 148th Fighter Interceptor Group, Minnesota Air National Guard; a Republic (General Motors built) F-84F-40-GK Thunderstreak (51-9524) from the 170th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 183d Tactical Fighter Group, Illinois Air National Guard; a McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo from the 178th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 119th Fighter Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard; and a North American F-100D-50-NH Super Sabre (s/n 55-2870) from an unknown unit.