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HOW IT WAS!KUNSAN AIRBASE 474th FBW/FBG (1951-1954): History 49th FBG (1953): History F-84 Technical SpecificationsPage 5 of 5 |
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 HOW IT WAS:
KUNSAN AIRBASE
(1951-1954) |
474th Tactical Fighter Wing 428th TFS
"Buccaneers" |  429th TFS
"Black Falcons" |  430th TFS |
(Note: If anyone has the Korean War emblems, would you share them with us? -- Kalani) 474th Fighter Bomber Wing (1952-1953) Acknowledgment: Special thanks to Ken Mendell of Bluford, Illinois for his invaluable narratives of life at K-8 with the 474th FBW. Special thanks to Randy Presley of Mt. Pleasant, Texas for his narratives and photos from his Presley site. Thanks to Dave Day for his information. Thanks also to Larry Wertz of Warren, PA for his narratives of life at Taegu with the 474th after the switch. Thanks to Jerry Martin for his details of the 116th Fighter Bomber Wing (ANG). Thanks to Bill Oliphant of Knoxville, TN for his narratives of flying the F-84s.
474th Tactical Fighter Group History
World War II:The following was extracted from 9th AF Units. "In early 1943 there were formed, at Eglin Field, Florida, two new experimental units called the 1st Minimum Altitude Bomber-Torpedo Unit (MABTU) and the 2nd Minimum Altitude Bomber-Fighter Unit (MABFU). The MABFU was equipped with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. From this Unit the Cadre was drawn to form the 474th Fighter Group which was activated at the Army Airdrome (Grand Central Air Terminal) at Glendale, California on August 1st 1943. The three Squadrons trained, although not always on the same airfield, in Southern California and on the Central Coastal area of California. In January of 1944 they began preparations for overseas deployment. The Group entrained on February 15th, 1944 and traversed the country to Camp Myles Standish at Taunton, Mass., arriving on February 21st. By the 28th of February they were aboard the SS Uruguay troopship and on their way to Europe. The crossing, in convoy, required 11 days and ended with debarkation at Liverpool, England. On March 12th they moved, by train, to their first Station at Warmwell, Dorest, on the Southern Coast of England. They shared the grass field with an RAF Typhoon Squadron and an Air Sea Rescue Unit. The 474th Fighter Group was activated at Glendale, Calif., on Oct. 1, 1943. The Group, flying the P-38 Lightning, deployed with the group to Moreton, England, arriving on March 12, 1944. In April of 1944 the 474th FG became the first P-38 equipped Group to join the 70th Fighter Wing of the IX Tactical Air Command of the 9th Air Force. Intense training and orientation followed and the Group was declared "Operational" on April 24th, 1944."  P-38F LighteningOn April 25, 1944, the Group flew its first combat mission. During the next month or so, aircrews attacked railroads and bridges in France, preparatory to the Normandy invasion. During the invasion, the unit provided air cover for allied forces crossing the English Channel. On June 6, more of the group's crews flew bombing missions directly supporting allied ground forces.
As the allies moved inland, the group flew reconnaissance and interdiction missions, attacking highways and German troop concentrations during the July 25, 1944, St. Lo breakthrough. When allied armies had moved far enough inland, the group moved to Nucilly, France. Continuing close air support missions, the group moved to Schweinfurt, Germany on June 16 and to Stuttgart, Germany, in October 1945. The group won several awards for combat operations.
On August 23, 1944, against heavy enemy small arms and antiaircraft artillery fire, crews located an immense quantity of enemy equipment massed along the Seine River. The unit's pilots attacked barges, bridges and transports, disrupting the German retreat and allowing allied troops to capture the equipment and many prisoners. For this action the unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. The squadron also participated in the British 1 Airborne Division's assault on Holland in September 1944 and in the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945.
The 474th considered itself fortunate in that they flew the Lockheed P-38 Lightning throughout the war. They were the only Group in Northern Europe flying the P-38 at war's end. After the war, the unit was inactivated.
 P-38 Lightening
Squadrons of the 474th FG
428th FS- Black Square - F5 - Geyser
430th FS -Yellow Circle - K6 - Backdoor
429th FS - Red Triangle - 7Y - Retail
Assigned 9th AAF: April 1944
Wing/Command Assignment
70th Fighter Wing of the IX Tactical Air Command of the 9th AF
Combat Aircraft:
Lockheed Lightning P-38J-10-LO
Lockheed Lightning P-38J-15-LO
Lockheed Lightning P-38L-5-LO
Stations
RAF Warmwell March 13, 1944 to August 11th, 1944
A-11 Neuilly-la-Forte, France August 12, 1944 to Sept. 2, 1944
A-43 St Marceau, France Sept. 3, 1944 to Sept. 9, 1944
A-72 Peronne, France Sept. 10.1944 to Oct. 1, 1944
A-78 Florennes, Belgium Oct. 2, 1944 to March 3, 1945
Y-59 Strassfeld, Germany March 4, 1945 to April 22, 1945
R-2 Langensalza, Germany April 23. 1945 to VE Day
Group COs
Clinton C. Wassem 1 Aug. 1943 - 17 Feb. 1945
Earl C. Hedlund 17 Feb. 1945 - 18 Apr. 1945
David L. Lewis 18 Apr. 1945 - 29 Sept. 1945
First Mission: 25 April 1944
Last Mission: 8 May 1945
Sorties 13,000
Missions flown 822
Enemy Aircraft Claims: Aerial Victories 113 Damaged 239
MIA: XXX
Tons of Bombs 3,920
50 Cal. Expended 242,000 Rds.
20mm Expended 36,656 Rds.
Major Awards
6 Distinguished Service Crosses.
18 Silver Stars
106 Distinguished Flying Crosses
1853 Air Medals and Oak Leaf Clusters
15 Soldier's Medals
8 French Croix de Guerre Unit Citations
Distinguished Unit Citation for Action on August 23, 1944 Belgian Fourragere
Ground Victories
90 Enemy Equip. Destroyed;
10,000 (Includes Trucks, Tanks, Rail Cars, Locomotives, Armored Vehicles, River Barges, etc.)
Korean War:The Group was reactivated for the Korean War. How the 474th was originally manned by the remanents of the 116th Fighter Bomber Wing is told in the Korean War Project by Jerry Martin (former SSgt USAF) about the 116th Fighter Bomber Wing and its connection to the 474th. He wrote, "The 116th Fighter Bomber Wing consisted of three squadrons of Air National Guard units from Atlanta, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida and San Bernardino, California. The wing trained at George AFB, CA., and sailed to Japan July 9-10, l951 aboard pocket carriers,"Sidcom Bay" and "Wyndam Bay"." According to the ANG History, "The Air Guard's 136th and the 116th Fighter Bomber Wings compiled excellent combat records. ... The 116th arrived in Japan in late July 1951. Its fighter-bomber squadrons included the 158th (Georgia), 159th (Florida) and the 196th (California)." (NOTE: Currently the 116th Bomb Wing (ANG) is stationed at Robins AFB, Georgia.)
Republic F84E Thunderjet
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Equipped with F-84Es, the unit was originally activated at Misawa Air Base, Japan on July 10, 1952, and immediately ordered to Kunsan Air Base. From Kunsan Air Base, the wing entered combat in August 1952 and bombed and strafed bridges, bunkers, troop concentrations, artillery positions, and a host of other targets.
Jerry Martin stated, "Starting in December l951, the 116th became the first Air Force Unit in history to utilize air-to-air refueling in combat operations, flying from Misawa, Japan to North Korea in "Operation High Tide." I served with the 116th from November l951 until July l952 when the unit designation was returned to Air National Guard Status. Most of its original personnel had rotated back to the U.S. by then."
Jerry continued, "The men and aircraft remaining were redesignated the 474th Fighter Bomber Wing and transferred to Korea in the largest Combat Cargo airlift of the war. The 474th was stationed out of Kunsan (K-8), South Korea until the spring of l953."
In March 16, 1953 FEAF put into effect a new concept of a fighter-bomber wing (reinforced) to ease maintenance and support problems. In April 1953, the 49th FBW was relocated to K-8 (Kunsan) -- in name only -- for two of its squadrons. The 428th of Kunsan became the 7th FBS; and the 429th became the 8th FBS. Its 9th FBS was relocated to Misawa Air Base, Japan. The 430th of Kunsan was physically relocated with all personnel, equipment and aircraft to Taegu to replace the 9th.
In the end, the 474th at Taegu had three squadrons, while the 49th at Kunsan had two squadrons. Jerry stated, "At that time, the 474th exchanged aircraft and personnel with the 49th Fighter Bomber Wing. In early summer l953, these two wings were combined into the 58th Fighter bomber Wing (Reinforced) and the 474th and 49th Wings were placed on inactive status. The 58th FB Wing then relocated to K-2 (Taegu, South Korea). "
This confusing swap was explained this way in the "Korean War Project": "Some brief background: According to 'The Korean Air War' (Dorr and Thompson , 1994): "On 16 March 1953, FEAF put to work its new concept of a fighter-bomber wing (reinforced) with some important changes in establishment designations (a USAF wing, as purists know, is an "establishment" and not a "unit"). Prior to this date, Taegu (alias K-2) had been home to both the 49th and 58th FBWs. Now, the two were consolidated into the 58th FBW (Reinforced). The 49th FBW was replaced on 1 April by the 474th FBW consisting of the 428th, 429th and 430th FBSs. This confusing adjustment was accomplished for the purpose of easing maintenance and support problems."
Roy Henry of College Station, Texas who was at Taegu wrote in the Korean War Project, "When we first got there (K-2) in March 53, we were in the 7th Sqdn, 49th FB Wing. Later, we became the 428th Sqdn in the 474th FB Group of the 58th FB Wing. At this time K2 had 2 groups in the 58th Wing. 6 Sqdns flew out of this one base. I now realize what a busy place this was."
For its actions in the Korean Conflict, the 474th Fighter Bomber Group received the Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
After Korea:After the ceasefire in July 1953, things slowly wound down. The 474th departed Taegu on December 1954 and returned to Cannon AFB, New Mexico and converted to the F-86 and later to the F-100. In the F-86 Homepage it says that the 428th, 429th and 430th FBS "converted from F-84s to F-86Fs at Clovis AFB NM in 1955. They then received F-86Hs before converting again to F-100Ds in 1957. The squadron was assigned to 474th FBG during this period."
474th Tactical Fighter Wing
(From Aviation Patches)
In 1957, the 474th Fighter Bomber Group was inactivated and reactivated as the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing flying F-111A at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Occasionally, from 1959 through 1965 the squadron was detached from the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing. In 1963, the squadrons deployed in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Two F-111A squadrons (429th and 430th) deployed to Takhli Royal Thai Air Base in March 1973. From 1973-1975 to fly combat missions over North Vietnam. From Takhli and Korat Royal Thai Air Base, the squadrons conducted combat operations with its sister units of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing. The units remained in Southeast Asia until its return to the U.S. in September 1975, when the units rejoined the 474 Tactical Fighter Wing at Nellis AFB, Nev. In 1977, rearmed with the F-4D, the wing continued training until its conversion to the F-16 Fighting Falcon in November 1980. The wing flew the F-16 until its inactivation in September 1989.
428th Tactical Fighter Squadron
"Buccaneers" | 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron
"Black Falcons" | 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron |
In September 1992, the 429th and 430th were activated as part of the 366th Wing equipped with the EF-111A Raven and redesignated the 429th (Ravens) and 430th Electronic Control Squadrons (ECS). The 428th FS remained the training squadron with FB-111G. The 428th FS, 429th ECS and 430th ECS moved to Cannon AFB, N.M., and were assigned to the 27th Operations Group on June 29, 1993.
The 428th ECS had a long history with the F-111 and they ended their time as the last USAF F-111 training unit flying the F-111G (FB-111) and then the F-111E. The unit converted to F-16s and was redesignated the 428th FS. It acts as the Foreign Military Sales Training Squadron as of Nov 98.
When the 390th ECS of Mountain Home converted to F-15s, the 429th became the last EF-111 squadron in the U.S. Air Force. The unit used the original 429 TFS colors and emblem starting in 1995. After a long and proud history, the 429th ECS was deactivated in 1998. (Go to 429th Electronic Combat Squadron "Ravens" for details.)
The 430th ECS converted to F-16s in 1994 and was redesignated as the 430th FS. The unit is still attached to the 27th FW.
 429th Electronic Combat Squadron
"Black Falcons" (later "Ravens")
(From Aviation Patches) |  430th Electronic Combat Squadron
(From F-111 Aardvark) |
The 474th Fighter Bomber Wing Association Reunion
The First 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing Association Reunion
was held between September 6-8, 2000
at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.
It was a resounding success!!!
Now plans are underway
for a reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada
on September 22-24, 2002.
Point of Contact: Neil Buckwald
5000 Valadez St.
Las Vegas, NV 89149
Phone: 702-645-4078
E-Mail : neil.buckwald@gte.net
49th Fighter Wing History   7th, 8th and 9th Fighter Bomber SquadronsBlue and yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The Light and Dark Blue colors signify the unit's day and night defense of freedom. The winged knight's helmet reflects the Wing's long and distinguished history of military engagements. The stars represent the constellation "Southern Cross" and denote the unit's World War II campaign credits in the South Pacific. Motto Tutor Et Ultor --- I Protect and AvengeThe following abridged from the 49th Fighter Wing History:
The history of the 49th is one of distinction. Organized as the 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) in 1940, the unit was among the first to deploy from the United States to the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. Redesignated the 49th Fighter Group, the unit played an important role in halting Japanese advances in the Southwest Pacific. During four years of World War II combat, the group was successful in providing air defense from Australia to the Philippines.
By war's end, the group's pilots destroyed 678 enemy aircraft, a record surpassing that of any other fighter group in the Pacific Theater. The group's World War II activities merited two Philippines Republic Presidential Unit Citations, three U.S. Distinguished Unit Citations, and 10 battle honors. Among the unit's 43 aces were Lt. Colonel Boyd D. "Buzz" Wagner, the first World War II ace in the Pacific Theater, and Major Richard I. Bong, whose 40 kills made him America's number one ace (a record that still stands). The 49th soon became endeared to the American people through the nickname, "Fighting 49ers."
On August 19, 1948, the 49th Fighter Wing activated at Misawa Air Base, Japan. At Misawa, the 49th conducted training exercises with P-51 and F-80 aircraft as a part of the occupational forces in Japan. Trained to maintain tactical proficiency while participating in the military occupation and air defense of Japan, 1948-Jun 1950. Redesignated the 49th Fighter- Bomber Wing on February 1, 1950, the 49th began operations in Korea in June 1950. Although components detached for combat operations, the unit remained in Japan until 1 Dec 1950. The wing's tactical mission was greatly reduced, but did include F-80 pilot training from late Jun to 1 Dec 1950. From 6 Sep to 1 Dec 1950, the wing had no tactical units except a detachment of the 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which provided strip alert and F-80 pilot training.
The wing was among the first jet fighter units to operate in the Korean War. On 1 Dec the wing moved to Taegu AB, South Korea, and resumed operational control of its tactical components. Primarily interdicted enemy supplies, equipment and lines of communication, but also performed bombing of high value strategic targets, close air support of ground forces, and combat air patrol.
In December 1950, the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing (FBW) flying P-51s & F-80s began the move to Taegu, Korea, from Itazuke, Japan. It became the first combat fighter outfit to operate on a combat basis from a base in Korea, and conducted attacks against enemy forces along the 38th parallel. At Taegu, it converted to the F-84s. The 49th FBW consisted of the 7th, 8th, and 9th FBS.
Though the F-84s were in use elsewhere as "strategic fighters," in Korea they were used as fighter-bombers. Cutting rail lines, hitting frontline targets and interdicting rail traffic were the F-84 pilots' specialties. Though the unit were filled with valiant and highly decorated airmen, their fighters at times were not up to the tasking levied on them by the FEAF (Far East Air Force).
Early in the Korean War, the 49th and 136th Fighter Bomber Wings were assigned the role of providing close escort for the lumbering B-29 Superfortresses. Unfortunately, the F-84 as an escort was no match for the MiG-15. This lesson was learned the hard way in what is called the "Black Day for FEAF's Bombers" on October 23, 1951. Forty-four MiG-15s had attacked twenty-one B-29s and more than two hundred fighters. On that day, twenty-two pairs of MiGs tore through the high and close escort F-84s and slaughtered the B-29s. The Soviets counted twenty-one Superforts in the air that day and claimed twelve as kills. They also killed four F-84s. This had been the biggest air battle of the Korean War...a disaster. F-86s seeking to come to their aid were bottled up by Chinese and North Korea MiGs, while the Soviet MiGs butchered the bombers.
Crimson Sky: The Air Battle for Korea (by John R. Bruning, 1999) talks of the F-84's escort role, "Flying an aircraft so inferior to the MiG-15 meant that they could only react to communist moves, not dictate the course of the air battle. This meant the escorting fighter group could not adequately protect their charges. The MiGs could have ignored the F-84s altogether and hit the bomber formation enmass, and the F-84s -- slower, less agile, and unable to climb with the MiG-15s -- would have been next to useless." Though the valiant F-84s "broke into the MiGs and desperately attacked them in an effort to keep them away from the Superforts ... the straight-wing fighters were so inferior to the Mig-15s that the communist pilots were able to engage and disengage at will., usually by climbing steeply out of the fight, then coming back down in slashing diving runs."
The wing was attached to 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Taegu, 16-31 Mar 1953, and on 1 Apr moved without personnel or equipment to Kunsan AB, South Korea, where it absorbed resources of the 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing and continued combat operations to 27 Jul 1953.
The unit participated in every major air campaign while supporting the United Nations' forces with air interdiction and close air support missions. One of the most decorated Air Force units in the Korean conflict, the 49th earned two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit citations and another eight battle honors. Such accomplishments earned the wing a niche in United States Air Force history.
After the hostilities ceased, the base began to slowly draw down. The F-84s of the 49th FBW left Kunsan in November 1953 moving to Misawa AB, Japan.
In 1957, the 49th completed 15 years of continuous service in Asia, moving from Misawa Air Base, Japan, to Etain-Rouvres Air Base, France. There, under the control of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), the 49th replaced the inactivated 388th Fighter-Bomber Wing. During its time in France, the wing converted from the F-84 to the F-100D.
In August 1959, the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing began a nine-year stay at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. The 49th transitioned to the F-105D in 1961 and F-4D in 1967.
On July 1, 1968, the 49th arrived at Holloman Air Force Base, becoming the first dual-based tactical fighter wing. Under the dual-basing concept, the 49th, stationed at Holloman, deployed individual squadrons periodically to Europe, fulfilling their NATO commitment.
In May 1972, the 49th deployed their F-4 aircraft and 2,600 personnel to Takhli Air Base, Thailand. During this deployment, Operation Constant Guard, the 49th flew more than 21,000 combat hours over just about every battle zone from An Loc to vital installations in the Hanoi vicinity. During five months of combat, the wing did not lose any aircraft or personnel -- a testament to the outstanding training and proficiency of all members of the 49th. The unit officially closed out its Southwest Asia duty October 6, 1972, receiving an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device for its participation.
On Dec. 20, 1977, the wing began converting from the F-4 to the F-15. The transition was completed June 4, 1978. In 1992, the 49th underwent a number of transitions. The last F-15 departed Holloman June 5, 1992, ending 14 years of Eagle operations. On May 9, 1992, four F-117 stealth fighters from Tonopah Test Range, Nevada, arrived at Holloman. Also, F-4Es returned to Holloman, as part of the 9th Fighter Squadron, in May 1992.
In 1993, its three F-117A squadrons were redesignated as the 7th FS, 8th FS and 9th FS to return the original squadrons to the wing. Its F-4E squadron became the 20th FS.
The 8th & 9th Fighter Squadrons are the only two combat-ready F-117A Nighthawk squadrons in the world. They deploy worldwide as tasked by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, using special low-observable technologies to deliver precision-guided weapons against high-value, heavily defended targets. The 8th and 9th Fighter Squadrons provide the National Command Authority with a fully autonomous special combat capability for low- profile military operations.
Effective May 1, 1996, the German Air Force activated the Tactical Training Center at Holloman. The TTC serves as the parent command for two German air crew training squadrons for F-4F and German Tornados. More than 300 German Air Force members are permanently assigned at Holloman to the TTC--the only unit of its kind in the United States.
The 58th Fighter Bomber Wing (Reinforced) ReunionReunion: June 14-18, 2000 St. Louis, Missouri
58th Fighter Group WWII
58th Pursuit Group WWII,
58th Fighter Bomber Wing (Korea)
Reunion: 14-18 June 2000
St Louis, Missouri | Including:
58th Fighter Squadron
69th Fighter Squadron
310th Fighter Squadron
311th Fighter Squadron
201st Fighter Squadron, Mexico |
"CONTACTS"58th Fighter Squadron
Ellis Stanley
2645 Chandafern Drive
Pelham, AL 35124
Tel: (205) 663-4235
69th Fighter Squadron
Guy Johnson
930 Eagle Hills Way
Eagle, ID 83616
Tel: (208) 939-6910
310th Fighter Squadron
Bob James
13083 Ferntrails Ln
St Louis, MO 63141
Tel: (314) 878-5953
311th Fighter Squadron
Tony Kupferer
2025 Bono Rd
New Albany, IN 47150
Tel: (812) 945-7649
|
Republic F-84 Thunderjet F84D (Click on photo to enlarge)The Republic F-84 "Thunderjet" was conceived by its designer, the famous Alexander Kartveli, as the successor of the P-47 "Thunderbolt", nicknamed "Jug". A descendant of the P-47 Thunderbolt, the Republic F-84 Thunderstreak was the first nuclear capable inflight refuelable fighter bomber produced in the world and the last straightwing jet fighter produced by the US. The F-84 set a US speed record of 611mph in 1946. The prototype's initial flight was on February 28, 1946, and by the time production ceased in 1953, approximately 4,450 "straight-wing" F-84s (in contrast to the swept-wing F-84F) had been built. Many were supplied to allied nations under the Mutual Assistance Program. During its service life, it became the first USAF jet fighter capable of carrying a tactical nuclear weapon. The Thunderjet pioneered aerial refueling for fighter aircraft when aircraft from the 31st Fighter Escort Wing flew nonstop from Turner AFB, Georgia, to the Far East as part of Operation Fox Peter One in 1952.
 F84D (Click on photo to enlarge)It was one of the best first generation fighters, along with the North American F-86 "Sabre", MIG-15 and Hawker Hunter. It was serviced until seventies and was the first fighter plane able to transport nuclear weapon in USAF. Several versions were produced; one of them, F-84F, adopted 45° sweepback wing that improved the performances of the aircraft. Production totalled 7889 F-84, 4457 with no swept wing.
The aircraft was designed around its engine, General Electric TG-180 turbojet engine, afterwards J35. The prototype first flew on February, 28th 1946 and on September, 7th of the same year, the second XP-84 performed the national speed record : 983 km/h. D version was the first employed in Korea. During the Korean War, US F-84 pilots delivered 55,987 lb of ordinance.
Republic's F-84 was one of the earliest US jet fighters and was direct competition for the smaller and lighter Lockheed F-80. Fast and agile, the Thunderjet proved to be a transition fighter for the period between World War II and the 1950s, when innovative technology such as the swept wing was rapidly becoming standard for aircraft of the Thunderjet's type. These first-generation F-84s were equipped with straight wings, which limited their maximum speed but improved their ability to carry heavy external loads. With this capability, they were assigned the primary role of ground-attack aircraft and were used successfully in Korea. The Thunderjet saw extensive use during the Korean War, primarily for ground attack and interdiction missions. Almost daily, the F-84s attacked enemy railroads, bridges, supply depots and troop concentrations with bombs, rockets and napalm. Following service with the US Air Force, many Thunderjets were provided to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) air forces and served well until being removed from service
 Republic F84E Thunderjet This straight-wing fighter was initially seen as an escort fighter, and it carried more fuel --- in its relatively thick wing --- than other early jet fighters. However, it was soon outclassed by the F-86 and MiG-15. It was found to be an useful fighter-bomber. The F-84 was built in large numbers, mainly to fill the need for aircraft during the Korean war. The most built model was the F-84G, which was initially considered to be only an interim type pending availability of the swept-wing F-84F.
The F-84G was the definitive Thunderjet, as it finally came of age due to circumstances surrounding delays of the F-84F Thunderflash. A considerable number of changes were implemented to this follow-on model to the lengthened E-models, most of which most likely would never have been implemented had the Thunderstreak not been repeatedly delayed. The first G-model Thunderjets were externally identical to the E-models, the improvements being internal, most important of which was the J35-A-29 engine producing either 5,400 or 5,600 pounds static thrust (published reports differ), an improvement over the 5,000 pounds thrust produced by the -17 used in the E-models. However, the upgraded -29 engine installation required more air than the -17, so, starting with the G-20 models, so-called "suck-in" auxiliary intake doors were installed on either side of the lower fuselage under the cockpit at about the rudder pedals position to provide additional air to the engine when on the ground.
The G-model saw extensive active duty in Korea as well as being used by the USAFE and also by NATO and SEATO countries. (Note: Identification Features: Auxiliary intake "suck-in" doors on either side of fuselage below and ahead of wing roots. These "suck-in" doors were not added in production until -20 block, but were retrofitted to all G-models. Therefore, photographs of early G-models may not show these doors.)
Type: F-84E
SPECIFICATIONS:
Country: United States of America
Manufacturer: Republic
Designation: F-84E Thunderjet
Type: Fighter
Service Dates: 1947 to late 1950s (Italian Air Force until 1972)
Length: 38' 6" 11.73 M
Wingspan: 36' 5" 11.10 M
Height: 12' 7" 3.84 M
Empty Weight: 11,095 lbs
Gross Weight: 15225.0 lbs 6905.00 Kg
Max Weight: 15227.0lbs 6905.00 Kg
Cruise Speed: 485.00 mph 780.00 Km/H 421.62 Kt
Maximum Speed: 620.00 Mph 998.00 Km/H 539.46 Kt
Maximum Range: 1485 miles 2391.00 Km
Maximum Altitude: 43240.0 Ft 13179.0 M
Number of Crew: 1
Engine Type: Jet
Engine Manufacturer: Allison
Engine: Allison J35-A-17
Engine Designation: J35 x 1
Engine Thrust (each): 4900 2222
Armament: 6*mg12.7mm
Offensive load included two 1000-pound bombs, or two 1200-lb 11.75-inch "Tiny Tim" rockets carried on the inboard underwing pylons. For short ranges, an array of 32 five-inch rockets could be carried underneath the wings.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Excerpted from the J.Baugher site
The next production version of the Thunderjet was the F-84E. By this time, the P-designation had been changed to F. The F-84E had the same engine as did the P-84D--the Allison J35-A-17D, rated at 5000 pounds of thrust. However, there were quite a few changes added to the fuselage. The F-84E had a Sperry APG-30 radar ranging gun-sight, improved wingtip tanks for combat use, and a 12-inch extension to the fuselage to provide more space for the pilot in the cockpit. Retractable jet assisted take-off (JATO) racks were added to the underside of the rear fuselage, raising the maximum takeoff weight to 22,460 pounds. Internal fuel capacity was increased from 416 US gallons to 452 US gallons. Two 230-gallon tanks could be carried at the wingtips, bringing the total fuel capacity to 912 gallons and giving a range of 1485 miles. In addition, the fuel system was modified to allow a 230-US gallon tank to be carried under each inner wing shackle, enabling a ferry range of 1950 miles to be attained.
The first F-84E was ordered on December 29, 1948, and the first example (49-2022) flew on May 18, 1949. In all, 843 F-84Es were built.
The F-84E was the version that equipped most of the six USAF wings using Thunderjets when the Korean War began. It was first taken into combat on December 7, 1950 by the 27th Fighter Escort Group, which had reequipped from F-82E Twin Mustangs only a couple of months earlier.
The 27th's F-84Es were initially assigned to B-29 escort duties, in the course of which they were engaged in frequent combat with MiG-15s. The first F-84 MiG kill took place on January 21, 1951. However, the straight-winged F-84E was much too slow to match the swept-wing MiG-15, and MiGs were often able to slip through the escort screen and make successful attacks on B-29s. The total air-to-air score ended up as nine MiGs downed as opposed to 18 Thunderjets lost, which gave the Thunderjet a 2 to 1 inferiority against the MiG-15.
The task of dealing with the MiGs was left to the more capable F-86 Sabre, and the Thunderjets were transferred to ground attack duties, a task at which they excelled. The F-84 replaced the F-80 in the fighter-bomber role in the 49th, 58th, 116th, and 474th Wings. The F-84E and the later F-84G flew a total of 86,400 sorties and delivered 55,897 tons of bombs. 122 Thunderjets were lost to antiaircraft fire. Perhaps the two most spectacular Thunderjet operations of the Korean War were the attacks on the Toksan irrigation dam on May 13, 1953, and the raid on the Chusan irrigation dam three days later.
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