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.