Republic F-105G Thunderchief, Wild Weasel

Republic F-105G, “Thunderchief”, “Wild Weasel”, AF Serial No. 63-8320 of the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. This F-105G was during Operation Linebacker II--the “Twelve Days of Christmas” for the assault and bombing on Hanoi and Haiphong. The operation was conducted from 18–29 December 1972 and saw the largest heavy bomber strikes launched by the US Air Force since the end of World War II. The first three missions of the operation were flown as planned with the F-105G Wild Weasel surface-to-air (SAM) suppression missions. On the second night, although an estimated 185 SAMs were launched and a number of the bombers were damaged, none were lost on the mission. On December 20th the North Vietnamese air defense forces anticipated strike patterns and salvo launched over 300 missiles into the target area. Two days before Christmas, SAM sites and airfields were added to the target list. Flying SAM suppression for the B-52’s. This aircraft scored 3 MiG kills in Vietnam with the 388th TFW, Korat RTAFB and is currently on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio. See More.

Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk

The 451st Flying Training Squadron (FTS) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing (FTW) based at NAS Pensacola, Florida. The mission of the 12 FTW is to provide instructor pilot training in the T-1A Jayhawk anf T-6A Texan II. The swept-wing T-1A is a military version of the Beechjet/Hawker 400A. It has cockpit seating for an instructor and two students and is powered by twin turbofan engines capable of an operating speed of Mach .78. The T-1A differs from its commercial counterpart with structural enhancements that provide for a large number of landings per flight hour, increased bird strike resistance and an additional fuselage fuel tank. A total of 180 T-1 trainers were delivered between 1992-1997. The T-1A Jayhawk is a medium-range, twin-engine jet trainer used in the advanced phase of Air Force Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training for students selected to fly strategic/tactical airlift or tanker aircraft. It is used also for training Air Force Combat Systems Officers in high and low level flight procedures during the advanced phase of training. See More.